A House Is Not a Home
About the Author: Zan Gaudioso
Zan Gaudioso is an American writer known for her inspiring and motivational stories. Her writings often focus on real-life challenges faced by young people and how they overcome them. She has contributed to the famous book series Chicken Soup for the Soul, where many of her stories highlight kindness, courage, and emotional growth.
Story Summary: A House Is Not a Home
This story is a personal experience of the author during her school days. When the author enters a new school, she feels lonely and uncomfortable. Everything feels unfamiliar — new teachers, new classrooms and new environment. She misses her old school where teachers knew her well and she was more confident.
One Sunday afternoon, something unexpected happens. A fire suddenly breaks out in her house. The entire house is burning and everyone is forced to run outside. The author watches her home — full of memories, books, photographs and belongings — disappear in flames. Her pet cat also goes missing during the chaos. This makes her feel heartbroken and helpless.
For the next few days, she feels lost. All her belongings are gone and she must wear donated clothes. She feels embarrassed, lonely, and emotionally weak. However, something wonderful happens at school — her classmates begin supporting her. They donate school supplies, clothes, uniforms, and even encourage her with kindness and care. Slowly, she begins to feel accepted and confident again.
After a few weeks, there is a surprise: firemen find her lost cat hiding safely in the rubble of the burnt house. When the author sees her pet again, she realizes an important truth — a house is just a building, but a home is made of love, people, safety, warmth and emotional connection.
Through the support of her friends, teachers, and the return of her cat, she regains hope and understands the deep meaning behind the title: “A House Is Not a Home.”
Word Meanings
- Embarrassed – feeling uncomfortable or shy
- Rubble – broken pieces of a destroyed building
- Raged – burned violently
- Chaos – complete confusion
- Sentimental – emotional attachment
NCERT Question Answers
- Why does the author feel awkward during her first few days at the new school?
Ans. She feels awkward because everything is new to her — new teachers, new classmates and a new environment. She misses her old school where she felt confident and comfortable. - Why was the author deeply upset when her house burned down?
Ans. She was upset because she lost all her belongings, important memories, schoolwork, clothes, photos and also her pet cat went missing. - Why does the author say that her life changed after the fire?
Ans. Her life changed because she received love, care and support from her new schoolmates. This helped her overcome loneliness and build confidence. - How did her old school teachers make her feel better?
Ans. Her old school teachers encouraged her, hugged her and assured her everything would be fine. Their warmth made her feel supported. - What made her realize that she was beginning to fit in at the new school?
Ans. When her new classmates supported her, shared supplies with her, and interacted kindly, she realized she was no longer lonely and was becoming a part of the school community. - Why is the return of the cat important at the end of the story?
Ans. The cat symbolizes love, comfort, and emotional attachment. Its return brings happiness and teaches the author that home is about love — not just a physical building.
Extra Questions for Exams
Short Answer Type Questions
- What difficulties did the author face after shifting to the new school?
- How did the firemen help the author later?
- What emotions did the author feel after the fire?
- How did the author's attitude change by the end of the story?
Long Answer Type Question
Q: Describe how the support from her classmates changed the author's feelings and life.
Ans. In the beginning, the author felt lonely and uncomfortable in her new school. After the fire, she had lost everything and became emotionally broken. However, the kindness of her classmates changed her life. They donated supplies, supported her emotionally and treated her with care, which helped her gain confidence and feel accepted. Their support taught her that love, friendship, and kindness play an important role in making a place feel like home.
Moral of the Story
A house is only a building — but a home is created through love, relationships, support, and emotional connection.
Written & Compiled by: DHved Learning Team