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The Visconti House (Junior Library Guild Selection
Laura Horton is different. Not in any noticeable, first-glance kind of way; but inside, she's equally uncomfortable around the snippy girls in her class and the strange boy, Leon, who just moved in nearby. She'd rather be writing or drawing or spending time with her free-spirited family in their eccentric old house. But Laura and Leon are more alike than they first realize. They're both outsiders. They both have secrets. And try as she might to avoid him, Laura finds herself drawn to Leon's quiet boldness as surely as she is driven to find out more about her home's enigmatic former owner. Together they probe the mysteries of the Visconti House, making an exploration into the past that will change their lives - and open their hearts - forever.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2009
7 people are currently reading
422 people want to read
About the author
Elsbeth Edgar
4 books13 followersAfter completing her university course (majoring in French Literature) and teaching for one year, Elsbeth traveled overland from Katmandu to London. For four years she spent the winter months working in London and the summer months traveling in Europe. When she returned to Melbourne, she taught English as a second language to the first wave of Vietnamese refugees for several years, before moving to Canberra to study for her Graduate Diploma in Librarianship.
Elsbeth took time off to raise her children before returning to library work when her they were all at school. She has always written but, once she had children, began writing stories for them and in turn rediscovered her love of children’s literature. The Visconti House is her first published book.
Elsbeth took time off to raise her children before returning to library work when her they were all at school. She has always written but, once she had children, began writing stories for them and in turn rediscovered her love of children’s literature. The Visconti House is her first published book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
July 16, 2021
With a title like The Visconti House, I expected a touch of horror. Or maybe something like Unspoken. A mysterious house at the top of a hill and two outsiders determined to uncover its full mystery...
But actually, our heroine lives in the house. And it isn't so mysterious. Or at least, the mystery is not tied up with any supernatural events, but with the history of the place and the odd, original owner. The mystery emerges from clues found in the dusty attic and old newspaper articles unearthed at the local library.
What the story lacks in suspense, however, it more than makes up for in heart. This is a sweet story centered around family, friendship, and identity. The heroine's parents are eccentric artists with even more eccentric friends. The hunt to discover the true history of the house is well-paced and engaging. And the story even contains a touch of romance!
Things get a little too heavy-handed by the end for my taste—the characters explicitly spell out the "lesson" they learned from the Visconti House—and things tie together terribly neatly. But I could see this being a really solid novel to give someone in the 10-13 age range.
But actually, our heroine lives in the house. And it isn't so mysterious. Or at least, the mystery is not tied up with any supernatural events, but with the history of the place and the odd, original owner. The mystery emerges from clues found in the dusty attic and old newspaper articles unearthed at the local library.
What the story lacks in suspense, however, it more than makes up for in heart. This is a sweet story centered around family, friendship, and identity. The heroine's parents are eccentric artists with even more eccentric friends. The hunt to discover the true history of the house is well-paced and engaging. And the story even contains a touch of romance!
Things get a little too heavy-handed by the end for my taste—the characters explicitly spell out the "lesson" they learned from the Visconti House—and things tie together terribly neatly. But I could see this being a really solid novel to give someone in the 10-13 age range.
May 22, 2011
This simple story is so much more than it appears. I love a story about an old house, so the title and cover drew me in. It was, of course, not what I was expecting. The story of Laura and Leon was what makes the book and the back story of the house is simply a supporting plot. Any teen (every one!) who has felt different or unaccepted will easily follow Laura's plight and will sigh deeply with recognition as they experience her joys and sorrows. This is a lovely, easy read, but it is a story that has much depth. Take the plunge into this one.
February 23, 2025
cute little childhood reread
September 5, 2022
This was such a simple drama-free, feel-good read with a mild mystery tied in. Loved the writing, the characters, the easy way it flowed. I just loved this book.
July 23, 2015
Thoughts on the Overall Book: I actually got this book because I thought it was a ghost story, but it's not, it's actually just a mystery. However, I was still not disappointed with it and found it to be a very nice charming little almost coming of age story.
Cover--Yea or Nay: I do like the cover, I am always rather fond of simple silhouette artwork.
Characters:Laura was a nice character to read about. She was very quiet and slightly unassuming, but at the same time I was instantly drawn to her. Maybe because I was a little bit like her, though when I was younger. By the time I was her age I was a firebrand. Still, she's the kind of character a lot of introverted, artistic people can relate to, shy, for the most part living in her own world, and pretty much misunderstood and outcast from "normal" people. Her struggles were very realistic with the need to fit in, even if she wasn't entirely sure that she wanted to fit in with the other kids, and struggling through being for the most part alone. I also really liked Leon. He too was quiet, but more for his own reasons than that he was actually shy. He was more like I was at that age, secluded by choice, and he saw in Laura a kindred spirit that eventually grew into a friendship. I also liked the supporting characters, they provided a colorful backdrop to the story, but it's really Laura and Leon's story. I actually find it interesting and enjoyable that so much characterization can be crammed into such a short book, but it was.
The Romance: There's a little romance between Laura and Leon, but it grows from friendship and I enjoyed seeing that a lot.
Writing Style: It's a very simple, yet descriptive style. I was instantly pulled into this book from the first chapter, and was able to relate to Laura. The characters made the book come alive, but the storyline itself was intriguing enough to make me keep reading. I love stories set in old houses, especially old houses with secrets and this one did not disappoint. While not necessarily sensational in any way, there was still the anticipation of finding out about Mr. Visconti and his house, and seeing the friendship between Laura and Leon grow. This book actually reminded me of The Secret Garden in many ways, it kind of had the same feel to it.
Accuracy/ Believability: Not really anything to be accurate about, it's just a simple contemporary mystery.
Problems/What bothered me: Nothing, it was just a nice little story.
Conclusion: 4 stars. I had a feeling when I saw the cover of this book that I was going to like it, and even if it wasn't what I thought it was going to be, I really enjoyed it. The ending was nice and happy and this made for a good in-between book for months of heavy reading.
Recommended Audience: Girl read ages 13 and up.
