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How to Build a House Audiobook
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(3.01) - 1,271 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
HARPER’S DAD IS getting a divorce from her beloved stepmother, Jane. Even worse, Harper has lost her stepsister, Tess; the divorce divides them. Harper decides to escape by joining a volunteer program to build a house for a family in Tennessee who lost their home in a tornado. Not that she knows a thing about construction. Soon she’s living in a funky motel and working long days in blazing heat with a group of kids from all over the country. At the site, she works alongside Teddy, the son of the family for whom they are building the house. Their partnership turns into a summer romance, complete with power tools. Learning to trust and love Teddy isn’t easy for Harper, but it’s the first step toward finding her way back home.
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"Ahhhh, I (work at a library) and I always put this book away or see it and happily think back to the days when I was reading it...this is an amazinggg book! I loved the whole plot and the ending was the best. Not even going to write what its about because you have to read it its so good!"
— Sabrina (5 out of 5 stars)
How to Build a House Listener Reviews
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" Oh, teen drama, how I love thee... "
— Kate, 2/13/2014 -
" Read this one in less than a day...easy, quick, enjoyable read. It's by the same author of A Brief Chapter in My Impossible Life, which I definitely need to read! "
— MissMcD, 2/3/2014 -
" I kind of felt the book didn't live up to its full potential. I was so excited to read it - a group of teenagers coming together virtually in the middle of nowhere to build a house for a family that lost theirs. I was looking forward to something like an action-packed adventure: maybe a couple of tornadoes and the long journey of building a house from start to finish. I don't know how to describe it - I just felt there were so many story lines left untouched. I didn't like how half the book was Harper at home, in the past, and the other in the present. I liked the book, but it didn't live up to my expectations. "
— Lola, 1/23/2014 -
" A very good quick read! I enjoyed this book...couldn't put it down! "
— Nicole, 1/16/2014 -
" Though the storyline isn't gripping and exciting, How To Build a House is true and tender. I loved every page of it. "
— Dee, 1/4/2014 -
" I found this character a bit preachy and pretentious. I also was pretty appalled that there was some blatant transphobic language towards the end of the book, especially since this is a YA book and since it was irrelevant to the plot. "
— Cat, 12/21/2013 -
" A book about the complications of a divorce-filled society. The only trouble I had with the book is that the main character's passion was the planet and saving it which did not read as authentic. The rest of the emotions were authentic-feeling. "
— Alexa, 11/27/2013 -
" How to Build a House is narrated by a teenage girl who is running away from a messy divorce. She's volunteering her summer to build a house. The book well written and is a fast read. "
— Jocelyn, 9/27/2013 -
" Man I wish you could give 1/2 stars! :) I'd like to give this book 3.5 stars. See my comment for more. "
— Tiff, 8/22/2013 -
" This is my second novel by Dana Reinhardt this week, and I am impressed by what I've read so far. In "How to Build a House," Harper's voice is true and her story is compelling. The metaphor of constructing a house runs throughout (fitting considering the title), which I liked. "
— Carly, 6/27/2013 -
" I don't understand why all the librarians love this book.... Oh well... Not really recommended. The way she separated past from present was inventive though. I just didn't connect with the characters and I didn't think they were developed too much. "
— Micaela, 3/7/2013 -
" This book is marketed for Young Adults--however, this old adult found it endearing and enlightening. The dialogue is very real--worth reading by all age groups. "
— Marilyn, 2/17/2013 -
" I'm not sure why I picked up this young adult book- perhaps a review in the paper. Interesting, but not one that I would particularly recommend to young adult readers. "
— Elizabeth, 12/22/2012 -
" Things that were unnecessary: Gabriel, Teddy. It was poised to be such a good story about volunteer work, until it was ruined by silly relationship nonsense. "
— Stephanie, 6/27/2012 -
" this book was bad, just plain old bad. "
— Hannah, 6/22/2012 -
" I liked this book. It definitely grew on me as I read. I liked the back story with the step-family, and enjoyed the Habitat for Humanity stuff. It moved a bit too slowly at first, and I really didn't care about the dating subplot. "
— Jennie, 6/18/2012 -
" Kind of a fun story of some teens who volunteered to spend their summer building a home for a family who lost theirs to a tornado. Friendship and a little romance. Just a nice story. "
— Barb, 10/24/2011 -
" Nicely written story of a girl whose home is destroyed by divorce who goes to build a home for tornado victims and learns to rebuild her own life. "
— Janet, 6/17/2011 -
" I was feeling nostalgic for this book and decided to listen to it for a re-read. I love this book. Harper and I are essentially the same person, and I feel like this was written especially for me. Love that about books! "
— Danielle, 5/13/2011 -
" Though the storyline isn't gripping and exciting, <em>How To Build a House</em> is true and tender. I loved every page of it. "
— Dee, 5/12/2011 -
" This book was outstanding. It is an old YA version of "Bloomability." "
— Anne, 4/30/2011 -
" A very good quick read! I enjoyed this book...couldn't put it down! "
— Nicole, 3/28/2011 -
" This author is a really good writer! I have to pick up more of her books. "
— Danielle, 3/27/2011 -
" Reviewed for a high school literary circle. The characters, plots, realness and feel of the book is something that I thought our students could relate to. Quick read, written in a style for teenagers. Currently have 10 copies that will be used by a sophomore class. "
— Victory, 2/14/2011
About Dana Reinhardt
Dana Reinhardt is the author of A Brief Chapter in My Impossible Life, Harmless, How to Build a House, The Things a Brother Knows, and The Summer I Learned to Fly, among others.
About Caitlin Greer
Caitlin Greer has appeared on television, been a motion capture performer for animation and video games, and voiced many characters for film, television, video games, and radio. She was honored by the American Library Association as part of Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults and is an IGN Award–winner and two-time nominee for Best Voice Acting: Game Ensemble.