The Visconti House

Edgar, Elsbeth. (2011). The Visconti house. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.  Middle grader Laura Horton and her family move from their home in Melbourne into a somewhat ramshackle and shabby house that some would consider to be a mansion. Laura's family is a bit eccentric with her mother cluttering the house with all of her various art projects, a penchant for the dramatic, and the collection of decidedly different albeit interesting friends. Laura herself has trouble fitting in at school as does Leon, another student new to the school. Laura is the butt of teasing because of her love for writing--she is constantly working on a story about dragons, even in school--while Leon is regarded as fragile compared to many of the other students. Somewhat to her chagrin, Leon and Laura become friends, growing closer as they try to uncover the house's secrets. Rumor has it that the original owner built this house for the woman he lived, but there is some tragedy surrounding that story.

As the two solve the mystery behind the story of the Visconti house, Laura is offered entree into the popular group of girls at school, but in order to claim her place, she initially rejects Leon's invitation to attend the school dance together. Does fitting in mean that Laura must give up the parts of her that are unique as well as shunning someone with whom she has so much in common? This story for middle graders makes it clear how high the price for fitting in may be.