Cover--Yea or Nay: I do like the cover, I am always rather fond of simple silhouette artwork.
Characters:Laura was a nice character to read about. She was very quiet and slightly unassuming, but at the same time I was instantly drawn to her. Maybe because I was a little bit like her, though when I was younger. By the time I was her age I was a firebrand. Still, she's the kind of character a lot of introverted, artistic people can relate to, shy, for the most part living in her own world, and pretty much misunderstood and outcast from "normal" people. Her struggles were very realistic with the need to fit in, even if she wasn't entirely sure that she wanted to fit in with the other kids, and struggling through being for the most part alone. I also really liked Leon. He too was quiet, but more for his own reasons than that he was actually shy. He was more like I was at that age, secluded by choice, and he saw in Laura a kindred spirit that eventually grew into a friendship. I also liked the supporting characters, they provided a colorful backdrop to the story, but it's really Laura and Leon's story. I actually find it interesting and enjoyable that so much characterization can be crammed into such a short book, but it was.
The Romance: There's a little romance between Laura and Leon, but it grows from friendship and I enjoyed seeing that a lot.
Writing Style: It's a very simple, yet descriptive style. I was instantly pulled into this book from the first chapter, and was able to relate to Laura. The characters made the book come alive, but the storyline itself was intriguing enough to make me keep reading. I love stories set in old houses, especially old houses with secrets and this one did not disappoint. While not necessarily sensational in any way, there was still the anticipation of finding out about Mr. Visconti and his house, and seeing the friendship between Laura and Leon grow. This book actually reminded me of The Secret Garden in many ways, it kind of had the same feel to it.
Accuracy/ Believability: Not really anything to be accurate about, it's just a simple contemporary mystery.
Problems/What bothered me: Nothing, it was just a nice little story.
Conclusion: 4 stars. I had a feeling when I saw the cover of this book that I was going to like it, and even if it wasn't what I thought it was going to be, I really enjoyed it. The ending was nice and happy and this made for a good in-between book for months of heavy reading.
Recommended Audience: Girl read ages 13 and up.
March 1, 2025
When I read The Visconti House, I remembered just why I turn to children's books for my personal reading pleasure. It is almost as if Edgar read a list of books I have loved since I was young, and remixed the bits I liked best, resulting in a beautiful hour of happy cover to cover reading.
I so appreciated when I was young, and I still do, books about girls who don't fit in because their interests are so diametrically opposed to those of their peers (which is one big reason why I'm going to BEA next week--to see some of my book friends!). The Visconti House offers a stellar example of such a girl--Laura, a girl who's working on a detailed encyclopedia of dragons, who has eccentric parents (her father wakes her up by quoting Longfellow, much to her annoyance; her mother uses the house's ballroom for her sculpture studio) and who lives in an old and crumbling Italianate mansion (not your ordinary Australian house).
Then add to that a new boy in town, Leon, who is also a loner (but who, of course, proves to be more intelligent, and much more fun to be with, than the other kids). And then, as the pièce de résistance, add an old house with secrets, and an overgrown garden, and fading murals painted on its walls, and a hidden cellar room....And then, as icing on the cake, add a detective story, (involving trips to the library for historical research! and a visit to an old cemetery! I am utterly sincere in my excitement here), as the two kids try to figure out the story of Mr. Visconti, who tried to make his house as much like a beautiful little bit of Italy as he could, but who lived and died there alone. His is a sweetly melancholy story, and it echoes the theme of the book--that difference is not something to be afraid of, and that convention should not get in the way of life and love.
Happy sigh.
re read it again, and it held up to the five original stars I gave it.
I so appreciated when I was young, and I still do, books about girls who don't fit in because their interests are so diametrically opposed to those of their peers (which is one big reason why I'm going to BEA next week--to see some of my book friends!). The Visconti House offers a stellar example of such a girl--Laura, a girl who's working on a detailed encyclopedia of dragons, who has eccentric parents (her father wakes her up by quoting Longfellow, much to her annoyance; her mother uses the house's ballroom for her sculpture studio) and who lives in an old and crumbling Italianate mansion (not your ordinary Australian house).
Then add to that a new boy in town, Leon, who is also a loner (but who, of course, proves to be more intelligent, and much more fun to be with, than the other kids). And then, as the pièce de résistance, add an old house with secrets, and an overgrown garden, and fading murals painted on its walls, and a hidden cellar room....And then, as icing on the cake, add a detective story, (involving trips to the library for historical research! and a visit to an old cemetery! I am utterly sincere in my excitement here), as the two kids try to figure out the story of Mr. Visconti, who tried to make his house as much like a beautiful little bit of Italy as he could, but who lived and died there alone. His is a sweetly melancholy story, and it echoes the theme of the book--that difference is not something to be afraid of, and that convention should not get in the way of life and love.
Happy sigh.
re read it again, and it held up to the five original stars I gave it.
May 19, 2011
Nerds in deep like search out the mysteries of an old mansion. I love nerds in deep like as much as the next nerd, but something here was lacking. There's a good lesson here about not worrying about what others think of you, but honestly, I found myself hurrying through this one just to get to the end. It was just okay.
March 6, 2018
This book was about a character named Laura. Laura was a little bit of an outcast at school, she had just moved there and lived in a big, old house with a lot of character. She was made fun of and people said she lived with ghosts. Ms. Murphy who lived down the street suddenly had a young man come and seemed to be living with her. Turns out, this young man was in Laura’s class. Laura avoids him at first and is embarrassed when he, whose name is Leon, starts talking to her. They, together, begin on a journey to find out about the man who had the house built, Mr. Visconti. They did research and found out many enchanting things about Mr. Visconti, including his secret wine cellar and his major love interest! Throughout this mystery, Laura and Leon develop a relationship and begin dating.
The individuality theme can be learned through this book because in the beginning, all Laura wanted to do was to fit in, but she continued to be very different and made fun of. Eventually, she started to not care what people thought and really embraced her uniqueness and she became accepted. This happened because she became more confident in herself!
