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The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place has collected dust on my bookshelf since Grade 8. I finally found a reason to read it this year and was surprised at what I had missed out on. E. L. Konigsburg is an amazing author, and this well-written story of a young girl and her journey to save her uncle’s artwork captivated me from beginning to end.

“When you get older, you realize that all you have is time. You have time and your side of history, and thats all you have.”
-Uncle Alexander Rose, 19 Schuyler Place

This quote was one of the few that repeated itself throughout “The Outcasts of Schuyler Place.” Margaret Rose Kane takes the reader on an adventure in her attempts to stop the demolition of her uncles’ most prized posessions: three towers handmade with multicolored pendants and paint mixtures. Margaret’s decisions throughout the story clearly demonstrate the important lessons we learn in our lifetime. Creativity, determination, and reunion collide to redefine the meaning of individuality. When constant struggles to get along with her cabin-mates leave Margaret uninterested in any camp activities, she is rescued by her uncles, Alex and Morris. When Margaret learns of the attempts of the neighbors and city council to destroy the towers her uncles have spent 45 years building, she unites with her mother’s childhood friends and Camp Telequa handyman. With a mission in mind, values at heart, and a few helping hands, Margaret Rose saves the towers. The author teaches the audience that when you believe something is possible, it can happen. It just takes patience, willingness, and luck.

I loved E. L. Konigsburg’s style of writing. She would put important quotes in bold and refer to them later in the story. I was excited when I reached a sentence that brought a “light bulb” moment because of its relation to an earlier sentence. She also provided explanation by expanding on a memory. Overall, I would definitely recommend this novel to everyone. It contains a passion for art, history, friendship, and family.