The Umbrella House

by Colleen Nelson

In this intimate and inspiring novel about the power of art and the value of community, award-winning author and former New Yorker Colleen Nelson brings life and liveliness to an eccentric cast of New York City neighbors.

Middle-schooler and New Yorker Roxy Markowski wants to tell the truth fearlessly and powerfully, just like her idols at Veracity News. She and her best friend Scout already make YouTube videos together about East Village life, so when Veracity News announces a Young Voices video competition, Roxy knows it's the perfect opportunity to make a name for herself, if only she can find a story worth telling. When a real-estate mogul threatens to buy her historic East Village apartment building, Umbrella House, Roxy sets out to create a video about the people who live in her building, depicting their love for art, community, and family.

With time-and her options for saving Umbrella House-running out, Roxy finds herself caught up in the mystery of the Midnight Muralist, a famous East Village artist whose murals once made buildings famous and valuable. Could finding this enigmatic artist be the key to saving her historic East Village apartment building?

Genres: Middle Grade, Mystery, Juvenile, Fiction, Audiobook, Childrens

Audible Audio

Published October 10, 2024

About the author

Colleen Nelson is the author of YA fiction books Finding Hope (2016), 250 Hours (2015), The Fall (2013) and Tori by Design (2011). 'The Fall' and 'Tori by Design' both won the McNally Robinson Book of the Year Award. 'The Fall' was also nominated for the White Pine Award. Currently living in Winnipeg with her husband, two young sons and three grown step-children, Colleen manages to eke out time to write everyday, but usually in the early morning after a strong cup of coffee. A junior high school teacher for ten years before having children, Colleen is familiar and comfortable with the tricky phase of life called 'adolescence'. Now a Teacher-Librarian in Winnipeg, Canada, Colleen is constantly on the look-out for books that will catch the attention of her reading-reluctant sons.

Reviews

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ALC of this book to listen to in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

***AUDIO BOOK VERSION***
The Umbrella House is a beautifully narrated children's book with some great points for discussion as well as thought-provoking areas.
Rosie and Scout are best friends who live in an old apartment building called Umbrella House. The pair love to do content-creating ; Rosie does the research and reporting side, and Scout works the camera. When an exciting competition comes up, the pair are super excited to enter. But things get thrown up in the air when developers start targeting small local businesses and try to take Umbrella House by abolishing its rights and the rights of those who live there as a co-op of former squatters. The house was originally an empty building many decades ago until squatters started doing the place up, fixing, repairing and making it a home for them to live in as a community which they were granted rights to by a judge.
When the friends discover something related to some famous art murals in their area, they hope they can help put a stop to the developers through using it.
There are other situations the pair must navigate, such as their friendship, going off in new directions, insecurities, self-confidence, and more addressed in the story, too. Overall, this was a great listen and would make a great story for discussion in schools too.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A JLG Gold Standard choice, Colleen Nelson’s middle grade book tackles the issue of gentrification head on while weaving in more common themes of changing friendships, tough life choices and determination to fulfill goals. 7th grade Roxy and Scout live in the eclectic East Village of New York and together, produce a YouTube series about their home, with Roxy acting as the face in front of the camera and Scout the photographer/videographer behind it. Over time, their viewership and skills have grown and now they are entering a contest in order to work alongside a popular newscaster. Their topic is the negative effect that recent buy outs and new builds has had on their community and a win might save the purchase and demolition of their home, the Umbrella House. Fact and fiction are mixed together giving readers an appreciation for either a city they know or one they may never visit in any other way than through books like this one. Scout and Roxy are likable and relatable to the target audience of grades 4-7 and its length of only 218 pages makes it approachable for most. Highly recommended for those who enjoy a realistic, good guys win in the end book. Text is free of profanity, violence and sexual content. Representation: Neither the cover nor physical descriptions identify the ethnic backgrounds of main characters but naming conventions may lead readers to picturing at least one Hispanic and one AAPI character; Scout has two moms but their same sex relationship is not a topic investigated in the book, only known due to phrases such as “Scout’s two moms” and “Mom and Maman” titles; residents of Umbrella House are working class as are most of the neighbors who are described in more than a passing way. For another MG novel with similar themes and Jewish representation, try Ellie’s Deli: Wishing on Matzo Ball Soup.

