Title: Hothouse
Author: Chris Lynch [Harper Teen Author Page]
Genre: Middle Grade, Young Adult
Publisher: Harper Teen
Format: Hardcover
Source: Provided by Publisher
Parental Advisory: drugs, alcohol, death, language
Teachable Moments: coping with loss, heroism, drug & alcohol abuse, degrees of friendship

“I have been a firefighter all my life.  In my mind, and with all seriousness, that is how I have seen myself.  There was never a moment, from the time I figured out what life was and who my old man was, that I did not want to be, more or less, him.”

Summary (from the publisher):
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.

Opinion:
Hothouse, a heartbreaking exploration of a young man’s character after the death of his firefighter father, is a wonderfully fulfilling read about a child’s ability to endure.  It speaks to the nature of people and how they react to adversity.

Russ is a boy who idolizes his firefighter father.  So enraptured by him (and the close-knit community of brothers he’s part of) he’s long ago decided that he too will become a firefighter.  Already taking classes to that end his foundation is thoroughly shaken when his father meets his demise at the hands of a blaze.

Russ’ relationship with his father is both simple and complex at the same time.  They share a special bond as a result of his chosen profession one that encourages them to share time and feelings.  Yet, behind all of the camaraderie the life of a firefighter and his son provides there is more beneath the surface.  More that Russ learns after his father is already gone.  It’s these realizations and complexities that make the turning of the tides from hero to zero that makes Russ’ grief unbearable yet so realistic.

The emotion written into this story is keenly felt.  Russ is, as one would expect, devastated at the loss of his father.  But he finds solace in the firehouse folk and their families that rally around the heros lost.  That is until secrets begin to be revealed that change both his father’s image and the relationships that surrounded it.  Russ feels the further loss of his father’s firefighter family acutely particularly when they all abandon he and his mother because of the events surrounding his father’s death.

The good news is that Russ has some kick ass friends!  Man, do I want to have friends like Russ’.  These kids are truly the most awesome set of people Russ could have chosen to surround himself with.  Continually attempting to take his mind of his sadness while still allowing him those small moments to wallow all of his closest friends are just amazing.  Made more fantastic still by the fact that they stand by him unquestioningly when so many others cast him aside.  People he’d grown up with, people who had idolized his father, people who had raised the man so high on a pedestal it was a miracle he could be reached — all dumping on him at the first sign that association would cast doubt on them.  But still Russ’ friends stood tall and true, supporting him and letting him know they were there for him no matter what.

A fantastic read for boys while still appealing to girls, Hothouse is a short quick read but I’m here to tell you it packs quite an emotional punch.