The View from the Very Best House in Town

by Meera Trehan

This inventive debut combines the pleasures of a thriller, a school story, and a real estate listing in its witty and insightful exploration of what it means to be—and lose—a friend.

Sam and Asha. Asha and Sam. A perfect pair of friends whose differences complement well, and whose main similarity, autism, means they understand each other. They are a fixture, an established thing, just as Donnybrooke, the mansion that sits on the highest hill in Coreville, is the acknowledged best house in town—and Asha’s dream home. But when Sam is accepted into elite Castleton Academy, leaving Asha to navigate public middle school alone, she begins to wonder if the things she is certain about are so fixed after all. Because soon Sam is spending time with Prestyn, Asha’s tormentor whose family also happens to own Donnybrooke, and who have forbidden Asha from setting foot inside.

Told from the points of view of Asha, Sam, and Donnybrooke itself, this remarkable debut explores themes of prejudice and classism as it delves into the mysteries of what makes a person a friend and a house a home.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Friendship, Coming Of Age, Disability

256 pages, Hardcover

First published February 8, 2022

About the author

Meera Trehan is a former practicing attorney who has worked on a range of civil rights issues, including disability rights. Indian-American like her character Asha, she lives outside of Washington, DC, with her family. This is her first novel, based in part on the experiences of one of her children, who is autistic.

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Donnybrooke House has distinct opinions regarding its owners and visitors. Asha is a neighbor who is enthralled by architecture. She would love to spend more time in Donnybrooke (the house would love that as well), but young Prestyn Donaldson (currently residing in Donnybrooke) is a mean girl and wants nothing to with Asha. Sam is Asha's best friend. His mom is thrilled when Sam is accepted as a student at the local posh private school Castleton. He will be going to school with Prestyn, not Asha. Will Sam have to choose between Asha and Prestyn? Who will help Asha play her favorite video game Househaunt when Sam is too busy to come over? I really liked the chapters with the house giving us its views. Donnybrooke House could be a bit pretentious, but as the biggest and most interesting house in town -- who wouldn't? Sam is bullied at Castleton and that is difficult to witness, but his parents do a great job of advocating for him in the end. Really enjoyed this one and the cover is a wonderful representation of the story inside.

Thank you to Walker Books and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a lovely, heartwarming book! Sam & Asha. Asha & Sam. Their friendship is so long established, they take it for granted. Just as Asha takes for granted that Donnybrooke, the mansion that sits on the highest hill in Coreville, is the best house in town. But when Sam is accepted into snobbish Castleton Academy as an autistic “Miracle Boy,” he leaves Asha, who is also autistic, to navigate middle school alone. He also leaves her wondering if she can take anything for granted anymore. Because soon Sam is spending time with Prestyn, Asha’s nemesis, whose family owns Donnybrooke &, since a housewarming party gone wrong, has forbidden Asha to set foot inside. The chapters alternate between Asha & Sam, & also occasionally from Donnybrooke-the house who thinks quite a lot of itself lol. Great messages on friendship-gaining & losing, & also how to just BE a good friend..And also what makes a house a home. It’s not the fancy or materialistic things. Both kids have autism, & I was horrified how people treated them differently, & HORRIBLY in many cases(& treating someone differently is bad in its own right, don’t confuse that)-even adults! The saying, “It starts at home”..when talking about kid bullies, is very on point. Makes me sick. Important themes on prejudices having to do with this, & also classism. I was annoyed with Sam(in Asha’s defense lol love her!), but Prestyn & her mom?! Wow!! Hateful & ignorant to the core. Very well written. I loved Donnybrooke though, & always loved the chapters from their POV. Such a unique addition to the story that I appreciated. Really enjoyed this! So heartwarming, charming, & full of so much heart. Beautiful cover by Nicole Miles too!💜

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Over the course of the Sam's year at the private school we see cracks appear in the Donaldson's family life. We see why their daughter is the bully she is. We learn why Asha and now Sam aren't allowed at the home. We also see a gradual but steady humbling of Donnybrook.

http://pussreboots.com/blog/2022/comm...

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[Lakita Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Told from the point of view of two children on the autism spectrum AND a large, overdone house that looms over the other houses in the neighborhood--this is a story about friendship, acceptance, and things not always being what they appear. My heart ached for the two children on the spectrum as they forged new friendships as old, familiar bonds faded. I especially loved the voice of the house and felt real emotion as he himself, wanted nothing more than to house a family that was just the right fit for him.

