Welcome to Litsy!

Reading this cute book love the cover because I ❤️❤️❤️ typewriters.

This book caught my eye at the checkout counter at a bookstore, so I borrowed the audiobook from the library and I don't regret it. I didn't realize the intended audience skewed a bit younger, but it was a wonderful tale with a beautiful voice that touched on a difficult subject in a way that didn't minimize the different forms of heartache that manifest around it.

Its almost funny, me wanting to forget the "everything that happened," when that was exactly where I was still stuck. Maybe the only way to get unstuck was to remember.

Sometimes a stretch of sorrow can make you serious, unsure of who you are on the other side of it all.

This is a story of a family dealing with some big things which come out slowly over the course of story. It‘s told in alternating chapters from the perspective of Ernest, one of the boys in the family who loves words, and Olivetti, the family‘s typewriter. The typewriter makes for an interesting point of view, and the story includes a wonderful group of characters.

#MiddleGrade #audiobook

📷: my tulips! 🌷

A typewriter & an introverted boy are trying to find out what happened to the boy's missing mother. It has serious "Where'd You Go, Bernadette" vibes, but without the humor. I thought it was sweet & loved the theme of not assuming you know what's happening inside someone else's head. Grief & pain can elicit such different reactions from people. The various reactions shown by the family felt so real to me. I loved the story & the typewriter's POV.

This was an emotional, imaginative, warm story of family. Just lovely.

I was not anticipating this #MiddleGrade to be as sad as it was in parts - the cover and synopsis made me think it would be more light and comical. Magical realism plays a role in this as the reader hears from the perspective of tween Ernest and Olivetti the typewriter. It‘s apparent early on that there is a big #ElephantInTheRoom when it comes to Ernest‘s family, and the mother‘s disappearance only adds layers to the situation. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

The cover is BEAUTIFUL, but to be quite honest, I needed more daily thoughts, more voice from the typewriter. The premise is so smart, but for me, the execution was lacking. I also would‘ve loved some chapters from the mom‘s perspective because I have some questions…

Olivetti is marketed as a children‘s book and I get why, but it‘s a delightful read for anyone who loves typewriters, a bit of adventure, and the stories we tell. A boy‘s mother is missing. Her Olivetti was the last one to see her before she disappeared.

This middle grade fiction debut told from the dual POV of a sentient typewriter and a 12-year-old introvert was enticing to me. Read my full review here: https://debbybrauer.org/#olivetti

Publication is expected March 26.

#NetGalley #RBMedia #Olivetti