Thanks for sharing a finished copy to #BookAllies, Colleen and Pajama Press.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read. The background about this book is interesting.

[Lillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

2023-2024 Silver Birch Fiction nominee

[Sirah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roxie and Scout are a content-creating team. With Roxie using her research and reporting skills and Scout holding the camera and doing the editing, they're almost sure they can't lose the upcoming Veracity kids' video competition. But in the meantime, they learn that their apartment building, Umbrella House, is being targeted by developers who are trying to abolish its rights as a co-op for former squatters. The two kids hope that their news stories and some local art movements will be enough to save their community, but it looks less hopeful when Scout announces that he's thinking of going away to a photography camp all summer.

This book has a lot of moving parts, but it worked together to create something pretty compelling. Personally, I might have taken out Scout's arc, but it adds a certain balance to the book and helps create multiple points of tension as Roxie tries to figure out whether she's good enough at reporting. There's a lot of history tucked into this short book, and it was fun to think about the many artists of various sorts who have made a difference by sharing truth in an aesthetic way. I admit I was looking for something a little more magical after I saw the cover art on this book, but I'm not disappointed, and that art really is beautiful.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Peaarly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Read by Curtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A plucky heroine, a likeable cast, and a David v. Goliath fight against gentrification, this novel reads like Hallmark for Kids. And there's nothing wrong with that.

[Sharon Jean M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great story on the political perspective of a run-down neighborhood in New York and how a group of people who may have little monetary power can come together to make a change.

[Artina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Pajama Press in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Umbrella House is a story about friendship, community, activism, and so much more. Roxy and Scout are best friends who grew up in The Umbrella House in the East Village of NYC. The Umbrella House has quite the past and represents the hard-working tenants from a variety of backgrounds and ethnicities. The neighborhood is being bought up by developers and Roxy, Scout, and the other tenants of The Umbrella House rally together to save their home.

This book provides a great introduction into the pros and cons of gentrification. It also stands as a great example of ways to get involved in your community regardless of your age.

Colleen Nelson did a great job of painting a picture of the things that make NYC unique. A peek into a busy city, with unique housing situations and co-ops, and showcasing a potpourri of individuals both young and old. There is mystery as they hunt to figure out who is the Midnight Muralist.

The coolest part of the book for me was finding out that The Umbrella House is an actual place in NYC. This would be a great book to inspire students and readers to pick a topic they are passionate about and finding a way to share that passion with the community.

[Carla Wilkerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this from NetGalley this week and it was a wonderful for 3rd-7th graders. The story follows Roxy and Scout as they along with her neighbors and Roxy’s grandmother try and save their building from being bought. There was a little mystery as Roxy tries to find out the identity of the Midnight Muralist. As a teacher I think this would be a good book to discuss how a community can be changed by gentrification as well as how a community can come together for their neighborhood.

[Valentina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Pajama Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC (advanced reader copy) of this book. The following review is my honest opinion.

In this middle grade fiction novel, we follow Roxy from New York City. She finds out about a ‘Young Voices Video Competiton’, which she is determined to win with the help of her best friend Scout. While he is carrying a secret, Roxy is trying to find out who the Midnight Muralist is and how to stop the residents of umbrella house from being victims of gentrification.

First of all, I loved the found family and tight-knit community aspect in this book. Almost all characters seemed to have some sort of depth to them. Roxy often shows introspective thinking, which I prefer to emotionally underdeveloped main characters. I also liked how the author includes difficult topics such as gentrification. This could serve as a good educational point and leaves room for discussion.

The narrator did a very good job of depicting the main character. It was a very pleasant experience listening to this audiobook.

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Roxy lives in the Umbrella house where her grandmother first began to live as a squatter who gained rights over the property in a co-op after the legal owners tried to evict the squatters. She and her best friend want to do a news story about a graffiti artist who vandalizes buildings without permission but whose work is considered legitimate art. The big bad conglomerate is buying up properties in the area and evicting tenants, and Roxy worries that they might try to take away her beloved home.