This story's theme of fitting in, tolerance, and growing pains are timeless, and I hope this becomes a staple in the classrooms all over. Truly a gem.

[LS Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really unique story told from 3 perspectives, and each one feels very genuine. I wasn’t sure I would like the “house” perspective, but it provided a lot of background, a little humor and a lot of sarcasm. By the bittersweet end of the book, I felt like I knew, loved and cheered for Sam and Asha. This is a great book about accepting yourself and others. And a gentle reminder to parents that kids each have their own personalities that can be loved and appreciated.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think I've ever read a book that's narrated by a house before, so that was a unique approach that I ended up liking a lot more than I thought I would. In fact, of all the characters in the story, Donnybrooke might have the most personality! I enjoyed its alternating chapters. Asha and Sam are also sympathetic and likable narrators. I found them both root-worthy. Plotwise, this tale pretty much goes exactly where I expected it to. Still, it's a compelling read and it teaches some great lessons about acceptance, kindness, how to be a real friend, and the power and peace that comes with just being yourself.

If I could, I would give this book 3 1/2 stars; since I can't, I rounded up.

[Florence Migga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this book took me through the range of emotions. I felt protective of Asha and Sam. I felt angry at the adults. And I rolled my eyes so hard at Donnybroke throughout the whole thing.

There's so much to explore in this story that I'm sure sleep deprived me won't scratch the surface, but I'll try to mention a few things.

First of all, I loved how different points of view came in. How Donnybroke saw himself, how Asha same him, how Sam saw him, how Prestyn saw him. You of course have the different POVs of the children -- for example, how Sam's mom saw him, how Prestyn saw him, how Asha saw him, how he saw himself. Same with Asha.

I felt a lot of this book with my heart hurting for Sam and Asha and what I thought they didn't realize. But by the end I came to understand that they did realize everything. They processed it in their own time and way, and came out stronger. Though they were doubted by some of the adults in the story, they were also loved and understood by others. My favorite part of this story was walking this path with Sam and Asha, seeing through their eyes, feeling all the confusion and hurt, and then seeing how much they grew, individually. Friend break ups and relationships in general are every bit as emotional and impactful on the individuals as romantic relationships, and I'm always happy to read a friendship story.

Read the full review on Book Nerds Across America:http://www.booknerdsacrossamerica.com....

[C.R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic read! So glad I stumbled across this one in the library.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a delight and even more delightful on audio. The house has a rich, fruity voice that is exactly like what an egotistical house should sound like. The house knows that it is the best and it appreciates those who appreciate it. Asha loves Donnybrook House and the house, indeed, appreciates her for it and doesn't understand why Asha can't be friends with Prestyn, the little girl of the house, who is popular and apathetic to the house's charms. There was an incident years ago, and Prestyn and Asha cannot be friends, so Asha has to admire the house from a distance. Besides admiring oddly good McMansion architecture, Asha is best friends with Sam and they play a lot of an excellent, fictional haunted house-building game together on their phones. Asha and Sam are both on the autism spectrum and Sam is livid that his time with Asha is denigrated as parallel play when he starts hanging out with the cool kids, especially Prestyn, and realizes that their play is also parallel, except when they are mocking him for no reason. Prestyn is a good kid going through a bad phase. This is a good book. Highly recommend. A lot of things get brought up in the course of a broader narrative about friendship and aging out of childhood and finding what's next. One must listen to the audiobook, because of the house.

[In The Loop About Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

WARNING! 🚨This review will contain spoilers for The View from the Very Best House in Town. If that’s not your thing, please read another review.

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Highly recommended for loved ones.

The View from the Very Best House in Town centers on Asha Wood and Sam Moss, both on the autism spectrum. The two have known each other since they were little and have always been best friends! This changed when Sam got accepted to Castleton Academy. He started drifting away from Asha to hang out with Prestyn, who was Asha’s bully. That left Asha to navigate 7th grade on her own—without Sam.
When I first heard about this book, I was excited and intrigued. It’s rare to see books featuring two autistic protagonists, especially when one of them is a person of color. As I read through this book, I fell in love with it even more! Let’s go over the pros, the cons, and the autistic representation.