The individuality theme can be learned through this book because in the beginning, all Laura wanted to do was to fit in, but she continued to be very different and made fun of. Eventually, she started to not care what people thought and really embraced her uniqueness and she became accepted. This happened because she became more confident in herself!
December 15, 2016
This book really fought my true attention with its amazing Name, background, front cover artwork. And the questions Laura and Leon were asking got me wondering to, I kept reading out of curiosity of what the truth was. Along with this book shows that it's okay to be different. Elsbeth Edgar did a fantastic job with this book, it is full of mysterys, clues, drama and more! Over all, I really enjoyed this book.
April 3, 2018
The Visconti House is well-written, its interesting, and stays true to its age bracket. I did find, though, that it leaves one a little wanting, in the way of something—something dramatic or something unexpected. Nonetheless, it portrays some wonderful characters and their dynamics, and the friendship between Leon and Laura is fantastically written.
And, of course, I'll always be biased to novels set in Australia (and those written by Australian authors!).
And, of course, I'll always be biased to novels set in Australia (and those written by Australian authors!).
January 25, 2023
I really enjoyed the book I liked the eccentric characters and the length Laura and Leon went to to find the story about the house. It sounds like Laura's family would be an unusual family however also interesting. Two young people who always felt odd fit together really well when they open their hearts to each other. So the outsiders become part of the insiders. I really enjoyed it
May 8, 2017
There is something mesmerizing about crumbling mansions, secret rooms, and mysterious letters...
January 9, 2020
I love a good book about an old house. A fun little mystery. I can’t believe I’m far enough away from my YA years that I can’t understand or relate to the pressure to fit in anymore.
October 22, 2020
I really really loved this book!! I loved the whole mystery and I loved the characters even more.
June 8, 2011
Review originally posted here.
The Visconti House is a book that is perfect for a certain kind of reader (me). There is nothing fast paced or action packed about the plot. It is full of slow discoveries, but it is well paced at the same time. There is nothing edgy or angsty about the teens and their lives in this book. Which is good. Not all teens have those kind of lives (me). There are teens out there who prefer the company of their families to their peers (me). I would have liked this book no matter what because it is well crafted with a cast of delightful characters. I love this book because I identified with it. Sometimes painfully.
Laura is a girl who is on the outside of everything. She doesn't have hair that behaves like everybody else's or know how to dress the right way. She also has interests and passions completely different from any of her classmates. She does not get picked on, she is mostly ignored. A girl on the sidelines. She is not comfortable or happy with these circumstances. She just moved to a new town and begins every school day morning forcing herself out of bed. Even after making a friend in Leon and immersing herself in the project of the Visconti House she sometimes yearns to be with the other "normal" kids from her school. There is a point in the novel where Laura is thinking about the upcoming dance, imagining herself making a grand entrance in exactly the right sort of outfit and hair done perfectly. Then this:
"But that wouldn't happen, of course. She would not wear the right thing, and she would not have anyone to talk to. She would just end up standing in the corner, on her own, being miserable and wishing she had never come. She bit her lip hard. Why did they have to have a school dance? It would all be so much easier if they could just do their tests and finish the year without all the end-of-the-year activities-the sports days, the outings, and the dance. Particularly the dance..."
Been there. Thought that. I really found Laura's character to be very genuine in how she bounces back and forth between being who she is and wanting something other. It is struggle I think most people can identify with in some way. Laura and Leon do have an inevitable misunderstanding, but it is not in any way dramatic or ridiculous. It is quiet and realistic. The resolution that follows it is the same. And I absolutely love how Laura just has an epiphany, looks around at where she is and who she is with and says, "I don't like this place. I'm bored. I would rather be someplace else. Why am I hanging out with these people?" Again realistic. You don't need a near tragic event or dramatic scene to come to your senses. You simply have to think.
So I found this book to be a refreshing and nostalgic experience.
The story of the Visconti House that brings Laura and Leon together is a hauntingly beautiful and melancholy story that is woven into the fabric of Laura's own story. I found myself just as eager for them to unearth the next clue and discover more as they were.
The Visconti House is marketed YA but works for younger readers as well.
The Visconti House is a book that is perfect for a certain kind of reader (me). There is nothing fast paced or action packed about the plot. It is full of slow discoveries, but it is well paced at the same time. There is nothing edgy or angsty about the teens and their lives in this book. Which is good. Not all teens have those kind of lives (me). There are teens out there who prefer the company of their families to their peers (me). I would have liked this book no matter what because it is well crafted with a cast of delightful characters. I love this book because I identified with it. Sometimes painfully.
Laura is a girl who is on the outside of everything. She doesn't have hair that behaves like everybody else's or know how to dress the right way. She also has interests and passions completely different from any of her classmates. She does not get picked on, she is mostly ignored. A girl on the sidelines. She is not comfortable or happy with these circumstances. She just moved to a new town and begins every school day morning forcing herself out of bed. Even after making a friend in Leon and immersing herself in the project of the Visconti House she sometimes yearns to be with the other "normal" kids from her school. There is a point in the novel where Laura is thinking about the upcoming dance, imagining herself making a grand entrance in exactly the right sort of outfit and hair done perfectly. Then this:
"But that wouldn't happen, of course. She would not wear the right thing, and she would not have anyone to talk to. She would just end up standing in the corner, on her own, being miserable and wishing she had never come. She bit her lip hard. Why did they have to have a school dance? It would all be so much easier if they could just do their tests and finish the year without all the end-of-the-year activities-the sports days, the outings, and the dance. Particularly the dance..."
Been there. Thought that. I really found Laura's character to be very genuine in how she bounces back and forth between being who she is and wanting something other. It is struggle I think most people can identify with in some way. Laura and Leon do have an inevitable misunderstanding, but it is not in any way dramatic or ridiculous. It is quiet and realistic. The resolution that follows it is the same. And I absolutely love how Laura just has an epiphany, looks around at where she is and who she is with and says, "I don't like this place. I'm bored. I would rather be someplace else. Why am I hanging out with these people?" Again realistic. You don't need a near tragic event or dramatic scene to come to your senses. You simply have to think.
