The View from the Very Best House in Town

Asha and Sam are neurodivergent best friends whose bond is tested when Sam enters Castleton Academy. Sam is labeled a miracle by the school's administration, while Asha is left at their local middle school. Sam begins spending time with Prestyn, the wealthy girl who lives in the town's most famous mansion, Donnybrooke. As Asha watches Sam drift away, she uncovers the truth about Prestyn's family and the house itself, which is actually a narrator in the story. The book handles neurodivergence (specifically autism) with a direct, secular approach. SENSITIVE TOPICS: It addresses bullying and social manipulation realistically. The resolution is hopeful but grounded in the reality that friendships evolve and sometimes change forever. EMOTIONAL ARC: The story begins with a sense of security that quickly dissolves into anxiety and loneliness. It builds tension through mystery elements and social conflict, ending on a note of empowerment and self-acceptance. IDEAL READER: A 10-year-old child who feels like an outsider or who is watching a lifelong friend make new, perhaps unkind, social choices. It is perfect for neurodivergent readers looking for authentic representation that isn't focused on a cure or a tragedy. PARENT TRIGGER: A parent might see their child being excluded from a group or hear their child express that they are trying to act more normal to keep a friend. PARENT PREP: Parents should be prepared to discuss manipulative behaviors like gaslighting, which Prestyn uses to control Sam. AGE EXPERIENCE: Younger readers will focus on the mystery of the house and the sadness of the friendship rift; older readers will better grasp the social commentary on classism and the nuances of masking. DIFFERENTIATOR: The inclusion of the house, Donnybrooke, as a sentient, judgmental narrator provides a unique, slightly gothic lens to a contemporary school story. ```