Pros: Where to start? There are so many things that I loved about this book! Let’s start off with something simple.
One aspect I liked about this book was its writing style. We not only get to see Asha's and Sam’s perspectives but also Donnybrooke’s too. This was something unique I hadn't seen before in middle-grade books, and it allowed us to get a third perspective through Prestyn’s house. It was also immersive, and it did a great job illustrating Asha’s, Sam's, and even the house’s emotions. It kept me on the edge of my seat, and I couldn’t wait to read about what happened to them.

Another element I loved about the story was how the conflicts were handled, both internal and external. The conflicts made the story feel more dynamic, yet it didn’t feel too intense or convoluted. It had the right amount of suspense and breathing room for readers to process everything. We also got to see Asha struggling with Sam treating her poorly, Sam being manipulated by Prestyn, in addition to being bullied at school, and how the two of them wanted to be accepted. It made both of them sympathetic characters and made me root for both of them as the plot progressed.

Additionally, I appreciated that Prestyn‘s behavior was challenged. It was so satisfying to read, and I love how the plot didn’t glorify or sweep her actions under the rug. This is huge because a lot of books tend to let their characters get away with bullying or have their toxic behavior go unchallenged. So, I really enjoyed how this book wasn’t afraid to give its antagonist consequences for their actions.

There were a lot of aspects that I loved about this book, but the last thing I’ll mention is its resolution. To create a good ending, it must be able to wrap up each character’s arc as well as make it believable for the audience. And this novel did that successfully. We saw that Asha was clear about her boundaries after the way Sam treated her. I really enjoyed seeing that, because middle-grade books need to provide examples of how to set healthy boundaries, especially towards people who mistreat them. And by the time I finished this book, I didn’t have any unanswered questions about what Asha and Sam were up to, which is so refreshing to see!

There was a lot more than those things I mentioned that I loved about this novel, but if I were to mention everything, this review would get quite long. Let’s move on to the cons.

Cons: There weren’t any major elements of the story that I didn’t like about it. Sure, it was frustrating to read about Sam not standing up for Asha, but given how much he wanted to be accepted by Prestyn and everyone else at Castleton, it was also realistic. Not only did Sam seem to have feelings for Prestyn (he thought she was “very pretty” when he first saw her at the Castleton party, he tolerated her bullying, and he went back to her house even after the first hide-and-seek incident), but he also didn’t want kids at school teasing him or calling him “miracle boy.” So, he thought befriending Prestyn would help others respect him more. Which, unfortunately, came with ditching Asha in the process. Asha’s confusion and anger about Sam being a bad friend toward her hit close to home as well, which only made Sam’s treatment of her more aggravating to read. However, it wasn’t something that hindered the narrative. Now, let’s move on to the representation.

Representation: As an autistic person, this book was a hidden gem. Asha and Sam were such relatable characters, and a lot of their situations reminded me of things I dealt with when I was their age.
First off, I love how it showcased differences in Asha's and Sam’s autistic traits. Asha is more outgoing and has difficulty understanding the difference between someone being friendly and someone who genuinely shows interest in being her friend. While Sam is more introverted and is afraid of getting social interactions “wrong.” This played a huge part in why he masked at Castleton so much. I’ll mention that aspect later. I love how the book highlighted their differences but also showed their similarities, such as both of them having difficulties with making friends. It’s important to demonstrate that autism is a spectrum, and I believe this book did that very well!

I also like how this book didn’t lean on any stereotypes. Yes, their autism was a large part of their identities, but it didn’t define them either. Asha and Sam are complex characters in their own right, each of them having distinct personalities aside from their autism. That was something I appreciated seeing. Speaking of stereotypes, I love how the story challenged them via the “miracle boy” plot line. On the first day of school, Dr. Deutsch reads an article about Sam, calling him a “miracle boy.” This causes kids at school to tease him, and it had a negative impact on him. It showed that although the article meant to display Sam’s strengths, it ultimately caused more harm than good. This message is a crucial one to send, especially because of the autistic savant stereotype that paints autistic people as geniuses. And it also sent that message sensitively.

Additionally, I love how the story didn’t excuse Sam being a bad friend toward Asha or blame it on his autism. The narrative clearly illustrated that his mistreatment of Asha didn’t relate to him being autistic.
Again, this is such an important lesson because a lot of people tend to justify their rude behavior because of their autism. Unfortunately, this bleeds into stories, too, Sugar Motta from “Glee” being a notorious example of this. So, I really appreciate how the story steered away from this and allowed Sam to take accountability for how he treated Asha.

