Our House: The Stories of Levittown

Conrad, Pam

ISBN 10: 0590465236 ISBN 13: 9780590465236

Publisher: Scholastic, 1995

Synopsis

A history of Levittown, which was founded by William Levitt after World War II, is told from the perspectives of six children, highlighting one from each decade from the forties through the nineties.

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Reviews

Grade 5-8?Conrad takes on a challenging task: a fictional portrayal of Levittown, NY. In brief narratives, six children tell stories that illuminate each decade from 1947 to the present. An introduction sets the stage as the original potato farms disappear beneath a madhouse of construction, and the suburbs appear almost overnight. TeeWee Tator, the first narrator, describes the identical houses and tells of marking his place in the world with his footprints in cement; he successfully communicates the excitement of the postwar era. Through each decade, the young people tell their stories; for the present, themes of loss and continuity center around a boy's death in a bicycle accident. Conrad brings her tales full circle with the discovery of TeeWee Tator's footprints and the addition of new ones in the '90s. Though the earlier settings are more vibrantly created, each story contributes a unique mood and character, and choice details such as the first TV on the block help ground them. The closing, in which Conrad advises readers to savor each moment, is a bit sentimental. Though set in Levittown, the selections have universal appeal, and as social history they can provide a jumping-off place for much discussion.?Leda Schubert, Vermont Department of Education, Montpelier
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 4^-7. Starting with the Island Trees potato fields, Conrad describes the rural origin of Mr. Levitt's amazing Long Island community that offered middle-class Americans a chance to own their own homes. Six fictional vignettes follow, one for each decade since 1940, portraying Levittown families as they deal with issues of the day and the eternal concerns of children. Like snapshots, each chapter incorporates some period detail to reflect the era, but recurring themes and images tie the stories together. Vivid descriptions and poignant observations leave indelible impressions. Although the young narrators occasionally sound unusually mature, each has a distinctive voice. In a concluding chapter, Conrad addresses readers directly, urging them to save their own memories and tell their own stories. Conrad's fresh, imaginative approach to the concept of "home" makes this an ideal starting point for discussion, creative writing, and other class activities. Linda Perkins

Edition details

• Publisher: Scholastic
• Publication date: 1995
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0590465236
• ISBN 13: 9780590465236
• Binding: Library Binding
• Number of pages: 65