Apr 18, 20212 min read

Nothing to See Here

By Kevin Wilson

A Unique, Pleasurable and Fun Read Where Children Don’t Play with Fire...They are the Fire

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

SUMMARY

Roommates Lillian and Madison haven’t spoken since boarding school when Lillian had to leave the school unexpectedly. A few years later, Lillian gets a letter from Madison pleading for her help.

Madison’s two step kids are moving in with Madison and their father, who is an up and coming politician. Madison needs Lillian to be her step kids caretaker. But the ten-year-old kids have some special needs...they spontaneously combust when they get agitated and flames emanate from their skin. Thinking of her dead-end life at home, working two jobs and living in her mother’s attic, Lillian figures she has nothing to lose.

Over the course of the summer, Lillian and the twins, play and learn to trust each other—and stay calm. Surprised by her own ingenuity, Lillian ultimately begins to accept that she needs these strange children as much as they need her.

“A lot of times when I think I’m being self-sufficient, I’m really just learning to live without the things that I need.”

REVIEW

You will be drawn like a moth to a flame to this clever book about family, friendship and children that spontaneously combust. Nothing to See Here is simply a unique, pleasurable and fun read with an intriguing hook.

The twins’ condition is mystifying; while their skin burst into flames they are unharmed by the fireball. They might lose their clothes but the shimmering flames on their skin is said to eerily beautiful. Just don’t get to close!

Kevin Wilson’s writing is amusing and entertaining. The characters are well-drawn, and Lillian’s character who is also the story’s narrator, is particularly robust. She surprises herself and us by her creativity in taking care of and teaching the twins, Bessie and Roland to chill-out, stay calm and breathe.

I listened to this book while on a vacation and found it perfect for a vacation state of mind—light and easy. The audiobook was nicely narrated by Marin Ireland whose use of accents and tone subtly defines each of the characters. At seven hours it’s a quick and easy listen.

Author Kevin Wilson lives in Sewanee, Tennessee and has written two additional novels: The Family Fang (2011) and Perfect Little World (2017)