Bobby MacAllister and Noel Simpson are cousins, who visit their Uncle Eb in Maine for the summer. There they embark on an adventure to discover the story of their ancestors and the secrets of the ghost, Olivia, who stays in the house. Together, with family friends and partners from the town, they uncover the truth of a long lost love story. Olivia MacAllister, Who Are You? is a fun fiction chapter book for children aged 7 to 10. Will you be inspired to learn about your ancestors’ past like Bobby and Noel?
My Review
3 out of 5 stars
This book is a fun romp through a family’s history. Although a lot of what the two children discover about their family is dark and violent, the children are hardly ever talked down to or sheltered. This is refreshing to see and makes the story more interesting. However, they don’t really end up learning much about their family. Mostly, the book is the same story told several times with only a small amount of new information given each time.
While the title makes you think the book is about the mystery of Olivia, her story is told very early in the novel. Although there is a twist, the pacing of the book suffers due to the early reveal and little further intrigue added after. More family secrets are alluded to but never addressed. There is more information given about the family late in the book but by then the addition is just confusing and makes the reader wish the entire story was the children learning several things about their family’s very interesting past instead of just hearing the same story repeated.
Nevertheless, the story is fun and exciting at times and could really inspire a child’s imagination and peak their interest in learning their own family’s history. This book encourages adventures, creativity, and the quest for knowledge. A great read for children, and a fun adventure.
DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for writing a review. I was not obligated to give a positive review, and all thoughts are my own.
About the Author
Celine Rose Mariotti was born in Derby, CT, and a is a lifelong resident of Shelton, CT. She is a graduate of Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT majoring in Business Administration with a minor in English.