The Umbrella House

Ages 8 to 12, Grades 3 to 7

From the award-winning author of The Undercover Book List,a tale of community, found family, and the power of art to tell a story andmake a change. 

In this intimate and inspiring novel about the power ofart and the value of community, award-winning author and former New Yorker Colleen Nelson brings life and liveliness to an eccentric cast of New York Cityneighbors.Middle-schooler and Manhattanite Ruby Markowski wants totell the truth fearlessly and powerfully, just like her idols at Veracity News.She and her best friend Scout already make YouTube videos together about EastVillage life, so when Veracity News announces a Young Voices video competition,Ruby knows it’s the perfect opportunity to make a name for herself, if only shecan find a story worth telling. When a real-estate mogul threatens to buy her historicEast Village apartment building, Umbrella House, Ruby sets out to create avideo about the people who live in her building, depicting their love for art,community, and family. With time—and her options for saving Umbrella House—runningout, Ruby finds herself caught up in the mystery of the Midnight Muralist, afamous East Village artist whose murals once made buildingsfamous and valuable. Could finding this enigmatic artist be the key to savingher historic East Village apartment building?

About the Author

An author and middle-school teacher, Colleen Nelson earned her Bachelorof Education from the University of Manitoba in her hometown of Winnipeg. Herprevious works include the critically acclaimed middle-grade novels HarveyComes Home, Harvey Holds His Own (a finalist for the GovernorGeneral's Literary Award), Harvey Takes the Lead, and The UndercoverBook List. The titular building from Colleen's 2023 novel TheUmbrella House is a real place, which inspired Colleen during her years inNew York City