Hothouse

If you do it right, it can be a life. The hothouse, the guys, the glory. But just like that, it can all go up in smoke.

In the beginning it was strange, ya know, because of all that we had lost. But there was something about it that felt so good and so right, too: "I'm so proud of you, Russ." "We'll always be here for you, man." "Heroes don't pay for nothin' in this town." It was nonstop. The mayor shook my hand. Ladies sent food. I've never eaten so much baked ham in my life.

And now? Now the phone won't stop ringing from the crazies ready to blame me. My mom has to cry herself to sleep. They take a firefighter, a man, and they pump him up so big. . . . But once they start taking it away from you, they don't stop until they leave nothing on the bones.

First they needed heroes, then they needed blood.

Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 08/24/2010
ISBN: 9780061673795
Pages: 208
Weight: 0.70lbs
Size: 8.42h x 5.84w x 0.77d
Award: Tayshas Reading - Commended

Review Citations: Booklist 05/15/2010 pg. 36
Horn Book Magazine 09/01/2010 pg. 83
Kirkus Reviews 09/01/2010
Publishers Weekly 09/13/2010
School Library Journal 09/01/2010 pg. 157
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 10/01/2010 - Book Of Special Distinction
Voice of Youth Advocates 10/01/2010 - Recommended - Hard To Beat
Voice of Youth Advocates 12/01/2010 - Recommended - Better Than Most
Hornbook Guide to Children 01/01/2011 pg. 105
BookPage 09/01/2010

Accelerated Reader Quiz #/Name: 139872 / Hothouse
Reading Level: 5.1 / Interest Level: Upper Grade / Point Value: 6