Book Review: Home Alone by Todd Strasser

By georgelthomas on 13 Dec 2024 • ( 1 )

Hi everyone! I hope you’re all well. Today is Friday, and it’s time for another review. Today, I am reviewing Todd Strasser’s novelisation of the classic Christmas movie, Home Alone.

Home Alone was initially published in 1991 by Scholastic and is 136 pages long.

The Plot
Home Alone tells the unforgettable story of Kevin McCallister, a young boy who accidentally gets left behind by his family during their Christmas vacation and is forced to fend for himself against two bumbling burglars.

Characters
Kevin McCallister
Kevin is a seven-year-old boy who wakes to discover that, after wishing away his family, they have vanished. What has actually transpired, however, is that in their rush to leave the house to go on their Christmas vacation, Kevin’s family accidentally forgot him. Initially, he is scared and lonely, but Kevin soon comes into his own, utilising his wits and resourcefulness to defend himself and his family home from a pair of burglars.

Kate McCallister
Kate is Kevin’s mother. She’s a busy fashion designer who loves her family very much, although she has little time to spend with them. After telling Kevin off for his behaviour, she sends him to sleep in the attic room.

Amid the rush, the following morning, Kate mistakenly believes Kevin is aboard the flight to Paris with his four siblings. Upon realising he has been forgotten, she is wracked with guilt and moves heaven and earth to try and get back home to him.

Peter McAllister
Peter is Kevin’s father and a busy businessman who often neglects family life in favour of his work and seems to defer more to his wife to make decisions. Like his wife, he doesn’t realise that Kevin is not with them.

Harry Lyme
Harry leads the duo of burglars intent on ravaging the neighbourhood while its wealthy occupants are away for the holidays.

Harry is the brainier of the two, with a cunning and ruthless personality and a short temper.

Marv Murchens
Marv is the more comical of the two burglars, with a goofy and clumsy demeanour that often results in his own misfortune.

Old Man Marley
Old Man Marley is a mysterious figure who lives across the street from the McCallisters. Kevin is afraid of him because the kids in town say he’s a murderer who buries his victims in his basement. However, throughout the story, Kevin befriends him, learning that he is actually kind and gentle.

Writing Style
Todd Strasser does an excellent job of adapting the film to novel format, and his easy, engaging style allows readers to be swept easily into the story. The chapters aren’t overly long (which I love), and the book is a breeze; I read it over two bedtimes.

Like all good novelisations, this one delves a little deeper into the characters and expands upon scenes, adding depth to the overall story — and, while the movie focuses primarily on the physical comedy and absurd hijinks that ensue, I feel like Strasser’s novel delves deeper into Kevin’s emotional state, highlighting the loneliness and fear he experiences as he struggles to fend for himself in a world that’s suddenly very big and very scary without his parents.

Often, novelisations carry the weight of high fan expectations, and in the case of ‘Home Alone’, the challenge is to capture not only the plot but the film’s essence – the comical moments and the touching portrayal of Kevin McCallister’s adventure – while using only words. Mission accomplished, I’d say!

Books rely heavily on the reader’s imagination and interpretation, and Strasser’s accomplishment lies in how cohesively he pulls the reader into the snow-globe world of ‘Home Alone’. From the suburban Chicago setting to the frantic ambience of the McCallister household as they prepare for their Parisian holiday, the scenery is painted beautifully, breathing cinematic life into the pages.

Final Thoughts
Overall, Todd Strasser’s novelisation of Home Alone is a must-read for Home Alone fans and a great starting point for readers who may not have seen the film before. It’s a fun, engaging, and heartfelt story that will keep readers hooked from beginning to end and a brilliant example of how a good novelisation can enhance and expand upon a beloved film.

I Am giving Hime Alone full marks. 10/10.

Have you read the novelisation of Home Alone? What did you think of it?

As ever, thank you for stopping by to read my review. It means a lot.

Until next time,

George