I didn't finish this book. I read the first forty pages and realized that the moral premise of the book doesn't quite align with my own moral compass. I think I would have just been annoyed with the moral perspective in this book. Any other time I might have continued to read anyway and been interested to explore someone else's perspective. However, I started reading this while I had a toothache, and I just wasn't in the mood for all the moral gray areas.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Roxy and Scout live in the East Village of New York City in (the fictionalized) Umbrella House. In the 1980s, the building was abandoned, but artists who needed homes squatted in the building and fixed it up. Roxy's grandmother, who finds and refurbishes vintage items to sell, was one of these first residents. The community is very close, but worried about the changes in their neighborhood brought on by a developer who is trying to gentrify the area. Roxy is very interested in news reporting, and Scout in videography, and the two want to enter a Young Voices competition run by Veracity News, which they love. They've been reporting for the EaVill Kids network, so feel they have an edge if they just just settle on a riveting topic. When a neighboring building is sold to the developer and a beloved joke shop has to go out of business, they think this might work, but Roxy finds out information about her family's past and ties to the Midnight Muralist who brought a lot of attention to the area. When the developer threatens the Umbrella House itself, Roxy and Scout know they need to act. Will they be able to save the artistic integrity of their neighborhood as well as their home?

New York City has so much rich history, and I know so little of it! I'm always glad for books like Tarpley's The Harlem Charade or Rodriguez and Bell's Doodles from the Boogie Down that offer a tantalizing glimpse into a more urban existence. It's fascinating that a city would choose to cut holes in the roof of a building and fill the pipes with cement rather than trying to sell or tear down an abandoned edifice. The artistic culture that Roxy's grandmother is part of certainly benefitted from it, and the portrayal of a neighborhood in transition is an interesting one.

Roxy and Scout are very dedicated to their news reporting, and Veracity News is an interesting outlet. Many writers get their start in Young Voices competitions, so seeing the struggles that the two had to get their episode produced will appeal to young reporters. Scout has an opportunity to go to camp which puts a realistic strain on their project as well as on their relationship.

I can't say that I have ever seen a book that portrays gentrification as a good thing, so The Umbrella House will be a good choice for readers who enjoyed Dilloway's Five Thing About Ava Andrews, Giles' Take Back the Block, Watson's This Side of Home, or Broaddus' Unfadeable. I'm old enough to remember when gentrification was called "urban renewal" and was generally thought of as a way to get people into safer housing, but I understand that things are viewed differently now.

[Tris Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

**4.25**

You should read this book if...you are looking for a heartwarming story that explains gentrification in a way children can understand!

Genre: Middle Grade, Contemporary Fiction
POV: First Person
Setting: East Village, New York City, New York

Synopsis: Middle-schooler and Youtuber Roxy Markowski dreams of being able to tell powerful stories like her idol at Veracity News, Evelyn Pauls. to tell the truth fearlessly and powerfully, just like her idols at Veracity News. When Veracity News announces a Young Voices video contest, she and her best friend, Scout decide to enter, but first they need a worthy story. One comes unexpectedly when the only home she’s ever known, Umbrella House, is threatened by a real-estate mogul. This gives her a chance to not only make a name for herself in the competition, but also to try to save the place she loves by showcasing the art, love, and beauty of the people who inhabit Umbrella house. Will she be able to bring awareness to her dilemma and save her home? And could the key to achieving this be found in the identity Midnight Muralist, an artist who became famous years before Roxy was ever born?

My Review: This story is not only inspiring and educational, it’s also fun to read! Gentrification can be a difficult subject for children and teenagers to understand, and this story did a phenomenal job of explaining and demonstrating it in a way that makes sense. Roxy is a relatable character to a lot of young people. She has ambition, but she also has her own personal history and problems she has to work through.

The representation in this book was really nice to see as well. It’s so important for kids (and adults) to see families like theirs represented in various forms of media. Many people have been raised by their grandmothers, like Roxy. A lot of people have two moms like her best friend, Scout. That representation made me love this story even more.

I listened to the audiobook for this story, and I really liked it. The narrator read at a natural pace and did a great job with inflection and giving each character their own voice. I absolutely recommend this one for someone who wants something to listen to with their kids on a roadtrip or wants an impactful but lighthearted read for themselves.

