Rape, the novel's central topic, is a controversial subject. Many people, particularly young adults, feel uncomfortable about addressing the subject. But Are You in the House Alone? treats the crime with sensitivity and without sensationalism. Lawver knocks Gail unconscious during the attack, and Peck does not depict graphic details. The medical examination following Gail's admittance to the hospital is described in clinical terms. Most rape victims do not seek medical treatment, and Peck tries to show readers why such an examination is important and what is involved.

Gail has been sexually active with her boyfriend before the rape and has obtained a prescription for birth control pills from a Planned Parenthood Center, but the novel does not include any explicit lovemaking scenes. Although the lawyer contends that Gail's sexual activity makes it impossible to convict the rapist, Peck views Gail's behavior as her own responsibility. Her...