The House of Dark Music is a story about families. It focuses on how families stay together, even after they fall apart. The main character, Jerry, is a young boy dealing with a painful past, a fractured family, and another summer dealing with peers he doesn't fit in with. During the summer, Jerry learns that different families handle tragedies in their own ways. As he struggles to deal with misconceptions, rumors, and new friendships, Jerry learns about himself and what makes a family.