Tough-O-Meter

We've got your back. With the Tough-O-Meter, you'll know whether to bring extra layers or Swiss army knives as you summit the literary mountain. (10 = Toughest)

(3) Base Camp

From the get-go, The Orange Houses has us intrigued. After all, we learn there's a hanging at the end of the book—but we have no clue why. It's this non-linear structure that makes The Orange Houses a bit of a hike. Sure, if you think about it, the plot isn't particularly complex—it basically tells the tale of three teenagers—yet it's all the subtlety and hidden clues about what's going down that makes this story a little on the complicated side.

That said, once you get used to the author's style and hint-dropping, you'll be sure to follow along. Like we said, this one's only a bit of a climb.