So I found this book to be a refreshing and nostalgic experience.
The story of the Visconti House that brings Laura and Leon together is a hauntingly beautiful and melancholy story that is woven into the fabric of Laura's own story. I found myself just as eager for them to unearth the next clue and discover more as they were.
The Visconti House is marketed YA but works for younger readers as well.
February 21, 2011
After living in Melbourne, Laura and her parents move into a fantastic old mansion, located in a small town. The house is gorgeously built. There's a ballroom (which Laura's mother, a sculptor, uses as a studio) and one of the bedrooms features a faded mural of a garden. But Laura doesn't care about the house. She's lonely and she hates her new school. She wishes her parents would move back to Melbourne, where their lives were more comfortable. Then suddenly things begin to change. A strange boy named Leon moves in down the street and soon after Laura learns that her house has a name – The Visconti House – after the enigmatic Italian immigrant, Carlo Visconti, who built it. Laura and Leon are convinced that The Visconti House harbors a secret and they are determined to uncover it.
The Visconti House is a middle grade mystery that will please any amateur sleuth. Its pacing is a perfect blend of baffles and excitement. Answers aren’t revealed too easily but there aren’t any frustrating wild goose chases either. Personally, I found the ultimate reveal a little tame but I don’t think children will have the same problem. This is an excellent book to recommend to children who enjoy mysteries but aren’t ready for the more mature elements present in adult titles. Do children still read Harriet the Spy? If so, this is a good follow-up. It’s likely to spark an interest in genealogy or local history.
I must give Edgar credit for portraying a great child-parent dynamic. On the whole, parents are problematic in children’s books. If parents are too present they can slow down the action, or worse yet, stop anything exciting from happening at all. Not the best for plot development. I suspect that's why parents are so often absent in children’s literature. If parents are too busy to notice their children are waking the ancient dead, there can be hijinks aplenty and everyone’s happy. Not that there’s anything wrong with that model necessarily, it just becomes a little rote.
Fortunately, Edgar has managed to dodge the absent parent stereotype. Actually, make that two stereotypes that she sidesteps. Even though Laura’s parents are artistes, they act like reasonable adults. At one point Laura is all ready to tear down a boarded up wall when her father steps in and says, “You know, I’m not exactly comfortable with you smashing holes in our house to satisfy your curiosity.” I think we can all relate to that conversation from both sides. I also appreciated that although Laura’s parents are eccentric and have quirky artist friends, they are still involved in her life and make her do things she isn’t too keen about, like attending school. Weirdly, that’s not as common in fiction as you’d think it’d be.
One thing to note: Laura is supposed to be in Grade 8 (high school) but she and her classmates act much younger, closer to 5th or 6th graders. This causes the romance plot to feel forced, although Leon and Laura have a charming friendship. Given the emotional maturity of the characters, I think this book would appeal to tweens more than young adults.
Review copy provided by publisher.
The Visconti House is a middle grade mystery that will please any amateur sleuth. Its pacing is a perfect blend of baffles and excitement. Answers aren’t revealed too easily but there aren’t any frustrating wild goose chases either. Personally, I found the ultimate reveal a little tame but I don’t think children will have the same problem. This is an excellent book to recommend to children who enjoy mysteries but aren’t ready for the more mature elements present in adult titles. Do children still read Harriet the Spy? If so, this is a good follow-up. It’s likely to spark an interest in genealogy or local history.
I must give Edgar credit for portraying a great child-parent dynamic. On the whole, parents are problematic in children’s books. If parents are too present they can slow down the action, or worse yet, stop anything exciting from happening at all. Not the best for plot development. I suspect that's why parents are so often absent in children’s literature. If parents are too busy to notice their children are waking the ancient dead, there can be hijinks aplenty and everyone’s happy. Not that there’s anything wrong with that model necessarily, it just becomes a little rote.
Fortunately, Edgar has managed to dodge the absent parent stereotype. Actually, make that two stereotypes that she sidesteps. Even though Laura’s parents are artistes, they act like reasonable adults. At one point Laura is all ready to tear down a boarded up wall when her father steps in and says, “You know, I’m not exactly comfortable with you smashing holes in our house to satisfy your curiosity.” I think we can all relate to that conversation from both sides. I also appreciated that although Laura’s parents are eccentric and have quirky artist friends, they are still involved in her life and make her do things she isn’t too keen about, like attending school. Weirdly, that’s not as common in fiction as you’d think it’d be.
One thing to note: Laura is supposed to be in Grade 8 (high school) but she and her classmates act much younger, closer to 5th or 6th graders. This causes the romance plot to feel forced, although Leon and Laura have a charming friendship. Given the emotional maturity of the characters, I think this book would appeal to tweens more than young adults.
Review copy provided by publisher.
March 18, 2011
Growing up is complicated enough without moving to a new town. Add in a quirky, old house and it is a recipe for disaster. That’s where we meet fourteen-year old Laura Horton. She’s moved with her family from Melbourne to this run-down mansion in the country, and finds herself in unfamiliar territory, with only her book of dragon drawings and stories for company. Her lovingly distracted parents don’t understand her. She feels different in every way, from her appearance and her interests, to her artsy family and their unusual home. Laura struggles with the desire to fit in and the reluctance to give up her individuality. She doesn’t want to change, but she wishes she could find other people like her and her parents. Her self-doubt and lack of confidence make her an easy target for a few mean girls at school who seem to enjoy teasing her about her spooky house and anything else they can find.
Everything starts to change when the reticent Leon Murphy shows up in town. Although the rumors say that he’s moved in with his grandmother because his father is in jail, it turns out that he’s there because, after his mother had passed away, his father turned to alcohol to escape his despair. He doesn’t fit in either and, although Laura tries to avoid him at first, they slowly develop a common bond. It begins with their shared interest in Laura’s home and its original owner, Mr. Visconti. As they work together to solve the mystery of why he came to Australia to build this unusual house, they discover something about themselves. Slowly, we see Laura’s insecurities and Leon’s anger disappear. They find that they have similar interests and genuine feelings for each other. Their kind and caring friendship grows into a sweet romance. They help one another get through some difficult times, and, in the end, are both better off for having known each other.