I also love that Asha is Indian American and autistic, especially as an autistic person of color myself. This type of representation is rare, particularly among middle-grade books. Once again, her Indian heritage is a huge part of her, but it wasn’t her entire personality. She was kind, creative, and willing to help the people she cares about. I also loved seeing little nods to Indian culture as well, like her family celebrating Diwali. It was awesome to see, and I loved how the story balanced both of Asha’s identities.

The last thing I’ll mention is how the narrative handled masking. Masking is a topic that is being brought up more in recent middle-grade books, and that’s great to see! But what this book did differently was that it addressed what masking can look like in boys. Throughout the course of the novel, Sam did things like stuffing his hands into his pockets whenever his hands shook instead of stimming. He also experienced headaches and stomach aches; he did not want to attend school because of this. It’s one of the many consequences of masking. Once again, this was something pivotal to see. Of all the books I’ve read, I’ve seen them talk about what masking looks like in girls. While this is important as well, it also perpetuates the stereotype that autistic boys don’t mask or aren’t socially conscious. That couldn’t be further from the truth, and the book demonstrated that beautifully. One reason I think the author was able to capture the autistic experience so well is that she has an autistic child of her own, and she consulted with a well-known autistic author, Sarah Kapit, for the sensitivity of the portrayal. Meera Trehan created a nuanced and compelling portrayal in Sam and Asha. And that’s what makes them one of my favorite autistic characters in kidlit. With all that said, let’s move on to the conclusion.

Conclusion: Overall, The View from the Very Best House in Town is one of the best novels I’ve ever read. The storytelling was spectacular, the character development was on point, and it was just an excellent read! If you want to read about a friendship falling-out story with a diverse cast, this book is for you! I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to understand autism better.
Thank you for reading, and God bless!

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent debut showing from a local author!

Here we have, two distinct and thoroughly developed perspectives that feel accurate both for the characters' ages and for their neurodivergent challenges. Both are autistic, and each one is autistic in their own way (a shockingly revolutionary thing, at least it seems that way in a survey of middle-grade reads). Asha is externally focused, with that hyper-friendliness that's considered cute in early years and later becomes a hallmark of 'problematic behaviors of autism' (which is a phrase I hate, but its how a lot of low-end spectrum kids get ID'd in High School), due to difficulty understanding social boundraries and the limits of 'friendship' and 'friendliness' and 'politeness'. Sam's internally focused, with the social avoidance that leads to most early diagnoses for even low-end spectrum kids, and no illusions that he understands how friendship or other such social-machinations actually work. They each have a fixation interest, and their intrigue is clearly represented as not being how neurotypical interest functions, most visible with how Asha loves Donnybrook House despite the way its architectural features do not actually work well together as any kind of coordinated design aesthetic (a variety of interest shown in direct contrast to the neurotypical perspective of her school-friend after Sam starts at Castleton).

It's also a great peak at how grown-ups, even well meaning ones, often do way more damage than good in trying to 'help' autistic kids grow up with the ability to fit inside our current culture's ridiculously rigid systems.

This narrative is straightforward and not too complicated, with a small cast and a consistent escalation of the tensions. It's viable for audiences as young as about 7 to get through it as a read-aloud, and is perfect for the age 8-10 crowd to start reading on their own. It's aimed a bit younger than 'Fish in a Tree' or 'Out of My Mind', which I feel makes it a valuable contribution to the middle-grade mental-health canon.

The only thing I would have really liked to see done differently would be the lack of an external, truly neurotypical perspective. I loved Donnybrooke's PoV, but even the House is spectrum-oriented, though I'd place it closer to ADHD than the current threshold for autism. I just would have liked to see someone outside it all look at what's happening and state explicitly that they think something isn't right about how everyone is treating everyone else.

Like a neighbor with a dog or something. All kids (unless a specific phobia presents) love the neighbor with a dog and will divulge an alarming number of personal and social secrets in order to prolong a conversation in which they are permitted to pet said dog. It wouldn't have needed to be a frequent PoV, but I really would've liked to see something like that interspersed within the narrative to make it exceedingly clear that no one's behavior is really that of a model human. I think the audience this is aimed at is just a little too young to make that leap on their own and, for the most part, they aren't old enough to have discovered that even grown-ups make mistakes. There IS an apology from both mothers to their kids, and even one from Prestyn's Dad, so it's apparent that Trehan meant to point that fact out, but witnessing the apologies isn't quite enough in many cases to make it clear that such applies to ALL grown ups (including the ones that belong to the reader).

