Greg takes an interest in Shell House, a mansion that was badly damaged during World War I. He meets Faith, a Christian girl who is part of an effort to restore the mansion, and struggles to choose between his feelings for Faith and his classmate Jordan. His story intertwines with that of Edmund, a gay foot soldier during World War I.
The Shell House is a beautifully written and sensitive portrayal of love, sexuality and spirituality over two generations. Greg’s casual interest in the history of a ruined mansion becomes more personal as he slowly discovers the tragic events that overwhelmed its last inhabitants. Set against a background of the modern day and the First World War, Greg’s contemporary beliefs become intertwined with those of Edmund, a foot soldier whose confusion about his sexuality and identity mirrors Greg’s own feelings of insecurity. This is a complex and thought-provoking book, written with elegance and subtlety. It will change the way you think.
Genre: Contemporary/Historical Fiction
Representation:
Gender:
Cis boys: Greg, Edmund
Sexual Orientation:
Gay/Queer: Edmund
Bisexual/Questioning: Greg
Romantic Orientation:
Not explicitly labeled.
Race/Ethnicity:
White: Greg, Edmund
Trigger Warnings: War