The Umbrella House

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

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

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