I love the way their relationship develops, and how they learn to encourage and support each other. Interestingly, there are no references to cell phones, texting or pop culture, leaving the reader free to focus on the characters and their relationships. Despite the absence of those things, readers will have plenty to relate to, including the excitement of solving a mystery, the ups and downs of school life and the emotional pains of growing up. Adult concepts like death, alcohol and romance are touched upon, but in a completely age-appropriate way. I’m still not sure why Laura has a penchant for dragons or how her parents can be so clueless, but that doesn’t take away from their appeal. I hope we hear more from Elsbeth Edgar!
Everything starts to change when the reticent Leon Murphy shows up in town. Although the rumors say that he’s moved in with his grandmother because his father is in jail, it turns out that he’s there because, after his mother had passed away, his father turned to alcohol to escape his despair. He doesn’t fit in either and, although Laura tries to avoid him at first, they slowly develop a common bond. It begins with their shared interest in Laura’s home and its original owner, Mr. Visconti. As they work together to solve the mystery of why he came to Australia to build this unusual house, they discover something about themselves. Slowly, we see Laura’s insecurities and Leon’s anger disappear. They find that they have similar interests and genuine feelings for each other. Their kind and caring friendship grows into a sweet romance. They help one another get through some difficult times, and, in the end, are both better off for having known each other.
I love the way their relationship develops, and how they learn to encourage and support each other. Interestingly, there are no references to cell phones, texting or pop culture, leaving the reader free to focus on the characters and their relationships. Despite the absence of those things, readers will have plenty to relate to, including the excitement of solving a mystery, the ups and downs of school life and the emotional pains of growing up. Adult concepts like death, alcohol and romance are touched upon, but in a completely age-appropriate way. I’m still not sure why Laura has a penchant for dragons or how her parents can be so clueless, but that doesn’t take away from their appeal. I hope we hear more from Elsbeth Edgar!
August 2, 2011
Laura Horton is different. She knows she's different from everyone else in her high school. She lives in the only mansion in town (thought by some to be haunted), her mother is an artist, her father is a writer, and her parents' eccentric friends often come to visit. All she really wants is to stop being different. But, at the same time, she wouldn't give up her parents or their friends or her house for anything in the world. Then Leon Murphy arrives in town, and he's just as different as she is. Laura doesn't want to befriend someone else who's different - that certainly won't help her become more like her classmates. But, try as she might to fight it, she is drawn to Leon. And when the two of them learn a little about the man who built Laura's mansion, Mr. Visconti, they want to know more. Who was this man? Why did he move to a little town in Australia from his home in Italy? As they uncover more and more about Mr. Visconti and the house, Laura and Leon become more deeply involved in his story and pull their families into the mystery, too. Mr. Visconti may be long dead, but he still manages to change the lives of this little group of people in powerful ways.
Quite an enjoyable read. Possibly my only problem was that, since I am not familiar with the way Australian schools work, I wasn't sure how old Laura was for most of the book. (Is Year Eight the equivalent of 8th grade in the U.S.? That's what I was guessing... but then later in the book, Laura refers to herself as being in High School. So, unless Australian schools include 8th grade in High School, my first guess was wrong.) After I had finished reading the book, I noticed that it mentions on the flap that Laura is 14. If that was ever stated in the book, I totally missed it. But it really didn't matter that much. I had a basic idea of how old she was, and that was enough.
Overall, a very fun book. It was quite refreshing to read a book about a teen in which the protagonist isn't obsessed with boys or vampires or anything like that. Laura is someone I would have loved being friends with when I was little. (Who am I kidding? I would still love to be friends with her today.) There are some things, especially in the realm of school social stuff, that are never quite cleared up. (Why is Jenny suddenly nice to Laura? Is it because of her wonderful descriptive paragraph that the teacher dismisses?) But it totally doesn't matter. Things in life generally aren't explained and neatly tied up with bows. Some things in this book are tied neatly with bows, but those are things that should be.
Great book. I will definitely watch for other things by this author.
Quite an enjoyable read. Possibly my only problem was that, since I am not familiar with the way Australian schools work, I wasn't sure how old Laura was for most of the book. (Is Year Eight the equivalent of 8th grade in the U.S.? That's what I was guessing... but then later in the book, Laura refers to herself as being in High School. So, unless Australian schools include 8th grade in High School, my first guess was wrong.) After I had finished reading the book, I noticed that it mentions on the flap that Laura is 14. If that was ever stated in the book, I totally missed it. But it really didn't matter that much. I had a basic idea of how old she was, and that was enough.
Overall, a very fun book. It was quite refreshing to read a book about a teen in which the protagonist isn't obsessed with boys or vampires or anything like that. Laura is someone I would have loved being friends with when I was little. (Who am I kidding? I would still love to be friends with her today.) There are some things, especially in the realm of school social stuff, that are never quite cleared up. (Why is Jenny suddenly nice to Laura? Is it because of her wonderful descriptive paragraph that the teacher dismisses?) But it totally doesn't matter. Things in life generally aren't explained and neatly tied up with bows. Some things in this book are tied neatly with bows, but those are things that should be.
Great book. I will definitely watch for other things by this author.
May 13, 2014
For my book review, I read The Visconti House by Elsbeth Edgar. I would definitely recommend this book to someone for many reasons. One of them being that the author uses very descriptive words to paint a picture if the scene in the readers head. Another reason is because of how the plot and how you never really knew what was coming up next. And lastly, because of the characters, each with their own problems to deal with.
The author used many different words to describe scenes, settings and things. I liked this because it didn't know some words and I was able to learn what they ment. "Laura's alarm was ringing, the shrill sound reverberating through the corners of her room.(P.1)" This was one of the parts of the story I had to look up a word. I had no clue what 'reverberating' ment but a learned it was just another word you could use for echo. "Enormous pink flowers covers the sprawling hydrangea bushes down the side of the house and, around the front, red camellias were still blooming beside the stone steps, their petals bright against the green leaves. (P.6)" This passage painted a very vivid picture in my mind and no could imagine everything as if it was right in front of me.
