Tilly has become invisible. She is like glass.
People see right through her. Her brother Oliver claims all mum’s attention.
And Tilly’s too. Her dreams are what keep her going. They are locked in her
head just like her precious possessions are locked inside her bedroom. The key
is tied around her neck.
Oliver has autism. He doesn’t speak. Their house is
a war zone of smashed belongings and holes in the walls. The family are under
the threat of eviction due to Oliver’s noise levels.
Tilly’s life has been set aside as all hers and
mum’s energy goes into caring for her brother. She wants to be a marine scientist and knows a
great deal about fish and their habits. She studies them, keeps a fish tank in
her room, and diligently adds entries to her illustrated journal of marine
creatures so she won’t forget anything.
Aunt Janine has absolutely no experience of
children, and even less knowledge of autism. Chaos reigns as the change they
hoped would improve their lives, has the opposite outcome.
Oliver’s destructive habits lead Tilly to an
explosive blowout that has dire consequences.
Ultimately, it is Tilly’s intimate familiarity of Oliver and these
habits that bring events to their conclusion.
The
Thing About Oliver is a stunning and profoundly moving portrayal of
glass children. Deborah Kelly has deeply immersed herself in her characters. The
result renders the story authentic and pure. The prose shines in the light that
Tilly’s narrative voice creates.
Title: The Thing About Oliver
Author: Deborah Kelly
Publisher: Wombat Books , $14.99
Publication Date: October 2019
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781925563818
For ages: 8+
Type: Middle Fiction
