THE THING ABOUT OLIVER BY DEBORAH KELLY

The Thing About Oliver by Deborah Kelly is a Middle Grade story that follows Tilly, her mum and her little brother, Oliver. It was shortlisted for the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Book of the Year, 2020.

Tilly dreams of being a marine biologist and swimming among the amazing creatures that live under the sea. The only trouble is, she lives in a drought stricken country town and there is never enough time or money to even get her swimming lessons. Tilly’s brother Oliver is autistic, and she and her mum spend a lot of time taking him to therapy classes and making sure that as little as possible disruption comes his way.

When her mum loses her job, and decides they will move to Queensland, Tilly has mixed feelings. She’s excited to be moving somewhere closer to water, but what about her friends and school? But, more importantly, how will Oliver take it? He can’t handle any changes in his routine and his melt downs can be loud and distressing to everyone. Tilly knows that Oliver’s needs must come first, but she is tired of coming last and sad to be leaving her old life behind. The move proves to be just as emotional as expected, and when Tilly loses her temper, things quickly get out of control.

Deborah Kelly has created a moving drama of a family who do the best they can with their circumstances. Her depiction of Tilly and the sacrifices she makes for her brother, are both powerful and heartbreaking. This is a wonderful book for children who may have friends with siblings that have autism. It gives an insight into how difficult their lives can be.

For Ages: 8 + 12 years

Number of Pages: 144 in paperback form.

Published: October 2019

Themes: Family, autism and coping with adversity

Rating: 4/5                                       

I wish: that I could remember all the fish’s names like Tilly.