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The House of Tomorrowby Peter Bognanni |
Arlene Almas: Sebastian is a 16-year-old outsider who lives with
his grandmother in a geodesic dome outside a small town in Iowa. His grandmother had once known
Buckminster Fuller, the inventor of the geodesic dome, and practically worships him and his philosophical
concepts about humanity. Sebastian is home-schooled and has very little contact with the outside world.
He meets Jared, also 16 years old, who is another type of outsider: he has had a heart transplant and is ill
and weak due to organ rejection syndrome, and has not attended school in some time. Jared is ironic and somewhat
bitter, yet vulnerable – not an easy person to get to know. The two boys form an unlikely bond; having, and
being, a friend is a new experience for both of them. Jared is obsessed with punk rock, and Sebastian comes to
share that obsession – when Sebastian learns a few basic guitar chords, Jared insists that they form a a
two-man band to play at Jared’s mother’s church. While Sebastian is developing a feel for rock music, he’s
also becoming infatuated with Jared’s sardonic sister Meredith, who leads him in another new emotional direction.
I didn’t think I could relate to a story about male adolescents, but I was strongly drawn to these two characters
and found myself caring very much about them.
Rating: ****
