NOTHING TO SEE HERE

Some things in life don’t sound like they’ll be awesome, but then, improbably, they just ARE. A musical about a U.S. Treasury Secretary. Green tea ice cream. A television show about dragons. And apparently, a novel about kids who catch on fire!!

The odd premise of this book almost led me to shelve it forever. But then I wondered, if so many people think this book is fantastic, maybe there’s something here I’d enjoy? And from minute one of listening on audio, I was along for the ride.

Nothing To See Here is about a bright but less-than-ambitious young woman, Lillian, who receives a mysterious request from her perfect-seeming boarding school roommate – would Lillian like a nanny position caring for her stepchildren? There’s only one catch, and it’s a big one: these children have been known to spontaneously burst into flames. During the course of a summer, Lillian learns to care for these unusual children, face her fraught relationship with her friend, and discover even more about herself.

I absolutely adored this book. Clever, quirky, funny and touching, this refreshing novel is my new go-to recommendation for friends. I can never predict what will make me fall in love with a book, but in this case it was Lillian’s voice – completely candid, wholly without pretense – that drew me in. For a book with supernatural stuff going on (“magical realism” seems too lofty a term for these fire kids), this story was accessible, surprising and most of all, fun.

What’s not so fun, as twins Bessie and Roland find out, is being confined to a big southern mansion for the summer. “I want ice cream at a store,” Bessie says. ” I want to watch them scoop it out and serve it to me.” Ice cream is a big highlight of their time with Lillian, and the dream of a sundae with the works looms large in their 10 year old minds. So here’s a real ice cream party just for Bessie and Roland – with hot fudge and sprinkles, as requested! (Fire extinguishers not included.)