[Tales Untangled · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Pajama Press in exchange for my honest opinion.

Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Age: Middle Grade
Representation: Different Races, Economic Diversity, LGBTQ (two gay mothers are mentioned)

I love how THE UMBRELLA HOUSE tackles a real issue. If everything is purchased and gentrified, where will all those displaced people go? Who has the right to determine what a neighborhood's flavor is? The residents or outsiders?

The Umbrella House in NYC is a real place! I thought that added another dimension to this story about community.

Ruby and Miguel are best friends that nothing can separate, right?
But when Miguel has a secret, and Ruby is determined to win the Young Voices competition, they're not exactly talking like they used to. Ruby is confused and tied up in knots, showing a complex character. I love nuance in my characters.

There's also the secret of the Midnight Muralist. Who is this artist? Could they help save the video and the neighborhood? The added touch of a mystery is always a plus in any book!

I love the focus on family, friends, and art in this book. It captured me from the beginning! This is a great book to read whether you live in the city, suburbs, or countryside. It's also interesting to see how this story brings a conversation about gentrification in older, economically struggling areas—a problem in all large cities. The original owners of the Umbrella House were squatters that made it livable after it was abandoned and the city poured cement through the pipes. Why? When there's a need for affordable housing. Teachers are going to love having this book in their hands to teach about community and so many other good things.

Happy reading!

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance listening copy of The Umbrella House. This review is based on the final published audiobook, which I obtained after the initial ARC period. All opinions are my own.
Colleen Nelson's The Umbrella House is a middle-grade novel centered on a unique, vibrant apartment building and the close-knit community of residents who call it home. When their beloved building is threatened by development, the children and adults must band together to find a way to save it.
While I initially found the story a bit slow-paced when reading the physical book, switching to the audiobook transformed my experience. The narration was compelling and brought the characters, particularly the children, to life. The narrative skillfully balances ups and downs; the characters face genuine challenges without the story becoming overwhelmingly depressing, nor does it present an unrealistically charmed life where everything goes right.
The true heart of The Umbrella House lies in its genuinely touching depiction of friendships, found-family relationships, and the residents' deep desire to preserve their cherished community and way of life. While the threat of gentrification drives the plot, the narrative excels as a warm and engaging story about belonging and the emotional fight for their home.
Despite being aimed at a younger audience, I enjoyed listening to The Umbrella House. I particularly recommend it in its audiobook format.

[BooksWithMyCoffeeBlog · Rating 5 out of 5]

🎧🎨 Middle Grade Book Review 🎨🎧
⭐5/5 Stars – Very quick listen 🎧
A coming-of-age story where two middle school journalists, Roxy and Scout, learn the importance of community, finding their voices, and the true value of art. All while unraveling mysteries that could be the key to saving their town from a real estate mogul.
I truly enjoyed this audiobook and am thankful to have received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Roxy and Scout love the art of telling stories, so when Veracity News announces their Young Voices video competition, Roxy knows this is their shot. While trying to fill her creative well for a story for the competition, Roxy and Scout learn that their beloved town is threatened by a real estate mogul. When they learn the mogul wants to buy the historic East Village apartment building, the Umbrella House, Roxy knows they have found their story. What Roxy didn’t expect was the mystery being the Midnight Muralist, their village artist who once was famous for their murals around the East Village buildings. Will Roxy learn who the Midnight Muralist is? Will she keep her moral compass through the process, or will the desire to win be too powerful for Roxy to remember the real reason behind the story?
✨The Vibes ✨
🔍Mysterious- Who is the artist
🌀Coming of age
❤️Found family
🎨Fighting for their city
✨Diverse characters
💔Loss of a parent- Death off-page. Handled well.

What’s the last middle-grade book you read? Drop your answers 👇

[Kay S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

While it takes place in New York, this story echoes major issues in Canadian urban centres. It's exciting and well written with great plots about branching out on one's own while also having a place to land. It was great to read a middle-grade title that didn't revolve around school - it was still a point in their lives (for gathering, celebrating victories, finding encouragement… etc) but the focus was on the kids' home.

Also, the kids all had great home lives! With caring families that don't match the traditional family unit!

