Olivia Kidney

Reach for this book when your child is feeling disconnected, lonely, or struggling to process a major life transition like moving or the loss of a sibling. While it presents as a whimsical fantasy, it is deeply rooted in the emotional reality of twelve-year-old Olivia, who is navigating a new apartment building and a grieving father. Through a series of surreal encounters with psychic neighbors and ghostly inhabitants, the story explores how we find community and magic even when we feel invisible. It is a quirky, slightly dark, but ultimately redemptive read for the middle-grade audience. Parents will appreciate how it uses the 'absurd' to make the heavy weight of grief feel manageable and navigable. It is perfect for children who feel like outsiders or those who appreciate a story that doesn't shy away from life's stranger, more complicated edges.