THE UMBRELLA HOUSE

Seventh graders Roxy Markowski and Scout Chang-Poulin are longtime best friends.

They live in Umbrella House, a real co-op in New York City’s East Village. In 1988, the then-abandoned building was occupied by squatters who restored it, after which the city government legalized the situation. Several decades later, this realistic, contemporary novel, narrated by Roxy, tells another story. A developer is buying up properties and needs the city council’s permission to acquire the building. Long-term inhabitants of the East Village, which is known for its artists, musicians, and activists, see this as unwanted gentrification. Roxy lives with her paternal grandmother, a flea market dealer. Scout has two moms, a lawyer and an art gallery owner. The kids join with neighbors to save their building: bookstore owner Miguel, artist Ortiz, and musician Lenny. Roxy, with her research, writing, and acting skills, and Scout, with his photography, video, and editing abilities, have their own YouTube channel where they share stories about the East Village. Now they enter a contest—the prize is working with a professional reporter to produce a documentary—and their video entry focuses on the fight for their building. Blending fact, fiction, social issues, and friendship, this novel ably highlights young people’s strengths. Names are the only clues to ethnic diversity.

Art versus mammon: An uplifting account of creative kids working to preserve a city landmark.