Interest Level: 3-6
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@kidlitexchange #partner Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book - all opinions are my own.


What would you do if you found out your mother wanted to move you away from your family and friends? What would you do if you found out that the land your dad gave you is about to be taken away because your mom can't afford the taxes on it? Would you think to build a tiny house on it? I wouldn't, but Lou was determined to do just that. Lou is the top of her woodworking class and is great at making projects. When Lou's mom decides that they need to move so that she can get a better job, Lou is devastated because she does not want to move away from her large Filipino family and her best friends. Lou and her friends devise a plan to sneak out to the property that her dad left her before he died and build a tiny house. She thought that maybe if her and her mom had a place to call their own, then she wouldn't want to move. She also thought that if someone lived on the land then the government wouldn't be able to take it away. Lou is so adamant about getting this tiny house built that she breaks rules and possibly breaks friendships. Read this amazing book to find out if Lou gets to stay with her family and friends or if she has to move away. Read this amazing book to find out if she gets to keep her father's property or if she loses it to the state. Also read this amazing book to find out if maybe she might even make a new friend in the process of all of this and if she ever gets her tiny house built.

This is such a heartwarming story of family and friendship. This is such a feel-good story about a girl who is full of determination and won't let anything get in her way. This is a must read story for anyone, kids and adults!

A heartwarming story about a headstrong heroine whose passion jumps off the page. I loved how dedicated Lou was to her craft as well as to her vision. It's great to see young people working toward their dreams.

This book was such a sweet story about hard work, loss, and family.

Lou does not fit into stereotypical gender norms in the best way possible. She follows her passions for designing and building construction projects. She loves her family imperfectly (relatable to all). Lou is hardworking, earnest, and caring. She has a crush.

This book is great for showing girls and guys that they can follow the things that they love and are passionate about.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the read.

Mae Respicio nailed it with this #ownvoices book about a young Filipino-American girl who has big dreams and even bigger plans. I was impressed by her writing style, her descriptions of Filipino family life and the passion behind the story.
Lou is a young girl who loves to build. She has obtained this passion from her father and grandfather who have passed away. She is doing everything she can to hold on to their memory and do the things she thinks would be important to them. In the mean time, life throws her some pretty interesting curve balls with friends, boys, family and other life changes that have her doing things she would have never done before. In the end, Lou proves that she has what it takes to live out her dreams and be a big part of her family at the same time.
Everyone will fall in love with Lou and her crazy, big family.

Lou lives with her mother and grandmother in San Francisco. Her father died before she was born, and her grandfather passed away a few years ago, but she has a large, supportive extended family and many friends. Her mother is training to be a registered nurse and is struggling financially. She's looking for jobs, and favoring one she is offered in Washington state, because the cost of living is much cheaper. Lou does not want to leave the area, especially since her father's family left her a small plot of land, and she dreams of constructing her own tiny house on it, so that she and her mother can have their own space. She even enlists her friends and her shop teacher, Mr. Keller (who is also a family friend) to help her get materials and construct it. The problem is that she doesn't ask her mother's permission, and gets in trouble for traveling so far from home to work on it. There are lots of activities and get-togethers for her large Filipino family, and Lou is desperate to do anything to stay with them. She hopes that the house will be enough for her mother to reconsider, or at the very least, the award Mr. Keller nominates her for that she actually wins.

Strengths: Books where kids have skills or talents that they use to Do Something are always popular in my library, especially when they are upbeat and have some moments of humor. Lou's love of building is admirable, and a much more integral part of her personality than Ellie Engineer, which seemed a bit forced. Bonus points to the author for mentioning how rare shop programs are-- my district hasn't had any at the middle school level since 2003. I especially liked that she got her friends interested and involved. Fear of relocation is a huge thing for 7th graders, so this will make the book even more appealing. There were lots of good details about Filipino culture, but that was not the main focus of the book. Great cover, and overall fantastic debut novel.
Weaknesses: Lou engages in a fair amount of lying and deception. I hadn't noticed how many characters in middle grade novels lie and sneak around until someone mentioned that they needed books that didn't include these things!
What I really think: Definitely purchasing, and I see it being a popular title.

The House that Lou Built feels different from other books out there. It is refreshing to have a Filipino main character and allow her to stay very true to her culture without pounding it in to you. Lou was incredibly determined and full of passion. As with MG books, she had to learn a few lessons, but it worked. At times I felt the story was a little slow, but I also think there is an audience out there wanting this book.

