
Reach for this book when your child is beginning to notice that adults are flawed or when a family member is struggling with a mental health crisis. Set in the vibrant art world of 1980s SoHo, the story follows twelve year old Olympia as she navigates the sudden disappearance of her father and her mother's deep, immobilizing depression. While the plot contains a high stakes mystery involving art restoration and missing paintings, the heart of the book is about the heavy burden of keeping family secrets. It is a sophisticated, emotionally honest choice for middle grade readers that validates the fear of seeing a parent lose their footing while offering a path toward resilience and self expression through art.
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Sign in to write a reviewThe father's work involves art forgery/restoration ethics and fleeing the law.
The book deals directly and realistically with severe depression (her mother stays in bed for weeks, unwashed and unresponsive). It also touches on abandonment and the moral ambiguity of white collar crime. The resolution is realistic: the mother receives professional help, and while the family is changed, they are on a path to healing. There is no magical cure.
A thoughtful 10 to 12 year old who enjoys mysteries but is also dealing with the 'decentering' of their parents. It is perfect for children who feel they have to be the 'adult' in the room.
Parents should be aware of the scenes depicting the mother's neglect due to illness. Read cold, but be ready to discuss what depression looks like. A parent might see their child withdrawing or trying to 'fix' adult problems. The trigger is witnessing a child feel responsible for a parent's emotional stability.
Younger readers will focus on the 'detective' aspect and the 80s setting. Older readers will resonate with the betrayal Ollie feels regarding her father's secrets.
Unlike many books about parental mental health, this is wrapped in a sophisticated art history mystery that never feels like a 'lesson.'
In 1981 SoHo, Olympia (Ollie) lives in a loft with artist parents. Her world shatters when her father flees in the night, leaving a cryptic note he orders her to destroy. Simultaneously, her mother sinks into a severe depressive episode, becoming catatonic and unable to care for Ollie. Left largely to her own devices, Ollie teams up with her friends to solve the mystery of her father's disappearance and a potential art heist, all while trying to keep her mother's condition a secret from the outside world.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.