Olivetti is a fantastic MG story that is heartwarming, adventurous, and full of mystery and excellent messages for children. I loved the dual POVs, with one being a boy, and the other a typewriter. So neat!

I listened to this story with my 7 year old daughter, who loved this story. My nearly 10 year old son also listened to this audiobook and binged it in three days. It was a big hit! It also made me, the mom, cry a few times.

We listened to the audiobook at 1x speed. This speed is great when listening with the kids (though I listen to my own audiobooks faster). I loved the audiobook narrators who were perfect for the characters.

This is a definite for kids! Go pick this book up and share it with your littles. We will be getting a copy for the Little Free Library we steward.

Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for this advanced audiobook copy. Sorry for the delay in my review, it took time as I was as sharing it with my children.

This book came highly recommended by several friends and I so enjoyed this story about a child who is struggling in the face of a difficult family health crisis. The story is partially narrated by a typewriter and I just absolutely loved that magical realism aspect (while acknowledging that it might not be everyone's cup of tea). Olivetti is the name of the typewriter (of course) and he unravels a mystery component of the story with the family. This book was also a bit heavy and scary for a middle grade reader and my sensitive 12 year old may not be okay to read it but as an adult it was fine. There are great themes of friendship, family, and mental health concerns present in this one. Trigger warnings for a parent with cancer and an absent parent.

I'll be honest and say that I requested this one on netgalley simply because I fell in love with the cover. It turned out to be a really cute middle grade book about grief and coping and family. Olivetti is a typewriter who is sentient but according to the code of typewriters they're not allowed to talk humans but they remember everything that has ever been typed on them. Olivetti has been in this family for his whole existence and when his owner Beatrice, sells him at a pawn shop and then goes missing, all of Eddie decides to break the biggest rule and help Beatrice's son find her.

It's very heartwarming and cute. The kid MC really read to me as autistic or at the very least neurodivergent of some kind. He's super obsessed with dictionaries and stops talking for a large part. We get his POV but he doesn't talk to other people much which read as selective mutism or just going nonverbal for bouts at a time. He is very singularly focused and gets frustrated when other people try to dissuade him from his pursuits. Idk if it was intended but personally, that's how I read him.

I'll list the CWs below but they are kinda spoilery so heads up


SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS




CW: grief, cancer, illness, implied suicidal intentions but this is middle grade so it's not right out there on the page

I was so excited to get this audiobook, but to be honest, I didn’t really enjoy it much. It’s definitely a me thing, and I’d recommend it still to others, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea

This is a beautiful story of the secrets we hold and the lengths to which we will go to protect ourselves, but also to help those we love. Once I began reading, I was swept into the story and the search for all the answers to the questions that were being raised.

Listening to the audio version was a treat, as the dual narrators brought such personality to Olivetti and Ernest, and because having dual narrators makes it easier for the listener to keep the narrators straight while listening.

Olivetti
By
Millington, Allie

The story told by an old typewriter. Lighthearted in the telling this young adult book looks into the nature of telling your full story. The truth will help others understand the future of family and knowing each other. The typewriter shows the nature of learning someone's story.

This is the kind of magical realism vibes that I enjoy in the book. We have dual POV, one from the typewriter, Olivetti, and the other is a boy named Ernest. We have the devastating diagnosis of cancer for the second time for the boy's mother. The typewriter helps to show the boy and his siblings where the mother goes and brings the family back together. While it is a sad story it is also so beautiful. 4.3 stars.

Amazing book, covering topics most parents are scared to talk to their kids about. If you want to fet your kid to understand life a little better, I recommend this book wholeheartedly.
The narrator of the audiobook has the most pleasant calimd voice that kept me listening until the very end

"Olivetti" is a debut middle grade novel told from the perspectives of a boy named Ernest and a typewriter named Olivetti in alternating chapters. The book is unique since a typewriter is talking throughout which makes it fun, but it but covers some heavier topics such as a missing mother, sickness (cancer), and grief.

Ernest is a young man who uses words to help him with his anxiety. He is searching for his missing mom, and his only clue is her typewriter. Olivetti. The typewriter remembers everything typed into it and tries to help Ernest to locate his mom. Quinn joins in the search for Ernest's mom and her friendship is a nice part of the story. She provides a break from the seriousness of the book by adding some much-needed humor.
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narration. This book has a lot going on and is kind of heavy. I would recommend it for older middle graders capable of handling the difficult topics.

This is one of the Middle grade books I chose for April and it did not disappoint. It is such a beautifully written story about being young and facing hardships that occur with a loved one. As much as I adored Ernest, the 12 year old boy. I absolutely love Olivetti, the typewriter the most. He is hilarious and has so much character and wit. This book is adorable and I recommend it to anyone really :) I loved the narrator for this! It was a perfect match for Olivetti the typewriter! Five star rating on this book!

There was a lot that I really liked about this book including the perspective of the typewriter and the narrator of the audiobook. I liked the premise at first, but I thought it was a little heavy/odd for middle grade so it left me feeling indifferent. I think it had a lot of potential, but it wasn’t a book for me.

I enjoyed listening to this audiobook about a young child and a typewriter. The voices of the characters were well crafted. Never have I read a book with a typewriter as a character but it was a cute choice that helps tell a story with emotions that might be harder on younger readers. I appreciate also the position of the mother which is hard for many people to connect because they might believe they would never make that choice. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of the audiobook.

