This was EXCELLENT! This mother... she bears her soul to the world! I honestly do not think I would have the strength to bear all of the turmoil with my son, if he was addicted to drugs. BUT I am so in awe of Mrs. Becker for sharing this most personal story. It teaches so much on the subject matter. My heart goes out to all who may be experiencing this dilemma! I have a much greater respect for the families going through this!

I received a copy of this in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.

I adore this book. This book gave an honest and realistic view into life with addiction. I recommend this to any and every parent to read. seriously.

A memoir reveals the heartbreak of addiction.

As a recovering opioid of intravenous heroin addict of over 15 years, I have a deep interest in all aspects of addiction, especially its effects on the family. Becker provides a detailed account of just that; an intimate portrayal of the effects that her teenage son, Hunter’s, addiction has on her, her husband their two younger children.

The first portion of the memoir takes us through Hunter’s childhood with a fine-tooth comb as Becker, as a tender and loving mortician performing an autopsy on her own loved one, dissects every aspect of his nature, environment, their parenting decisions to find the elusive answer to the question most parents of addicts want answering, “Where did it go wrong?” This was frustrating for me, both as a reader and as an addiction’s counsellor, as there is no satisfactory or conclusive answer to this question.

She writes, “His inner self was perfect and complete to me, and this led me to normalise Hunter’s behaviour and discount warning signs.”

Warning signs? How does one separate “warning signs” from age-appropriate developmental behaviour?

Parents often want to blame themselves or pinpoint that exact moment when their child went from “normal” to addict. It’s impossible. Becker ploughs through and attempts to find that “tipping point”.

I was moved by Becker’s conflict as a mother to both instil boundaries to protect herself and the rest of her family and to protect her eldest son from himself. I felt exasperated at her inability to set and maintain more rigid boundaries but fully comprehended that her love for Hunter blurred those invisible lines.

She writes, “We were worn down by how ineffectual we felt, incapable of successfully enforcing any consequences we set for Hunter.”

I felt her frustration as she floundered in a bureaucratic system not prepared for what was to become an epidemic and so had to do much of her research and aiding of Hunter in finding recovery fumbling in the proverbial dark. The journey with Hunter attempting – and failing – to get clean was heart-wrenching, and his lack of remorse was devastating. Each time chipping away savagely at his family’s hope, trust and compassion.

“Here’s what I taught you, Mom,” I heard Hunter say. “You control nothing. That’s why I came.”

It could be every addict’s credo.

He alienates himself almost entirely from his younger siblings, and I think more could have been written about the impact it had on them but, in the same breath, what was written spoke volumes.

Becker writes well, candidly and from the heart, but I cannot say that the story gripped me. Perhaps it was something in the structure of the book that could have been different…

But I do believe that she has told a vitally important story that will resonate with many caught in the grips of a similar, if not, identical predicament, and offer some comfort and insight that people are not suffering in isolation.


Desiree-Anne Martin


Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

Thank you for sharing your story. My family has been affected by drugs as well, including heroin, methadone and fentanyl and I appreciate the strength it took for you to share this.

First of all, I feel so sorry for this mom.

This is a story of a family whose oldest son got addicted to drugs. They weren't a poor family or a family who didn't pay attention to their children. Hunter came from a loving home with supportive parents.

So many times when a teen messes up, you hear people saying, "Its the parent's fault". These comments really miss me off. The children make the choice.

In the book, Hunters mom is telling how they consistently helped Hunter. In their hearts they knew they were enabling him but they also felt assured knowing their son wasn't on the streets. I am sure this was a hard decision for them. They just wanted their son to be safe.

I enjoyed reading this story. For some reason I have always been fascinated by drug addiction and what causes people to start the downward spiral. I work-related to the mom on a small level. Although I don't have a child who has been addicted to drugs, I do have a child who does things I don't agree with. However, I still love her and that will never change.

Thank you enthralled for allowing me to read this in exchange for my honest review.

A House on Stilts by Paula Becker is such a roller coaster ride. This book took my feelings for a crazy ride: I was smiling one moment, crying uncontrollably the next, proud now and so so disappointed later. Hunter's story is such a heartbreaking one that happens all over this country, again and again. Becker shows that she has done her research on programs, drugs, and the history of Seattle as it is related to drugs. She also shows the devastating effect that a person with addiction can have on their family, and the struggle between wanting to care for your child but not wanting to be an enabler. Becker does not hold back in her account, which is much appreciated. I am glad that addiction is starting to be talked about more, which will hopefully lead to more help for those affected by it. Writing this book must've been very difficult but it is much appreciated.

I have recently read numerous biographies and memoirs and many of them have focused on the theme of addiction. Addiction was once 'hush-hush' and considered to be a dirty little secret. It is now beginning to be viewed not as shameful, but as a disease that is just as deadly as cancer, and one that can (and does) strike anyone at any age.

Many people look down on addicts and their families. They blame the addict's parents, lifestyle, socioeconomic status, race, religion or any other of a myriad of factors upon which someone can place the blame.  Often, in their smugness, they think "we are nothing like that family, therefore addiction will never be part of our lives." Oh, how wrong they may be.

Paula Becker and her husband were living a charmed life. They were happy and when they added a son, Hunter, to the equation, they felt even more blessed. Adding another son and a daughter, and they were content.

In order to give their children, what they believed to be, an idyllic upbringing, Paula and her husband decided to homeschool them. Her husband was the main income provider and Paula could work as a part-time author from home. So, although it meant that they would have to be extremely smart with their spending, they were willing to do anything it took to ensure their children's lives would be filled with learning and love.

Does this sound like a home where an opiate addict might come from? If asked, most people would answer "No." Therein lies the challenge of identifying a person with a predilection toward addiction. 

A HOUSE ON STILTS will force readers to confront the fact that addiction can (and does) happen to anyone, regardless of economic status, race, religion, colour, disability, location or any other of the myriad of reasons  people have blamed for addiction.

Paula Becker's memoir A HOUSE ON STILTS is being released at the perfect time. I firmly believe that every parent needs to read this book, and needs to read it NOW!

Paula Becker's memoir will tug at your heartstrings as she writes about how her family's life changes as her eldest son first dabbles, then dives headfirst into drugs. As Hunter's addiction spirals out of control, his parents mourn the loss not only of his mental and physical health, but also the loss of a mother's dreams for her son.

The Beckers family was lucky in that due to their economic status and health care insurance, they had the resources to get the very best treatment money could buy. Yet despite having so many advantages in life and even in addiction treatment options, they found that no matter what the family tried, that it would not work. They couldn't wish Hunter better because it is the addict who must want to change.

One of the things I admire most about the author is her candor. She does not sugarcoat or try to justify any actions she has taken, nor does she try to make Hunter sound any better or worse than he really was. I am also happy that she chose to include details as to how Hunter's addiction impacted his two siblings.

Written with her heart on her sleeve, Paula Becker's memoir is important and deserves the highest possible rating. I rate A HOUSE ON STILTS as 5+ OUT OF 5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

*** Thank you to NetGalley and to the Publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book.***
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