Our House: The Stories of Levittown

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, "Our House" presents six stories, all told from the point of view of a child living in a Leavittown house. Starting in 1948, a young boy moves into a brand-new house in a brand-new type of neighborhood. Leavittown was a planned community, a subdivision, full of quickly built, nearly identical, inexpensive houses that were perfect for the post WWII new and growing families. The stories span 48 years in Leavittown, covering important American issues such as the Vietnam War, personal tragedies such as the loss of a sibling, and everyday discoveries such as uncovering one's special talents. The children are typical, everyday kids presented with the sheen of being depicted by a strong writer. This would be a terrific read-alound for a 4th grade classroom, offering lots of food for thought and discussion.

Our House was originally published in 1994 and hailed by critics: this 10th anniversary edition receives illustration by Brian Selznik and provides a gorgeous tribute to her story of the changes seen and experienced by a young resident of a changing neighborhood and world. From labor relation controversies to encounters with adults, Our House provides a gorgeous set of letters and encounters reflecting a changing world.

I thought this book was not only a great story but informative. Each decade starting with the 1940's has a different set of characters relating to that time period. The short stories are emotional but not too detailed for being a short story. From the days when only one person on the block had televisions to how you felt when you just wanted to move away from your neighborhood so badly it hurt. The stories include time relevant events such as the Viet Nam War and the end of WWII. A great book to teach history, family life, or personal growth. It is a great book to read for pleasure as well.