What an amazing story. I loved every second of it. The voice of Olivetti was unique yet relatable. Ernest was an amazing MC and I loved the friendship that came about between him and Quinn.

This story is every bit as magical as its stunning cover. But the gorgeous flowers and magical typewriter don’t quite prepare you for how heart-wrenching this book is.

I love a good heart-wrenching story.

A mom’s disappearance. A magical typewriter breaking his ethical code and divulging the secrets that had been typed to him so she can be found. An anxious 12-year-old on a mission.

This moving story is told from two perspectives: 12-year-old Ernest and Olivetti the typewriter.

You feel Olivetti’s heartbreak as he’s become more obsolete in the age of computers. You feel the son’s deep sense of being misunderstood and forgotten. And you feel caught up in their important mission.

This is a middle grade novel with real substance. The audio is absolutely fantastic, but I want to purchase a print copy so I can have that beautiful cover on my shelves.

For an incredible description of this book, look up Tom Hanks’ review in the New York Times.

Notable quotes:
“They stopped playing make-believe, but they still pretended everyday.”

“Memories are like heartbeats. They keep things alive. They make us who we are.”

TW for parent with cancer

Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for sharing a complimentary review copy with me!

The idea of a sentient typewriter was way more intriguing than I first thought it would be and I really enjoyed it overall.

"Olivetti" was a nice read with a really interesting concept, so I'm sure younger readers will enjoy it a lot, but for me it felt more juvenile than I'd expected so I didn't end up loving it.

A charming story of an introverted young boy and an Olivetti typewriter that can communicate with him. This is aimed at middle graders, but I found it a sweet story and not at all childlike.
I must admit that I was drawn in by the pretty cover (I know, I know. Don't judge a book...blah, blah, blah. But how could I not?!). But also, the idea of a typewriter being able to communicate with humans was intriguing.

When 12 yr old Ernest's mother goes missing, he didn't think an old typewriter could possibly help him find her. Not only find her but help him and his family face up to The Everything That Happened. Aided by a quirky pawn shop girl, the local librarian and the building janitor, the mystery of his mother becomes a wonderful adventure. Exploring memories long forgotten with the help of Olivetti reminds them of things they have forgotten and brings the family closer. There are many topics explored throughout the book and seeing them all working through things is lovely.

Thank you to #netgalley for the opportunity to read this beautiful story.

" If you scream and no one around can hear it, does it even make a sound?"

What a beautiful middle grade story told by an introverted boy named Ernest and a typewriter named Olivetti. They journey together as Olivetti reveals memories within him, to find Ernest's mom, Beatrice who left suddenly. Told through both POVS, this is a heartfelt story of what we leave behind and what memories are worth holding onto.

Thanks to Netgalley for the Audio ARC of this book in exchange for honest feedback.

Do you ever start a book excited about what you think it will be and then it turns out to not be that at all??? Olivetti was much heavier and more emotional than I was anticipating and dealt with a topic that is difficult for me to read about but it is a beautiful, imaginative, sad, lovely debut k that may tear at your tear ducts.

I enjoyed:

... the unique POV of an old typewriter, but will a middle grade child even know what a typewriter is?
... Ernest's love of words and character growth
... the Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe references
... the beautiful cover
... the engaging audiobook (4.5 hours) wonderfully narrated by Simon Vance and Christopher Gebauer
... that it has a hopeful, heartwarming ending because if it ended differently I may have thrown in across the room!

📖 Favorite Quotes

"Memories are like heartbeats. They keep things alive. They make us who we are.”

"Together is the only way through."

"Strength isn't about what you can do...It's about what you can endure. "

Without giving away too much of the plot, this story would be very helpful to open discussions and give hope, strength and courage to a family facing the same thing Ernest and his family are walking through but for others it may cause a bit more pain and sadness than they are able to deal with and they may want to save it to read at a later time.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Summary: As a typewriter for the Brindles, Olivetti has witnessed their ups and downs. And when Beatrice ('Mom') left suddenly, Olivetti decided to help Ernest, the shy Brindle boy who prefers to spend his time reading dictionaries, find her.

I don't usually do audiobooks, but I saw this on Netgalley and decided to give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised!

The story, told through the alternating POVs of Olivetti and Ernest, brings us through a series of clues linked to Beatrice's disappearance. For instance, why did Beatrice sell Olivetti for a specific amount of $126?

Since this book is aimed at middle graders, I am certainly not the target reader. However, I like the depth of Olivetti's insights about human behaviours, including what we perceive to be 'art', featured in a rather horrifying segment. I also like how the story covers the different coping mechanisms among the Brindles in the aftermath of Beatrice's disappearance.

Another thing I enjoyed: the narration for Olivetti, which came in a rhythm reminiscent of the clacks of typewriter keys. His wit and his remarks about human absurdity were perfectly conveyed, so kudos to the wonderful narration!

Unfortunately, I do think the story is lacking in certain aspects. For one, I wished that the ending was given more attention. After all the trouble the characters went through to locate Beatrice, the final few chapters was tied up too neatly, too quickly. As a result, the resolution felt unearned.

I also think that the inclusion of Beatrice's friends hurts the story. They don't really serve a purpose, in my opinion, and I wish their spaces were used to further flesh out the Brindles (or more of Olivetti!).

All in all, this audiobook was a good experience for me. Would love to see more stories of this sort!

Thank you to @netgalley and RB Media for the audiobook.

#reading #readinggoals #audiobook #typewriter #mentalhealth #middlegradebooks