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The Boy Who Steals Houses Paperback – 9 April 2019

by C.G. Drews (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,023 ratings
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Can two broken boys find their perfect home? By turns heartbreaking and heartwarming, this is a gorgeously told, powerful story.

Sam is only fifteen but he and his autistic older brother, Avery, have been abandoned by every relative he's ever known. Now Sam's trying to build a new life for them. He survives by breaking into empty houses when their owners are away, until one day he's caught out when a family returns home. To his amazement this large, chaotic family takes him under their wing - each teenager assuming Sam is a friend of another sibling. Sam finds himself inextricably caught up in their life, and falling for the beautiful Moxie.

But Sam has a secret, and his past is about to catch up with him.

Heartfelt storytelling, perfect for fans of Jandy Nelson and Jennifer Niven.
Previous page
  1. Reading age
    12 - 18 years
  2. Print length
    300 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    2 - 7
  5. Dimensions
    12.7 x 2.54 x 19.69 cm
  6. Publisher
    Orchard Books
  7. Publication date
    9 April 2019
  8. ISBN-10
    1408349922
  9. ISBN-13
    978-1408349922
  10. See all details
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Review

If this moving novel doesn't leave you in floods of tears you may not have a heart. -- Claire Hennessey ― The Irish Times

This was one heck of a ride and I can't say that you won't shed a few tears, but you'll also probably burst into laughter along the way too, but either way, it will all be worth it, because Sam's story deserves to be read...Ultimately, it was an unforgettable experience, so please don't deny yourself the opportunity to step into Sam's world and let his story be heard. ― Muse of Nyxmares blog

I'm 100% positive I'm never going to get over this book. ― A Whisper of Ink - blog

Book Description

Can two broken boys find their perfect home? By turns heartbreaking and heartwarming, this is a gorgeously told, powerful story.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Orchard Books; 1st edition (9 April 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 300 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1408349922
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1408349922
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 12 - 18 years
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 12.7 x 2.54 x 19.69 cm
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,023 ratings

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C.G. Drews

C.G. Drews

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
1,023 global ratings

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One of my favourite contemporary reads of all time!
5 Stars
One of my favourite contemporary reads of all time!
The Boy Who Steals Houses is a gender bent goldilocks retelling and it was one of those books where I didn't want to stop reading, but I didn't want to get to the end either, because I was NOT READY to say goodbye to the these characters!  They were amazing and flawed and REAL.  Sam's sense of responsibility for his brother, even though it often caused him pain was beautiful and I loved the way both sides of it were shown.  He wasn't a hero, he didn't pretend it was all roses, it was HARD but he did it anyway because he loved him.     Sam and Moxie (and Mr De Lainey!) are some of my new favourite characters ever.  I loved the way no-one was perfect, they all had challenges and had been shaped by their life experiences to react in different ways.  They make mistakes, they want, they're afraid, they feel like people you would actually meet.  I became so immersed in this story that I kind of had to remind myself it wasn't real.This one had me going through all the emotions - it was sad and anxious but gave me feel good laughs in parts too.  I loved the way the De Lainey's family was so chaotic, and just how I imagine a huge family would be   It also made me eat a lot of food.  You've been warned.  There was a lot of eating and talk about delicious food and I wanted to JOIN IN, so I did. At every opportunity.  The Boy Who Steals Houses will be sitting firmly at the top of my list as one of my favourite contemporary reads of all time!
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Top reviews from Australia

LLBANJO
5.0 out of 5 stars Too good to be true...
Reviewed in Australia on 9 October 2019
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One of the best books I've ever read. It unravels a tight sort of wonderful boys and their story. Could not have asked for anything better in the story. The most deserved 5 stars will go towards this awesome novel by C.G Drews.
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Jesse
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
Reviewed in Australia on 28 January 2021
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Absolutely incredible book, beautifully written!!!
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hana
4.0 out of 5 stars An emotional, authentic story that'll have you sobbing uncontrollably
Reviewed in Australia on 8 April 2019
Fifteen-year-old Sam and his older brother Avery have been abandoned by their entire family. All Sam wants to do is protect his brother with autism, and someday own a house of his own that he doesn’t have to steal. One day, he stumbles upon an empty, cluttered house and spends the night. However, the family returns home while he’s asleep. When Sam awakes, he blends right in with their chaotic household.

Here, Sam meets and falls in love with Moxie, a bright, lively girl who loves sewing. However, he knows he can’t develop a relationship with her or her family; he’s stolen from them and lived in their house when they were away.

The Boy Who Steals Houses was a lot different from what I was initially expecting, but I liked it. It’s a poignant, emotional read with an unreliable main character. Sam has good intentions for his decisions, but the way he executes them aren’t exactly moral. It was interesting to follow a character where you root for them but are also aware that the way he’s acting isn’t necessarily “good”. This book makes you open your heart to Sam. All he wants to do is protect his brother and belong somewhere.