This is a very timely title. It subverts the usual narrative for kid lit with an easily identifiable villain with the ultimate decision lying with elected and city officials. Yes, the kids identify the real estate mogul as the villain in the whole thing, but he played such a small role… he is hardly seen and rarely mentioned. The city is the focus. That local politics matter as much as the big televised elections because they have sway over things that matter on a personal level. / Overall, I liked this book a lot. I hope it inspires an age of guerrilla artistry and activists and kids who grow into adults who know what fights matter.

[Jill Jemmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twelve-year-old Roxy Markowski has a YouTube channel with her best friend Scout where they talk about their lives in the East Village in New York City. They both live in an apartment building called The Umbrella House, which is a historic building. When a real estate mogul wants to buy The Umbrella House and tear it down, Roxy becomes determined to do anything to save her home. Along with help from Scout and her grandmother, Roxy starts a campaign to save her historic home.

I had never heard of The Umbrella House before reading this story. There was a brief note at the beginning of the book that explained the history of the building. It was an abandoned building that was made uninhabitable, but squatters still moved in. Eventually the squatters improved the building, making it habitable again, and turned it into a co-op building. It was so nice to learn about this through a middle school story. The story showed first hand why it’s important to save historical buildings that embody the personality of a neighbourhood.

The Umbrella House is a fun and empowering story!

Thank you Pajama Press for sending me a copy of this book!

[Jessica Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Umbrella House is the story of community and how gentrification can change or — in some cases — destroy it.

The story is told from Roxy’s point of view. She’s bright and community minded, and she dreams of becoming a journalist. Her bold personality is tempered by her friend Scout, a talented photographer that is more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it. Both Roxy and Scout are well-realized and a quirky cast of supporting characters add dimension and liveliness.

Roxy’s apartment building is what they call a “squat” building. The original landlord stopped maintain and paying taxes on the building, and it became abandoned. Over time, squatters moved in and started fixing it up. After the squatters transformed the building, the city tried to kick them out. They went to court, and the squatters won the right to the building, paying $1 each. Now a co-op, the residents learn that with one vote, the city council can sell the building out from under them. That’s where Roxy’s video comes in.

At just over 200 pages, The Umbrella House is an accessible middle-grade book that is full of life and creativity. It has broad appeal and is a fulfilling read.

[Farah G · Rating 4 out of 5]

When middle school student Roxy, who lives with her grandmother, discovers that the building in which they live, the Umbrella House - with its rich heritage, unique history and vibrant community - is slated for takeover and demolition, she decides to take up the fight, emulating her heroes, the journalists at Veracity News.

But Roxy and her friends and neighbours have a tough fight on their hands. Unless they can come up with an unbeatable argument, they are likely to lose this battle. Can Roxy come up with an ace up her sleeve at the last minute?

This is a very timely story, given the just communities in America currently face with regards to gentrification, access to services, corporate greed, and the disregard with which the arts are being treated. This book is worth sharing with readers in the target group because it explains many of the challenges facing American society in ways that can be easily grasped - not least the value of activism.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Ana W · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really lovely children's book. I'd say for kids in grades 3-6. Based very loosely on a true story, we follow the story of a middle schooler named Ruby. She lives in Umbrella House in the East Village New York. She and her best friend enjoy making and posting YouTube videos. When the story starts, she and her friend are getting ready to enter a young reporters video contest and are looking for an issue that is meaningful enough to help Ruby and her friend, Scout, win the contest. Unfortunately, they soon discover that their neighborhood and their very loved apartment building are under threat from a developer who has started buying and tearing down many local buildings. Ruby also has to contend with the changing friendship with Scout and her grandmother. This is a well-paced modern story about friendship, family, and community. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in return for my honest review.

[Bonnie Grover · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Sometimes, old buildings have so many stories that you can sense the history when you walk past. Sometimes those stories are so powerful that they inspire new ones. Once upon a time in the real world, an abandoned building became home to a group of people who needed a place to live. These squatters named the building “Umbrella House” and set about fixing it up with scavenged materials and self-taught construction skills. When city officials tried to close it down, the residents used their bodies, their art, and their voices to save it.”