The plot of this book is pretty solid and doesn't move around, but it was very interesting to see the characters trying to solve a mystery but then having to solve another mystery before they could solve that mystery. Once the main character, Laura, found an old box the could maybe help her uncover the muster if Mr. Visconti, but was thwarted when she could find the key to go along with it. She didn't end up finding the key until at the end of the book.
The characters played a huge role as to why I enjoyed the book. My favorite character was Laura, who went through a lot of things during the book. She was different from everybody. While all the girls in her town had blonde hair and blue or light eyes, she had brown hair and brown eyes. She hated being different and it caused her not to have many friends.
Overall, the book was an excellent read and I probably would read it again if I had the chance. It really didn't take me long to read because when I put it in my hands I couldn't really put it back down.
The author used many different words to describe scenes, settings and things. I liked this because it didn't know some words and I was able to learn what they ment. "Laura's alarm was ringing, the shrill sound reverberating through the corners of her room.(P.1)" This was one of the parts of the story I had to look up a word. I had no clue what 'reverberating' ment but a learned it was just another word you could use for echo. "Enormous pink flowers covers the sprawling hydrangea bushes down the side of the house and, around the front, red camellias were still blooming beside the stone steps, their petals bright against the green leaves. (P.6)" This passage painted a very vivid picture in my mind and no could imagine everything as if it was right in front of me.
The plot of this book is pretty solid and doesn't move around, but it was very interesting to see the characters trying to solve a mystery but then having to solve another mystery before they could solve that mystery. Once the main character, Laura, found an old box the could maybe help her uncover the muster if Mr. Visconti, but was thwarted when she could find the key to go along with it. She didn't end up finding the key until at the end of the book.
The characters played a huge role as to why I enjoyed the book. My favorite character was Laura, who went through a lot of things during the book. She was different from everybody. While all the girls in her town had blonde hair and blue or light eyes, she had brown hair and brown eyes. She hated being different and it caused her not to have many friends.
Overall, the book was an excellent read and I probably would read it again if I had the chance. It really didn't take me long to read because when I put it in my hands I couldn't really put it back down.
February 20, 2017
The Visconti House by Elsbeth Edgar is a fun read. A mystery, a teen age angst full story about being different and feeling lonely because of that difference. The great message given here is that a mystery can bring people together. A mystery can spark interest in delving head first into life to solve whilst living your life. What a fun story.
January 26, 2011
[I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway. The book itself is the only compensation that I have received from those involved in the creation and marketing of the book for this review. Since the book is free, price is not considered in any recommendations I make about the book.]
"The Visconti House" is a wonderful story, which hits every mark that it strives to reach, and leaves the reader with a warm, fuzzy feeling after closing the covers. Although the book is recommended for ages nine and up, I think that it would be most appreciated by preteen girls. That said, this is a book for all ages in the truest sense of the word. There's something in it for everyone, and the author doesn't write for younger readers or older readers, she just writes for readers.
The plot of the book centers around a 14 year old girl, Laura, who is a bit of a misfit because of her artistic parents. Soon a boy, Leon, joins her in her quest to discover the history of the decaying, but still beautiful house that she and her parents live in. Love abounds in the story, from the tentative first steps that the protagonists are experiencing, to the heartbreaking, unfulfilled love of the builder of Laura's house, to the wonderful marriage of Laura's parents, to the remnants of Leon's family attempting to recover from tragedy. I felt for these characters, all of them, and their relationships rung true, all of them.
There's no violence, no swearing... There's no questionable content whatsoever that I can think of in the book. Even the "mean girls" aren't that mean, and the only truly negative character in the book is a teacher that resembles one that nearly every person has had at one point in their life. I think the best way to describe the book is "cozy." I mean that with the highest respect. The world created within the pages is a place I would want to live, inhabited by people I would want to know, doing things I would want to do. It is a near perfect representation of this type of story.
"The Visconti House" is a wonderful story, which hits every mark that it strives to reach, and leaves the reader with a warm, fuzzy feeling after closing the covers. Although the book is recommended for ages nine and up, I think that it would be most appreciated by preteen girls. That said, this is a book for all ages in the truest sense of the word. There's something in it for everyone, and the author doesn't write for younger readers or older readers, she just writes for readers.
The plot of the book centers around a 14 year old girl, Laura, who is a bit of a misfit because of her artistic parents. Soon a boy, Leon, joins her in her quest to discover the history of the decaying, but still beautiful house that she and her parents live in. Love abounds in the story, from the tentative first steps that the protagonists are experiencing, to the heartbreaking, unfulfilled love of the builder of Laura's house, to the wonderful marriage of Laura's parents, to the remnants of Leon's family attempting to recover from tragedy. I felt for these characters, all of them, and their relationships rung true, all of them.
There's no violence, no swearing... There's no questionable content whatsoever that I can think of in the book. Even the "mean girls" aren't that mean, and the only truly negative character in the book is a teacher that resembles one that nearly every person has had at one point in their life. I think the best way to describe the book is "cozy." I mean that with the highest respect. The world created within the pages is a place I would want to live, inhabited by people I would want to know, doing things I would want to do. It is a near perfect representation of this type of story.
April 21, 2011
A Small Australian town provides the setting for The Visconti House, a story that combines a century old mystery with present day-to-day schoolgirl traumas in an engaging way. Fourteen-year-old Laura Horton has not found the transition from city life to rural living quite as easy as she had hoped. She loves the crumbling old mansion her artistic parents chose, but there's not denying that living in the town's 'haunted house' is just one of the things that makes her different from the other kids at school. Even with her own artistic talents and temperament kept firmly under wraps, Laura has a hard time fitting in.
On the first day of the new school term, Laura is surprised to discover that her neighbor Mrs. Murphy has her grandson living with her. It only takes one glance for Laura to realize that Leon Murphy is destined to be even more of an outsider than she is and she resolves to have nothing to do with him. Hanging around with this odd boy will only make Laura seem even weirder in the eyes of her peers. That vow proves difficult to keep when a chance remark by Leon's grandmother starts the pair off on a quest to discover the truth about the man who built Laura's house.