The other characters were well-developed and intriguing. I’m not sure if Avery’s autism representation is accurate or respectful, but it felt genuine while reading. However, I won’t be speaking out on a topic I’m unknowledgeable on. When we’re first introduced to Moxie, I was afraid she’d be a manic pixie dream girl, but I ended up loving her character. She always stood up for herself and went on feminist rants when her brothers were being problematic. In addition, I liked how we were still acquaintanced with most of the side characters, even in a family of this magnitude. For example, we know about Jeremy’s personality and the fact that he had an ex-boyfriend. It made me feel more present and connected to these characters like I was in the household with them.

P.S. I have a large extended family myself and I loved how realistic the portrayal of all these people coexisting under one roof was. It’s a cacophony and a huge mess that never seems to end, but it makes you feel more comfortable and welcomed at the same time.

I liked the writing. There was nothing inherently wrong with it, I just thought some of the similes/metaphors tried too hard to be poetic and didn’t make sense. For example, eyes are described as “broken oceans”, which isn’t exactly a helpful description. Otherwise, the poetic writing perfectly reflected the inner happenings of Sam’s mind. It was reminiscent of the writing in Shatter Me. It’s never outwardly stated, but Sam definitely has some kind of anxiety. This is excellently presented through repetition and the placement of letters to help portray this to the audience. It was a little quirk that I loved about Drews’ writing.

The plot is told through present tense with some flashbacks to “before” when Sam and Avery had a home. These flashbacks all hold a mystery surrounding Sam and something illegal he’s committed, causing him to run from the police. When this is finally revealed at the end, it was quite underwhelming. You’re kind of left there thinking “that’s it?” Not that it doesn’t have a huge impact on the story, but it’s too predictable. There was plenty of foreshadowing to suggest what would happen, which I’m not critiquing at all. I just wish it was something more shocking. Furthermore, this ends like every other contemporary novel: with much to the imagination. I personally liked the ending, it allows me to hypothesise what will happen with Sam and Avery in the future. It can go terribly, or they can finally achieve what they wanted.

I don’t have much else to say about this book. It was great, but it was missing something to give it the full five stars. And I can’t quite put my finger on what that was.

The Boy Who Steals Houses is a poignant, moving novel about two broken, abandoned boys trying to find a place to belong, and the younger brother who desperately wants to protect his sibling. It’s both a sweet love story between two teenagers with tough pasts and an emotional journey as Sam and Avery find people to call their family. The writing was beautiful in places, but there were some confusing aesthetic features, the characters are multi-faceted and jump off the page, and the romance is adorable. I’d definitely recommend if you’re a fan of contemporaries that deal with heartbreaking, realistic issues.
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Imogen Elvis
5.0 out of 5 stars This book will steal your heart
Reviewed in Australia on 18 September 2021
This is the sort of book that will not only steal its way into your house, but into your heart. The writing is gorgeous, emotive and poetic, without being pretty just for the sake of being pretty. I could flip this book open to almost any page and find a line I could quote for its sheer beauty.

I really loved the themes of family, both blood and found, which form a backbone for this book, and I especially loved the De Lainey family. Big family, big hearts, and so much love to share. As a person from a large family of my own, I loved the realism of the family, and the fact that a large family was represented for once.

Also loved the #ownvoices rep for autism and anxiety. I especially appreciated that, while these were issues addressed in the book, it wasn't a book about the experience of autism or anxiety. Books that deal directly with those issues are always important, but so are books that depict them as a part of life as well.

The Boy Who Steals Houses is definitely a darker book, but it's also about finding hope and light in unexpected places, and of course, the importance of family. It's emotional, heartbreaking at times, and I have admit, I did nearly cry  at one point, so many keep the tissue box handy. This book is amazing, a fantastic follow-up to A Thousand Perfect Notes, and I cannot recommend it enough.
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Bookbookowl
5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favourite contemporary reads of all time!
Reviewed in Australia on 6 June 2019
The Boy Who Steals Houses is a gender bent goldilocks retelling and it was one of those books where I didn't want to stop reading, but I didn't want to get to the end either, because I was NOT READY to say goodbye to the these characters!  They were amazing and flawed and REAL.  Sam's sense of responsibility for his brother, even though it often caused him pain was beautiful and I loved the way both sides of it were shown.  He wasn't a hero, he didn't pretend it was all roses, it was HARD but he did it anyway because he loved him.     Sam and Moxie (and Mr De Lainey!) are some of my new favourite characters ever.  I loved the way no-one was perfect, they all had challenges and had been shaped by their life experiences to react in different ways.  They make mistakes, they want, they're afraid, they feel like people you would actually meet.  I became so immersed in this story that I kind of had to remind myself it wasn't real.

This one had me going through all the emotions - it was sad and anxious but gave me feel good laughs in parts too.  I loved the way the De Lainey's family was so chaotic, and just how I imagine a huge family would be   It also made me eat a lot of food.  You've been warned.  There was a lot of eating and talk about delicious food and I wanted to JOIN IN, so I did. At every opportunity.  

