Reading the Smell of Other People's Houses in a Stranger's House

I happened upon an advanced reader copy of "The Smell of Other People's Houses" a few months ago at a library conference. It stared at me from my TBR pile, a little purple confection waiting to be devoured. I loved the title. I know you're not supposed to pick books based on their cover or title or whatever. But we all do it. We like a good title and we like good cover art work. This book has both. This book is dark, adorable, and wraps up very satisfyingly. And beyond appropriate that I finished it while staying at an Airbnb in NOLA. 

Set in rural Alaska, the story follows a number of different protagonists as they struggle to understand their identities as teens, Alaskan natives, runaways, orphans, siblings, sons, and daughters. Each chapter is told from the perspective of a different character, and their stories intermix and affect each other in surprising, upsetting, and heartwarming ways. Growing up in the Midwest, I have very little background knowledge of what it must be like to grow up in Alaska. This book, for all I know, could be totally inaccurate. However, the narrative crafted by *author* feels real, and evokes sympathy for these struggling youths. This story touches on so many difficult experiences that teens face everywhere, not just rural Alaskan fishing communities. Poverty, teen pregnancy, and abusive parents are just a few of the hardships mentioned in this short novel. The flawed characters bumble around trying to make sense of the madness around them, leaning on one another for support and finding help in the most unassuming places. 

Would I have bought this book at my local book store? Probably not. Am I happy I read it? Hells yeah! My copy found a home in a Little Free Library in New Orleans, and I hope it finds its way into the hands of a teen or the parent of one who might find some insight or comfort in the stories and characters inside.