In this fictional story, two young tenants have to find a way to protect the home they love from gentrification and greedy developers. This JLG gold standard book is a story about the strength of community and the power of art to make a change. It is about taking chances, trying new things and most importantly the bonds of family and friends.

[Sue.the.very.busy.reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

A couple years ago, I read The Undercover Book List, by @colleennelson and I LOVED it. So when I saw The Umbrella House I quickly purchased it but never read it. But this week, my birthday week, I decided I wanted to read The Umbrella House.

What I liked about this story:
⛱️ I LOVE the cover of the book.
⛱️I was drawn into this wonderful story about a community of people who live in a neighborhood that is about to be bought up and redeveloped.
⛱️The friendship between Ruby and Scout and their different talents.
⛱️I enjoyed the mystery of the Midnight Muralist.
⛱️ I always enjoy a positive relationship between grandmother and grandchild.
⛱️ And of course in this world of everything new is better, I appreciated a story of fixing up and making do with what we have. And doing the work as a community!!

[Casey Schwartz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Umbrella House is a charming and original story centered around a colorful apartment building adorned with umbrellas. At the heart of the tale is Roxy, a spirited middle schooler with a big heart and an even bigger mission: to rally her community and save their beloved home from a looming real estate takeover. Colleen Nelson beautifully captures the themes of friendship, activism, and the power of community in this delightful middle-grade read.
Megan Gage, as the narrator, does a fantastic job bringing Roxy to life—capturing her determination, warmth, and youthful energy in a way that makes the story even more engaging and heartfelt.

** Thank you NetGalley, The Audio Agency, and Colleen Nelson for a digital auto book of “The Umbrella House”.

[Brittany Renne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fact that Umbrella House is a real house in New York City makes this book EXTRA cool. I know I will be planning a visit one day! The story behind Umbrella house is fascinating and one I think everyone should hear. I think the book does a good job of walking through how gentrification can affect families and neighborhoods in an age-appropriate way. I enjoyed the storylines of kids recognizing their talents and using them to make the world a better place. The Author's note in the taking about her research was insightful as well.
parental warning: themes of homosexuality

Thank you Netgalley and Pajama Press for the advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Lisa Roppel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Umbrella House was a perfect Grade 6-8 novel/audiobook. I think that middle schoolers would enjoy the production of the audiobook in the classroom or not. The novel deals with the social justice issue of gentrification. There are many issues that could be explored, debated and challenged by those reading/listening to this novel. I loved the strong bonds between the FMC and her grandmother and best friend it really added depth to the story.

Thank you Net Galley, Colleen Nelson and The Audio Legacy for the opportunity to preview this title. The opinions shared are my own.
The Umbrella House is now available.

[Kathy Broyles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very uplifting, suspenseful, fun junior high read. Ruby and her friend Scout try to save their home, Umbrella House, from being bought and destroyed by a real estate mogul. Ruby combines trying to save her home with a video competition that will bring her closer to her lifelong dream of being a news reporter. In addition to attending city council meetings, interviewing and making videos of the residents of Umbrella House, Ruby and Scout are trying to locate the mysterious Midnight Muralist. The artist who, long ago, painted murals on the outside of other buildings in the area and whose murals are saving those buildings from destruction.

[Crimson Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced ALC of this book

(My review will be me looking at this from the perspective of the children I know and how they would like a story like this, for I know this kind of book is not for someone of my age - even though I do enjoy reading middle grade)

Listening to the audiobook was a fun time with the narrators doing a really good job, and this story is one full of Hope and standing up for what u think is right as well as showing how important community is and how it's not just people it's a form of family.

The hope and love we see are nicely done and is a great message for children 😊

This is a book I will be telling my friend about for her children.

[Michelle Kadarusman · Rating 5 out of 5]

New York City's vibrant East Village neighborhood leaps off the page in The Umbrella House with a cast of spirited characters that are lively and endearing. Colleen Nelson's middle grade novels always hit the perfect tone for the genre and this one will be another sure-fire hit with the audience. Themes of youth activism, social justice, art, community and friendship are skillfully woven throughout a page-turning plot. A love letter to the East Village written with artistry, grace and tenderness.