Still, I deeply enjoyed this book and I am exceptionally excited to welcome the Author into my store this weekend!

[Rosi Hollinbeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Asha and Sam have been best friends for a very long time. They have special classes together and also are neighbors, so it's natural for them to be friends. Both are on the autism spectrum, and they seem to understand each other perfectly. They both love playing Househaunt, but are good at different aspects of the game -- complementary aspects, it turns out. But things change. Sam's mother has been busy trying to get Sam admitted to Castleton, a private school in town. She finally has success. Sam isn't very happy about leaving a school where he feels safe, but it seems so important to his mom, so he goes along with it. Asha is devastated. Not only will she not have Sam around each day, but Sam will be going to school with Prestyn, the mean girl who used to be Asha's friend. Prestyn lives in the biggest house in town, a house called Donnybrooke, one that towers over their neighborhood. Asha loves the house and wishes she lived in it, but Prestyn has been awful to Asha, so she never goes to Donnybrooke.

Sam is miserable at his new school. The very first day, the principal shows an article from the local paper to the entire school in which Sam is called Miracle Boy because, in spite of his disability, he got into Castleton. It gives ammunition to all the mean kids in the school, and Sam's life is awful. But he gets put into a group with Prestyn and Tessa, her best friend. Of course, Sam ends up doing all the work, but he thinks Prestyn and Tessa like him. But Prestyn is a mean girl, and she can't help but do awful things to Sam. And Tessa can't stand up to her. Things become dangerous, and Asha comes to the rescue, putting herself in a very difficult position.

This book is cleverly told from three points of view, all close third-person. The three are Asha, Sam, and Donnybrooke. Yup, you read that right. The house is a point-of-view character. In a sense, Donnybrooke often gives Prestyn's viewpoint, but not always. This book is something of a thriller, in that there is real danger driving the story. For the most part, the adults in this book leave a LOT to be desired, but Asha's family is kind, loving, and generous. Not only is there diversity shown in the characters through the issue of autism, but Asha and her family are East Indian. The characters are very relatable (yes, even the house!), and the problems are ones all kids will understand. Hopefully, it will make a lot of readers more cognizant of and understanding of those on the spectrum. Meera Trehan's writing is beautiful and the story compelling. I think this could make a good read-aloud too. It's a terrific book. I received this book from the publisher, Walker Books US a division of Candlewick Press, and wrote this review for my blog, https://rosihollinbeck.com/blog/.

[Therearenobadbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 This book excelled because it made me feel good and sad things. Sad, but real and relatable. The way Sam and Asha felt during this novel, I still feel it, in society even as an adult, and that is what saddens me, not the honesty of this book, but life. 


Chapters are told by three Povs: two young characters who are on the autism spectrum and a house. 

Sam and Asha are best friends, but a decision to send Sam to a snobbish school affects many lives. Asha is left alone without warning. Sam deals with a new school he hates.


The author writes in the third person but sounds closer than first, and it makes us feel uneasy and sad, sometimes even angry... (or maybe one must experience something similar to understand it). But who hasn't experienced bullying at least once in life? 

Some characters bullying Sam take it a bit too far and border on psychopathy, and although we don't see justice being done quickly, we understand that the father in the end decides to save his daughter from a path of no return. 


Although these seem negative remarks, they are highlights, that's why some readers call this novel a thriller. We feel them. Not just as an audience, we feel these things personally. But more eerie moments and injustices keep us turning the pages. At the same time, I feel sad for the characters. 

As a reader who relates to them, I understand many of their actions and why Sam didn't just say no and avoided Prestyn. 

I even understand why playing a game is more than just a distraction. Awesome to have the metaphor of a game that is about building a house that can rot and be infested and condemned and to avoid it is a matter of keeping control, and cooperation in a world that makes sense to both of them... It's almost like a task with responsibilities. 

How social gatherings and school assignments in groups can be overwhelming... How adults use words we know but can speak unrelated things that are sometimes hard to understand. Learning by punishment... and being afraid to fall into the same trap. 

It is a unique reading and strange and should be experienced more than read about it. 