The Boy Who Steals Houses will be sitting firmly at the top of my list as one of my favourite contemporary reads of all time!
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Bookbookowl
5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favourite contemporary reads of all time!
Reviewed in Australia on 6 June 2019
The Boy Who Steals Houses is a gender bent goldilocks retelling and it was one of those books where I didn't want to stop reading, but I didn't want to get to the end either, because I was NOT READY to say goodbye to the these characters!  They were amazing and flawed and REAL.  Sam's sense of responsibility for his brother, even though it often caused him pain was beautiful and I loved the way both sides of it were shown.  He wasn't a hero, he didn't pretend it was all roses, it was HARD but he did it anyway because he loved him.     Sam and Moxie (and Mr De Lainey!) are some of my new favourite characters ever.  I loved the way no-one was perfect, they all had challenges and had been shaped by their life experiences to react in different ways.  They make mistakes, they want, they're afraid, they feel like people you would actually meet.  I became so immersed in this story that I kind of had to remind myself it wasn't real.

This one had me going through all the emotions - it was sad and anxious but gave me feel good laughs in parts too.  I loved the way the De Lainey's family was so chaotic, and just how I imagine a huge family would be   It also made me eat a lot of food.  You've been warned.  There was a lot of eating and talk about delicious food and I wanted to JOIN IN, so I did. At every opportunity.  

The Boy Who Steals Houses will be sitting firmly at the top of my list as one of my favourite contemporary reads of all time!
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Bella
5.0 out of 5 stars THIS BOOK IS REALLY AMAZING
Reviewed in Australia on 12 July 2019
This book ripped my heart out of my chest and threw it on the ground and stomped on it... in the best way possible!
Everyone please read this! It is such a gut-wrenching and beautifully written novel which will capture you from page one.
The characters, the plot and the writing all come together perfectly in this book!
Go read it!!
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Julie
5.0 out of 5 stars Read this book.
Reviewed in Australia on 14 September 2020
This book is outstanding. Heart wrenching yet will fill you with joy. C.G.Drews is a master story teller and her representation of ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) is done with amazing tact and accuracy.
Read this book.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Leo Otherland
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommend
Reviewed in the United States on 16 August 2022
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Sometimes I just lack the energy to write the review a book deserves. The boy Who Steals Houses by far deserves a longer and more in-depth review then I currently have the energy to conjure out of my tired brain. I rarely pick up a book I cannot put down these days, but The boy Who Steals Houses was the book for me. I read it to the point I was late leaving work one night because I forgot what time it was. The characters were instantly alive and relatable from the first page, the emotions were true and vibrant, and when the book was done I wished for more. As one does with any good book. This tale touched me and left me wondering about myself in ways stories seldom do. Overall, this was simply a joy to read in all ways, especially the small touches of queerness scattered throughout. I could relate to my favorite side character simply because he, like myself, was queer. I highly recommend.
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Katerinne Sanchez
5.0 out of 5 stars Still reading
Reviewed in Italy on 19 December 2023
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The media could not be loaded.
 Good quality
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Guadalupe Muriel Alcántara Rivera
5.0 out of 5 stars Que libro tan bello!
Reviewed in Mexico on 21 May 2021
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Hermoso libro!!
Toca temas de manera adecuada. Es una historia hermosa.
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The Belgian Reviewer
5.0 out of 5 stars A heartbreaking novel
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 October 2023
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I read A Thousand Perfect Notes by C.G. Drews so I kind of expected this to be an emotional read too but I wasn’t entirely prepared for the amount of ugly tears I cried.

This novel is about a 15 year old boy Sam who is the only one who understands his autistic brother Avery’s needs. It is also about the wonderful De Lainey family, a chaotic, big and warm family. They had their own portion of tragedy in the past and Moxie especially took it quite hard when her mother passed away.

Sam and Avery are on their own and Sam’s used to stealing houses. All it means is that he breaks in to have a place to sleep and a place to call home for the night. One morning he wakes up and hears people in the house he thought was empty but with so many teenagers all over the place they don’t know he was there all night. He can get away but he can’t resist the pull of this welcoming family. The risk always lurks around the corner that he’ll be exposed though and not being welcome anymore would break his heart (and mine).

I was so afraid it would not equal A Thousand Perfect Notes but it does, it’s such a heartbreaking novel. Sam cares for Avery so much but there’s nobody to take care of him. I rooted for Sam, Avery and the others so much. These kids deserve happiness and someone who cares for them. They deserve food and a roof over their head. They deserve a home.

There are sad and tragic parts in the story but also laughter and love. The Boy Who Steals Houses is so worth the read, C.G. Drews is a fantastic author!
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Anonym
5.0 out of 5 stars Das wahrscheinlich ergreifendste Buch, der letzten Jahre
Reviewed in Germany on 20 July 2023
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Anfangs musste ich mich etwas an den Schreibstil gewöhnen, der wahrscheinlich bewusst sehr kindlich wirkt. Aber wenn man einmal drin ist, ist das ein Auf und Ab der Gefühle. es ist wahnsinnig schön, aber auch traurig. Tolle Darstellung von Autismus in seiner Variabilität. Mehr möchte ich dazu nicht verraten, für die, die die ganze Reihe bei Patreon lesen wollen. Es ist eine Schande, dass die zwei nachfolgenden Bücher noch keinen Verlag gefunden haben und deshalb nur bei Patreon verfügbar sind. Meisterwerk!
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