The Irresistible Henry House

The Irresistible Henry House (2010) by Lisa Grunwald. Henry House is an orphan (supposedly) raised by the Home Economics class of Wilton College starting in 1946. He is so adorable that Martha Gaines, who runs the Home Ec program, cannot bear to give him up when his two year tenure as a "practice baby" has run its course. Henry is mothered by six mothers, all students in the practice baby program, plus Martha. He learns to please them all by never choosing a favorite, and this is reflected in his later life when he is unable to choose one girl over another, one woman over another, one girlfriend over another. He is a talented artist, and this leads him to travel to California, where he gets a job in Walt Disney's animation studios. Later, he travels to London, where he works on the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine." His adolescent, teen and young adult years are all set against the backdrop of the '60s, a time of turmoil, free sex and drugs. Henry's ultimate goal, although even he may not have realized it, is to find love. Eventually, when he sees himself in the eyes of another house baby named Peace, he realizes what he must do to complete his journey. I found this novel enchanting and very entertaining, and its ending satisfying. Grade: A