This book caught me by surprise in the BEST way. I started House Arrest thinking i'd just read a few pages before bed. Hours later after turning the last page, I found myself with tears streaming down my face, sad that the book was done.

Timothy is a 12 year old boy put under house arrest for stealing a wallet. Those are the facts and you might be thinking - a book about a juvenile delinquent, how good can this be? That's what I was thinking anyway, then you start to read.

It goes by quickly because the writing is done in a simple journal format and some entries are just a few sentences. It took me about 2 hours to read the book. Once you get drawn in, it's pretty instantaneous - you simply start to like Timothy. You see there is so much going on in his life - a sick baby brother, a dad who abandoned the family when things got hard and a mom who is really struggling to keep it all together. Timothy didn't just steal a wallet because he is a delinquent - he was trying to help his family.

As Timothy writes in his court mandated journal (that's basically the book's format - it's his journal) we get an inside peek at what is going on with his family, the people around him (I thoroughly enjoyed the supporting characters in this book) and of course how he feels about everything over the course of the year that the entries take place. What a year it is for Timothy - the entries had me feeling a roller coaster of emotions! I found myself sad, frustrated & angry but then I'd catch myself smiling, feeling hopeful and happy. I don't want to give spoilers, this book should be enjoyed as it unfolds - allow yourself to experience the whirl of emotions and enjoy them all.