This is a really nice story about Lou, who comes from a big extended Filipino family. She and her mom live with relatives because her mom doesn't make enough money at her nursing job to allow them have a place of their own. But her mom's been looking for a new job in Seattle, which would take them far from their family. Lou's got a plan to build their own tiny house on her own piece of land. Lou risks a lot trying to make it happen, but will it be enough? Kids are going to love learning about the Filipino culture as well as thinking about designing their own homes as they read this one.

Interesting idea for a story, building a tiny house as a kid.

I really liked getting to know Lou, who was a strong and spunky girl.

As soon as I saw the charming cover, I was hooked. The story is quick and sweet. We follow Lou as she tries to figure out what home and family mean, while also fighting for the last link she has to her dad--a little plot of land.

Lou's voice is charming and adorable throughout the book. She's so genuine, you can't help but love her. I really enjoyed getting a glimpse into her community--a culture we don't have many MG books about--and I want her lola and my grandma to get together. The world may not survive their mutual stubborn-sweet hospitality.

I was a teeny, tiiiiiiiiiiny bit disappointed in the ending, just because it landed somewhere just a little <i>too</i> sunny for me. But that probably says more about my dark cynic heart than it does about the book. :)

Overall, a delightful story with a cast that will pull you in and not let you go. I'd recommend it to young readers who are exploring their own ideas of what family and home mean.

(Thanks, Netgalley, for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!)

The House that Lou Built is about a spirited young girl determined to build her own tiny house. Lou is half-Filipina, living in a wonderful community that embraces their culture to the fullest. She is pretty happy young girl, until her mother is offered a job in another state. Lou doesn't want to be separated from her friends, family, and her land, her only connection to her father. Deciding that the house can't wait any longer, Lou sets out with the help of some friends to get building.

This wasn't my favorite. The story and the writing kind of bored me. I did love Lou and her boundless determination, inventiveness, and independence. Her family was also a wonderful part of the book. Overall, it just didn't really do it for me. My book vendor labels this book for ages 9-12. I would recommend to the lower end of that spectrum.

Tiny houses are all the rage right now. As are strong young female characters who use STEM to solve problems. This novel combines both as Respicio offers us the titular Lou who, facing the loss of the land her father left her, decides to build a tiny house in the hopes that this will allow her to stay in her neighborhood.

Lou is a determined young girl with a plan to build a tiny house. I like how her Filipino culture plays a large role in this heart-warning story.

Lou's father died before she was born but left a beautiful piece of land behind. Having grown up in her grandmother's house in San Francisco, surrounded by her Filipino family, Lou is used to sharing a small room with her mom. It's her dream to build a tiny home on her father's property. That dream becomes even more important when Lou's mom gets a job out of state and plans on moving away from their family and her father's property. If anyone can get the job done, it's handy Lou, but will she be able to do it before she has to leave behind the only place she knows as home.

Mae Respicio's THE HOUSE THAT LOU BUILT is a beautiful reflection on what makes a home and a family. Lou is a wonderful character to have gone along on this journey with. I loved seeing her growth throughout the story and the way she faced every challenge she met with determination and hope. This story will really resonate with young readers who are starting to see the world they knew get bigger as they grow.

This was such a great coming of age story rooted deeply within a loving Filipino American community. Lou has a big dream to build a tiny house in the Bay Area. Along the way she's practicing for Barrio Fiesta (hopefully she doesn't trip while dancing tinikling) and trying to convince her mom to stay in Oakland. You'll definitely want to gift this to all your younger nieces and nephews; especially any who are builders and makers.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story of a young girl who decides to build a tiny house. The representation of a Filipino-American family is wonderful. Lou is a dynamic and interesting character that reader will be rooting for. I highly recommend this book.

Mae Respicio, has written a beautiful, emotional book about a young girl of Filipino descent, Lou, who is dealing with life changes as they come. Lou’s solution to her problems is to build a tiny home on her inherited property. When this falls through she comes up with another plan and another. She is persistent. She manages to survive all the ups and downs with the support of her family and friends. This story evoked so many emotions. I was angry with Lou’s mom, Minda, whenever she reprimanded Lou. I felt sadness along with Lou whenever her plans fell apart. I felt joy when the family came together. It is an amazing read. And as an added bonus the descriptions of the different scenes; whether in the woods around Lou’s property, the dancing at the community center, or the food from Lola’s kitchen evokes wonderful imagery.

This book as a complete delight, with a wonderful supportive family, rich filipino culture, and a determined girl with a goal! I really loved the voice in this book and the wonderful main character. Now I want to build a tiny house!