The Visconti House isn't a book that's going to set the world on fire but it is a nice little read. It's especially suited for those who like a mystery, but anyone who's ever felt like they don't belong will recognize Laura's dilemma and delight in her discovery that one true friend, the kind who likes you just as you are, can make all the difference in the world.
August 18, 2011
I just love stories set in creepy old houses. I'm not sure why, but that particular blend of mystery- waiting-to-be-solved and old houses with secrets to reveal just suck me in like crazy. That said, I was really excited to read this book set in a creepy old house in a small Australian town. And then I didn't really like it much.
I had two main problems with this book: First, the characters seemed too young and immature throughout the story. Laura (the main character) and her eventual friend Leon are "year eight" in Australia. Admittedly I don't know exactly what age this would make them, but from several events in the story it seemed more like high school, whereas I felt they acted like young junior high students. There is just a lot of petty behavior between Laura and the other girls at her school and then also between her and Leon. I just wanted them to behave better and act like young adults!
The other thing that bothered me was that the mystery surrounding the house wasn't all that exciting and definitely wasn't creepy. It basically involves a love story and a mystery about why the relationship failed. There were a few places in the story where I was excited to read more, but mostly I just found it slow.
I do think there is an audience who would enjoy this book - probably students in grades 5-8 who like mystery and don't mind a little slow development. It just wasn't a favorite for me.
I had two main problems with this book: First, the characters seemed too young and immature throughout the story. Laura (the main character) and her eventual friend Leon are "year eight" in Australia. Admittedly I don't know exactly what age this would make them, but from several events in the story it seemed more like high school, whereas I felt they acted like young junior high students. There is just a lot of petty behavior between Laura and the other girls at her school and then also between her and Leon. I just wanted them to behave better and act like young adults!
The other thing that bothered me was that the mystery surrounding the house wasn't all that exciting and definitely wasn't creepy. It basically involves a love story and a mystery about why the relationship failed. There were a few places in the story where I was excited to read more, but mostly I just found it slow.
I do think there is an audience who would enjoy this book - probably students in grades 5-8 who like mystery and don't mind a little slow development. It just wasn't a favorite for me.
Read
January 20, 2013I won a copy of this in the Free Reads giveaway, and am glad I did. I found it a charming story. Laura, the protagonist, reminded me of my awkward self at the start of high school--overly concerned that she doesn't fit in, that she's "weird," that her family's weird, that her classmates will make fun of her. It exasperated me a little, because there's no need to be so worried, as we all find out upon growing up, but that feature did make it realistic, and Laura did grow up enough to realize it herself by the end.
The setting, in rural Australia, was unusual enough (in my reading experience) to be interesting in itself, and the mystery of who built the crumbling old house Laura lives in, and why, and what happened to him, provided exactly the type of romantic and almost Gothic atmosphere that I go for. Laura's increasingly romantic friendship with a loner boy who lives nearby was also charming. I would happily hang out with all the main characters in this book, and wish I could get invited to dinner at the Visconti house with them. The tension is kept fairly low, and there's no gore or violence or sex, so it's a good choice for young adult readers (or adults, for that matter) who want a gentler read than some of the rather scary YA raging upon the shelves right now.
The setting, in rural Australia, was unusual enough (in my reading experience) to be interesting in itself, and the mystery of who built the crumbling old house Laura lives in, and why, and what happened to him, provided exactly the type of romantic and almost Gothic atmosphere that I go for. Laura's increasingly romantic friendship with a loner boy who lives nearby was also charming. I would happily hang out with all the main characters in this book, and wish I could get invited to dinner at the Visconti house with them. The tension is kept fairly low, and there's no gore or violence or sex, so it's a good choice for young adult readers (or adults, for that matter) who want a gentler read than some of the rather scary YA raging upon the shelves right now.
December 21, 2011
There's not many books that I give two stars or less to, but this one...I stand by my rating. The plot sounds interesting enough. A girl moves into a new home with her parents. Her parent's eccentric friends are the closest thing to "friends" that the main character really has. But sure enough one day a boy finds her interesting. Too bad this boy is a loser according to the popular crowd. She reluctantly starts hanging out with him and they begin to research the previous owner of her home, Mr. Visconti. In their research they discovered there was a secret basement filled with "treasures".
This is where I decided that I needed to know what happens next. Do the children find the basement? What is in the basement?
It turns out I should have put the book down half way through. It wasn't the events that I was so underwhelmed by, but I think it was the length of the book. The amount of description was unnecessary. And her inner turmoil of hanging out with a nice boy vs. the popular girls...ugg
For a much better realistic fiction book for children and young adults read The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate. A main character who is eccentric yet proud of who she is despite what her parents decide she should be like.
This is where I decided that I needed to know what happens next. Do the children find the basement? What is in the basement?
It turns out I should have put the book down half way through. It wasn't the events that I was so underwhelmed by, but I think it was the length of the book. The amount of description was unnecessary. And her inner turmoil of hanging out with a nice boy vs. the popular girls...ugg
For a much better realistic fiction book for children and young adults read The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate. A main character who is eccentric yet proud of who she is despite what her parents decide she should be like.
February 5, 2012
Laura and her family have recently moved into a large, old mansion in suburban Australia. Laura's life is lonely until she meets Leon, a boy who recently came to live in town with his grandmother. Together the two try to discover the mystery of the man who built the house and his mysterious love affair with the woman for whom the house was built.
This story was entirely underwhelming. It wasn't poorly written but the plot is lacking. Laura, the main character, lacks emotion and depth. First she hates Leon, then she invites him over even though she really doesn't like him. Then she likes him. Then she doesn't like him. She doesn't like the girls at school. Then she sort of likes them. There's a mystery. But it's really not much of a mystery and doesn't take very much effort to solve it.