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Asha wishes she could live in the very best house in town: Donnybrooke. The uniquely designed mansion sits on top of a hill and has the very best view of the town below it. Unfortunately, the family who lives there does not welcome Asha to the home any longer, so she can only watch it from a wistful distance, wondering what it would be like to get to live there. Imprinted in her memory are all of the great facets of the structure - and she is envious of her nemesis (Prestyn) who is lucky enough to live in such a perfect place.

Sam is Asha's friend. They are both on the autism spectrum and understand each other in ways that have strengthened their relationship over the years. But when Sam gets the chance to attend an exclusive school in the area (snobby Castelton Academy) his family jumps at the opportunity and he moves on from their friendship. Then the head of the academy shares an article at the First Day Assembly in which Sam is called a Miracle Boy for beating the odds and being accepted at Castelton Academy. This results in Sam being alternately shunned and teased. Things seem to change for the better when popular Prestyn befriends him - but at what cost?

The View from the Very Best House in Town is written from three points of view: Asha, Sam, and the house itself, Donnybrooke. Readers will look forward to each character's chapters as they root for them to overcome the challenges they face individually. Being on the autism spectrum is seen from a few different angles between both students and their parents - and seeing a counselor to work through the hard times is handled realistically and positively as Sam and Asha grow and mature.
The View from the Very Best House in Town

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book. Oh, this book. The emotions it will put you through. I'm not sure if kids would get all the emotions, but as a parent, especially one with a child with ASD, it hits you in the feels. The way that Sam and Asha are treated makes me outraged. And yet. It is so, so true. Kids don't give them a second chance. They write them off, ignore them, bully them, and never once consider how much they have grown and changed over time. The parents of Prestyn are absolutely awful. And yet. So, so true. They are self-involved, focused on image, and want their child to be what they want and not what she wants. And sadly, many parents are like this too. Sam's mom just wants Sam to be "normal," and I've seen that over and over again. Asha's mom just wants to protect her, but in doing so doesn't really listen to her or have a good back and forth relationship. The adults in this book make me sad, and frustrated, and I want to shout at them. But at the same time, some parents really are very much like this. The principal in this book has zero understanding of ASD, and sadly that happens too. The bullying, discrimination, and attitude towards kids with ASD is, sadly, very accurate. It's a testament to the writing and personal experience of this author that the book is so relatable, accurate, and real. And while it is nice to feel heard, to have a side of a story told, it's also so sad and humbling to realize that this same story is repeated across the country, across the world. I cannot explain the feeling of seeing your child represented in print, but at the same time wishing it wasn't so terribly similar. This book will move you. It will change you.

[Meredith Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

THe VIew from the Verry Best House in Town is a unique story with vivid characters, (including a rather arrogant but empathetic house). I loved that Trehan made Sam and Asha such engaging characters. THeir struggles were palpable, and themes of friendship and growing up were beautifully portrayed. Bullying is explored in a compelling way with the bully utilizing psychological mind games and manipulation. Prestyn is a frightening character, and I wanted to strangle her mother. THe multiple perspectives from Asha, Sam and Donnybrooke, (the mansion), each provide crucial clues to the story's outcome. Autism is handled with genuine candor and compassion. Sam and Asha are fully realized characters with complex feelings. Donnybrooke, while seemingly arrogant and unlikable, has complex feelings as well. Trehan explores the corrosive effect of false facades, the danger in wanting social recognition, and the abiding power of friendship and what makes a person (and a house), worth knowing. Things are not always as they seem. Trehan's use of the symbolism of the eagle and fish weathervane on Donnybrooke's roof was wonderfully conveyed. I loved the novel's climax and how the plot point of the weathervane was resolved.
I thoroughly recommend this unique and suspenseful read. THe audio edition is wonderful with stellar narration. I particularly loved Daniel Henning's portrayal of Donnybrooke and Gary Tehemann's portrayal of Sam.
Happy reading, and GOd bless you all.T

[Maura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free advanced copy of this book from the LibraryThing Early Reviewers giveaway in exchange for an honest review.

