Parents' Guide to

The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place

By Matt Berman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Girl fights to save her uncles' artistic towers.

Book E. L. Konigsburg Literary Fiction 2004
The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place Poster Image

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What's the Story?

Margaret Rose Kane comes by her individualism naturally -- her uncles cling to old-fashioned, old-world values, and have spent forty-five years building towers in their backyard. At summer camp, the more they try to get Margaret to conform, the more she resists. When she is rescued by her uncles, she finds that they too are under siege by the forces of conformity -- and about to give up.

The new neighbors in their newly gentrified neighborhood have convinced the town to order the demolition of the towers. Margaret gathers what allies she can and goes to war with the town. But her greatest allies will come from the most unexpected source.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (3 ):

This book presents a challenge for inexperienced readers, an ending that may disappoint some, and a unique and fascinating literary creation that flows like a page-turner.

Some things about E.L. Konigsburg never change. She has a profound respect for the intelligence of her characters, who are nearly always brilliant, quirky, and mature children, determined to hold on to their individuality in the face of a conformist society. She also respects the intelligence of her audience and, while she does sometimes preach, she never talks down to them or dumbs down her writing or ideas.

This respect for her audience has led her to experiment in her last few novels with increasingly complex structures, and that is certainly evident here. Margaret, the narrator as well as heroine, leaps around in time and space with gleeful abandon, and hunks of chapters are headed with bits of quotes from characters earlier in the story. There are parallels between different parts of the story, literary and historical references, and characters who pop in and out and in again. After the disappointment of Silent to the Bone, it's great to see Konigsburg back in top form.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the notion of rules and obedience. What are some of the rules and laws addressed in the book, and how do they compare with those in our own society? Is it okay to bend or break a rule in order to express your individuality?

Book Details

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