When the White House Was Ours by Porter Shreve

Daniel Truitt's family has moved around a lot in his childhood. In 1976, when he's twelve, his father, Pete, decides to move the family to Washington D.C. so he can open up his own school, Our House. Pete is going to run it out of the family's abode with his wife, Val, as one of the teachers. With little money and a crumbling house, but a lot of spirit and free-thinking ideals, the family is, at times, stretched to the limit. Soon, Daniel's Uncle Linc, Linc's wife Cinnamon and their troublemaking friend Tino move in and join the staff. Getting students to attend Our House is a struggle, but the reader is completely charmed by the Truitt family and their ragtag story. Shreve again (as in his last novel, Drives Like a Dream) has created fully realized characters and a unique story. The book reminded me of The Rich Part of Life by Jim Kokoris and An Ocean in Iowa by Peter Hedges. When the White House Was Ours is a humorous slice into the life of a family during our bicentennial year.