This story is an interesting take on middle school friendships. It’s told from the point of view of two best friends Sam and Asha who start to grow apart after Sam is accepted into a private school. You also hear from the character of “Donnybrooke” which is a mansion in town that sees and hears all, especially what happens to the family that lives inside. Once Sam starts going to Castleton Academy (his mom’s dream school) he pushes Asha away and becomes a part of a toxic friendship with a girl named Prestyn who lives in Donnybrooke. Through chapters told from the point of view of Donnybrooke the house we learn how Prestyn and her friends end up bullying Sam. Both Sam and Asha are on the autism spectrum and the author does a good job of exploring how the two characters don’t always understand when kids are pretending to be nice but really being awful friends. One of the most heartbreaking but important takes aways from the story is that both students and adults need to choose to be kind and understand how their words and actions can negatively affect the self esteem of their children and students.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read Chapter 1 and Chapter 2- Asha has always loved Donnybrooke, but something happened and she isn't allowed near the house. Something she can't remember, but was real bad. Her best friend Sam isn't interested in Donnybrooke. He would rather play video game. When Sam is enrolled in the fanciest and best school in town, he comes face to face with a world class jerk, Prestyn. Prestyn's family lives in Donnybrooke and although the mansion is gorgeous, the people inside are distasteful. Something is going to discover the hard way from being invited to the house and mistreated by Prestyn. Sam has a secret, he hates soccer and his mom thinks he is playing soccer every Thursday after school. In reality, he's going to Donnybrooke. If he stops going with Prestyn, he'll have to tell his mom the truth. Soccer or Prestyn- which is worse? Sam is faced in a life-threatening situation and the only person who can save him is Ashe, but they are not talking, she is not allowed near Donnybrooke and guess where Sam is being held? In an interesting twist, Donnybrooke has its own voice with chapters of how the house is feeling about everything.

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Main characters Asha and Sam are on the autism spectrum, I can’t speak to the accuracy of their portrayal, but I felt like the author treated them with respect and thoughtfulness even if certain characters didn’t always.

Asha stood out as my favorite, I loved her fascination with architecture, how she steps up even for someone who has let her down and emotionally she’s so well written, her longing for friendship, her anxieties, everything about her was just super easy to care about.

Sam’s sections of the story were emotionally palpable, too, the bullying scenes always had me on edge worried for what may happen to him but his story isn’t reduced to him just being manipulated by this person masquerading as a possible friend, he does have some wonderfully uplifting moments involving his parents and advocating for himself.

This wraps up nicely without feeling overly saccharine, I liked that there’s a bittersweet element yet plenty to feel good about as well.


I received this ARC through a giveaway.

[Diane D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part thriller, part friendship story, this is a book that will make the reader think about what constitutes a "real friend and a real home." The story features two good friends, Sam and Asha, who are on the autism spectrum. Sam has just been accepted into a private school, Castleton Academy. It's his mother that wants to change things up for him and things get off to a rocky start for him when he is publicly referred to as the Miracle Boy. Sam is faced with new classmates who may pretend to want to be his friend but their actions show something quite different.

Sam and Asha's characters come across as both unique, complex and quite genuine. I thought it was quite creative that a third character -- a mansion known as Donnybrook added a mystery element to the story as well as the girl named Prestyn, who lives at Donnybrook. She pretends to want to be a friend to Sam but is anything but.

This is the type of story that should generate questions and conversation form the children who read this book. I thought this debut story was well done and the ending satisfying as well.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
This is a debut novel about middle school friendships. Asha and Sam have been best friends for years but now that they are in middle school, things are changing, especially since Sam has now been accepted into an elite private school. Asha sinks deeper into her own world and her love of architecture and the singular house at the top of the hill in her neighborhood. However, an incident in the past plus the fact that her nemesis, Prestyn, lives there means that Asha does not have access to the house. Sam has his own problems though as his autism makes him an outcast at his new school, although an unexpected offer of friendship from Prestyn seems to offer hope.
One thing of note about this book is that the house has a voice and has its own chapters, clearly delineated by pictures of columns along the edges of those pages. Asha and Sam also have alternating chapters.
CW for bullying.

[Brandy Painter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a difficult book to read in that it is so real to life. (Yes, even with the house having its own point of view. As it can't do anything but provide commentary, it worked.) The other two points of view in the book come from Asha and Sam, two middle school best friends who both have ASD. I like how Trehan was able to differentiate who they were as people, a necessity not a lot of MG author who tackle autism have learned. Autism manifests itself differently in how each of them process and perceive the world. Trehan pulls absolutely no punches here about how so many people look down on and bully those with ASD, particularly in middle school. However, this isn't just about the kids being terrible, it is also about adults, including parents, failing too. It's rather bitter sweet in the end but effective and realistic.

