Home Alone (novelization)

Home Alone
Main character(s):	Kevin McCallister
Villain(s):	Harry Lyme Marv Murchins
Main crew
Writer(s):	Todd Strasser
Other details
Distributed:	Scholastic

Home Alone is a novelization of the film of the same name written by Todd Strasser, based upon the screenplay by John Hughes. It was published two months after the film's first release.

Strasser additionally wrote Home Alone 2 and Home Alone 3 novelizations.

Story

See also: Home Alone § Plot

To be added.

Differences from film

• The book states that the McCallisters live in Oak Park. The original film does not indicate where they live, but Home Alone 2: Lost in New York places them in Winnetka, which is consistent with the filming location.
• Kevin is seven years old in the book, but in the film, he is eight years old.
• Kevin is said to have brown hair.
• Tracy is described as having blonde hair and braces.
• Rod McCallister is identified as Rob and Georgette's son.
• The book includes a scene where Kevin helps Frank with the VCR. Frank then does not let Kevin watch Angels with Filthy Souls; this portion of the scene is mentioned in the film.
• Frank is described as being chubby.
• Marv and Harry stake out houses before Harry changes into a cop uniform to enter the McCallister home as they pack.
• Kate's hair is described as dark and wavy.
• Kate wears a black business suit in her first scene.
• Kate is said to be a clothing designer.
• The McCallisters' dog is named Ralphy.
• Some dialogue throughout is slightly different.
• Peter's hair is black.
• Kate says Kevin was caught playing with a blowtorch instead of a glue gun.
• Harry's police uniform (which is rented from a costume shop) is too tight on his neck and its sleeves too short.
• Tracy lets Harry into the house.
• Megan's hair is curly.
• Buzz's tarantula is named Axl, implied to be named after Axl Rose, who Buzz has a poster of.
• Marley has an unkempt appearance, walks with a limp, and shovels sidewalks instead of salting them.
• Uncle Frank pranks Kevin by pulling his pants down in front of everyone in the kitchen. A similar scene was deleted from the film, but instead takes place on the second-floor landing and isn't done in front of anyone.
• Kate gives Harry $20 as a donation to the police department.
• A scene with Harry leaving the McCallister house and returning to Marv in the van is included.
• Peter forgets to turn on the answering machine instead of closing the garage.
• Marv and Harry are first deterred away from the McCallister house after successfully breaking into the basement because Kevin turns on all the lights in the house so it is not so dim.
• The drugstore clerk identifies Herb as her husband.
• The injury Marley has on his hand at the drugstore is explained as being from his snow shovel.
• The drugstore clerk does not ask Jimmy to stop Kevin, instead signaling a policeman.
• Ed and Irene are middle aged, dressed in Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox attire, and headed to Chicago. Ed additionally wears a hearing aid. They ultimately don't decide to help Kate.
• When pranking the pizza boy with the Angels with Filthy Souls tape, he uses a lamp to cast a shadow of himself wielding Buzz's BB gun when Johnny prepares to shoot Snakes.
• Linnie wakes in the early morning hours on Christmas Eve and finds her father awake. She laments the possibility that they may have to spend Christmas without Kate and Kevin.
• The grocery store cashier does not question Kevin.
• It is Harry who Kevin scares with Angels with Filthy Souls.
• Kate meets Gus Polinski and the Kenosha Kickers in Detroit instead of Scranton. The band travels in a station wagon and wear red jackets.
• Kevin shoots Harry in the knee instead of the groin and Marv three times in the forehead.
• Harry falls once on his face on the front porch.
• Kevin heats the doorknob with the blowtorch instead of a barbecue lighter.
• Harry cools his hand with the ice and uses his crowbar to get through the front.
• The blowtorch and feather fan are moved to the front door and living room.
• Marv steps on multiple nails and pulls them out before coming out of the basement and running into the ornaments. Again he pulls pieces out.
• Kevin shoots them with the BB gun again before hitting Harry in the face with a paint can, knocking many teeth out. He throws a second at Marv's head when he's distracted.
• The tarantula scares Harry and Marv gets whacked.
• Harry tries to reason with Kevin before he cuts the rope.
• Kevin goes to Marley's house instead of the Murphys' to evade Marv and Harry.
• Marley taps on Harry's shoulder and gets mistaken for Marv before hitting Harry first with the shovel.
• Harry and Marv are described as swollen, with Harry having lost multiple teeth.
• On Christmas morning, Kevin prepares to throw a paperweight at the Christmas tree in retaliation against Santa Claus for not bringing his family back. He decides against it and goes to his parents' bedroom to spend the disappointing Christmas in bed.
• Since Kevin is not downstairs when Kate arrives, she rings a bell ornament to get his attention.

Trivia

To be added.