Overall, the book wasn't horrible but I wouldn't recommend it. There are so many young adult books out there with characters and plots that come to life and grab the reader and this story just cannot compete. I had to push myself to finish the book and can't think of anyone to whom I would recommend it to.
This story was entirely underwhelming. It wasn't poorly written but the plot is lacking. Laura, the main character, lacks emotion and depth. First she hates Leon, then she invites him over even though she really doesn't like him. Then she likes him. Then she doesn't like him. She doesn't like the girls at school. Then she sort of likes them. There's a mystery. But it's really not much of a mystery and doesn't take very much effort to solve it.
Overall, the book wasn't horrible but I wouldn't recommend it. There are so many young adult books out there with characters and plots that come to life and grab the reader and this story just cannot compete. I had to push myself to finish the book and can't think of anyone to whom I would recommend it to.
June 8, 2011
After reading a review over at Charlotte's Library, I decided that I needed to read this book ASAP. And I loved it. This is the kind of story I like best, and the writing is great too. (See the blurb for plot details).
The story takes place in Australia, a fact that seems unimportant at first, the experiences of Laura and Leon could happen almost anywhere. Being different is a topic that many kids can relate to as well as adults. But the location becomes more significant when Laura starts investigating the history of the house. there are several things that I especially liked about this book. First, I love the fact that the author seamlessly integrates the idea that history is not boring and can indeed be fascinating, especially when one gets down to the individual level. Many of the kids that I work with at school think history is boring. Another thing I really liked was the gradual development of friendship between Laura and Leon. Like most friendships, it has its ups and downs. I highly recommend this book, especially as a read-a-loud.
The story takes place in Australia, a fact that seems unimportant at first, the experiences of Laura and Leon could happen almost anywhere. Being different is a topic that many kids can relate to as well as adults. But the location becomes more significant when Laura starts investigating the history of the house. there are several things that I especially liked about this book. First, I love the fact that the author seamlessly integrates the idea that history is not boring and can indeed be fascinating, especially when one gets down to the individual level. Many of the kids that I work with at school think history is boring. Another thing I really liked was the gradual development of friendship between Laura and Leon. Like most friendships, it has its ups and downs. I highly recommend this book, especially as a read-a-loud.
June 20, 2014
I have to be honest: I read the first quarter of this book and skimmed the rest. I just didn't care about the characters or the story. If I had read it all the way through, I might have given it only one star, so my partial reading was a kindness
Here's the plot: Laura, who is apparently in eighth grade, moves to a big, gorgeous house. She loves her house. She has both parents, who work at home, and who love her very much. But she constantly whines and cries ALL THE TIME because she doesn't fit it. Really?! In my sixth grade year, I was dumped into another country. I had braces that wired my teeth shut and enormous glasses that made my eyes disappear. I shared a tiny room in our tiny house with my older sister. My dad worked crazy hours and my mom was miserable and busy with my younger siblings. And I whined a whole lot less than this character. In fact, I don't remember whining at all. I remember making new friends and being happy with my life.
I found nothing interesting or redeeming about this book, except, of course for that fabulous cover.
Here's the plot: Laura, who is apparently in eighth grade, moves to a big, gorgeous house. She loves her house. She has both parents, who work at home, and who love her very much. But she constantly whines and cries ALL THE TIME because she doesn't fit it. Really?! In my sixth grade year, I was dumped into another country. I had braces that wired my teeth shut and enormous glasses that made my eyes disappear. I shared a tiny room in our tiny house with my older sister. My dad worked crazy hours and my mom was miserable and busy with my younger siblings. And I whined a whole lot less than this character. In fact, I don't remember whining at all. I remember making new friends and being happy with my life.
I found nothing interesting or redeeming about this book, except, of course for that fabulous cover.
April 28, 2011
I can relate to Laura. She is writing a book on dragons. Two of my favourite things! Writing and dragons. I'll just say what you're probably thinking; I'm WEIRD and PROUD of it! :)
Laura started hanging out with the mysterious Leon (after a big episode during class.) and starts to investigate the history about the house. Oh right, she just moved from some place so she's living in this big old house. It was built by a Mr Visconti, hence the the title of the book; the Visconti house. Anyway, she found that it was probably built for the love of his life but people said he lived alone. Also, in a newspaper Leon finds a reference to a cellar that they can't find. Leon doesn't show up one day when they're about to pull of boards from the walls under the stairs and that's where she finds the cellar, full of old wine bottles.
Laura finally gets what she always wanrted; a place in the popular group but is it what she imagined??? Find out.
Laura started hanging out with the mysterious Leon (after a big episode during class.) and starts to investigate the history about the house. Oh right, she just moved from some place so she's living in this big old house. It was built by a Mr Visconti, hence the the title of the book; the Visconti house. Anyway, she found that it was probably built for the love of his life but people said he lived alone. Also, in a newspaper Leon finds a reference to a cellar that they can't find. Leon doesn't show up one day when they're about to pull of boards from the walls under the stairs and that's where she finds the cellar, full of old wine bottles.
Laura finally gets what she always wanrted; a place in the popular group but is it what she imagined??? Find out.
September 19, 2015
Whatever you do, don't fear the inside cover! I picked up this book for my classroom (attracted by the black and blue cover with the mysterious misshapen home in the distance.) Interestingly, I was concerned that the story may be too scary for my middle school readers, and I nearly put the book back down without previewing it!
Having now read the story, I'm ever-so-glad I did! I feel i've found a literary treasure-- a pleasing read that captures the insecurities of the middle school years and the treasures of history available in each of our worlds if we will only open our eyes.
After finishing the book, I was not surprised to find that the author has served as both a teacher and a librarian-- it was apparent that she knew her audience.
I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to appreciate small scale life history and remind themselves of what friendship really looks like.
Having now read the story, I'm ever-so-glad I did! I feel i've found a literary treasure-- a pleasing read that captures the insecurities of the middle school years and the treasures of history available in each of our worlds if we will only open our eyes.
After finishing the book, I was not surprised to find that the author has served as both a teacher and a librarian-- it was apparent that she knew her audience.
I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to appreciate small scale life history and remind themselves of what friendship really looks like.
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