[Grace Mann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book,

this amazing, heart-warming and sweet story,
shows that you might want something,
get it, hate, love it, worry again.
Life changes and can sometimes not feel real.

It shows that there is another part to the story,
another side, people share stories and can feel other things to each over.
This is as you see things in other ways to your friends and strangers,
but in this story both characters are autistic they understand each over.

Though when Sam changes schools Asha starts to think more,
Sam is autistic like her right? Asha knows not to ask people
about there disability but does he. Can Sam not sense her distress.

Soon Sam is invited to donnybrooke, the tallest and biggest house in town,
what about Asha? why is Sam being invited there?

Only the house knows !!!!!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told in alternating voices by Asha, Sam, and a house. Yes, a house named Donnybrooke. Sam and Asha are autistic and have always had each other’s backs. When Sam transfers to exclusive Castleton school he is befriended/bullied by Prestyn Donaldson who lives in Donnybrooke. Prestyn (and her mother) hate Asha (and her mother) – could it be because of their ethnic background? Asha is obsessed with Donnybrooke and Donnybrooke’s crazy design, from turrets to a roof deck to a massive eagle and fish weathervane. When Prestyn plays a mean prank on Sam, he realizes only Asha can save him. Will Asha hear him and will she help Sam? Will Donnybrooke survive a massive storm, and the storm within its walls?

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I work with students on the autism spectrum and love finding characters like them in books. Though I put this book off for a while, I am glad I read it. Meera Trehan has given an interesting perspective with the house as much a character as a girl and a boy dealing with how other's perceive their behaviors. Both face communication and friendship issues as do the students around their community. Middle school students deal with a lot across the board and the schools these kids attend show clearly how children may deal with the pressure of wanting friends, even when it is not always the kindest choices. This is a solid, though sometimes frustrating story and I will keep an eye for more from this author.

[Wina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contemporary fiction for ages 8-12. Read by a cast of 3, for the alternating narrators in the book. It is realistic, except that the house is one of the narrators. : ) Very clever, and a good way to narrate things that happened which the 2 main (human) characters did not see. This book highlights the struggles of two autistic students who try to keep that on the down-low. One family, in particular, wants to ignore the struggles and move past them; be normal. There were some very frustrating parts for me, while things were going badly. Contains bullying (but not physical). There's an exciting climax to the story and a happy ending. Learning to be friends, to accept yourself, seeing the perspective of 2 different autistic characters, school, and more.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more than I did. I will acknowledge my understanding that I am not the intended audience which I think is part of why I didn't fall in love with the book.
The unique aspect of having the house as a character was one in particular I was very intrigued by. I appreciate also the straightfowardness of the characters in how their presented with their uniqueness and nuerodivergency. I can see this being a great book for many younger readers who often don't get to see themselves in stories.
I would've rated this a 3 1/2 if Goodreads allowed 1/2 ratings. Because I appreciate the representation of diverse characters I bumped it up to a 4.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Told in 3 points of view, Asha, Sam, and Donnybrooke the mansion, this is a story of friendships, both good and bad. Both Sam and Asha are neurodiverse and have become friends. When Sam changes schools and becomes ‘friends’ with Prestyn the intestine (Asha’s arch nemesis) things start to change. I like that both positive and negative qualities of friends are shown. I was a bit put off by the House Haunt game they played on their phones, as I wasn’t sure how it added to the story. The house had some interesting points to make. No swears, some mild elements of danger and some major bullying. 4th grade and up.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really, really loved this book. It's a great read for middle-aged kiddos about classism, racism, and anti-disability rhetoric in a palatable style. Kiddo are autistic without that being their entire personality (which we all know is a tired character trope and completely untrue about actual people with Autism). There are some stark and fairly shocking incidents that happen that will definitely have your kids talking to you. Highly recommend if you're working on teaching that we all have differences, but we're all human.

[Eileen Winfrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Asha, Sam (and a custom built house/mansion monstrosity) are the three narrators of this book about navigating the ebb and flow of friendships and bullying in middle school. The house acts as an observer, it doesn’t have any powers to move or speak, it narrates from its perspective. Lightly touches both Asha and Sam being autistic. Bullying is intense, the usual zero consequences for the offender. Decent read.