Twelve-year-old Olivia Kidney has just moved into a new apartment, thanks to her father’s job as building superintendent. However, she’s not entirely sure she really wants to be there, especially as she doesn’t know anyone, and is quite lonely. However, when she loses her keys and has to go looking for her father, she discovers that the residents of her new home are far stranger and more interesting than she ever could have imagined. Ghosts, psychics, an apartment made of glass, an indoor rain forest, talking lizards, pirates, missing aviatrixes, all of these and more are to be found in the depths of the building. As Olivia searches for her father, she has a number of experiences, both fascinating and frightening, and discovers that she may not be without friends after all.
Olivia Kidney is a lovely, fun book, mixing fantastical experiences with scary encounters. Imagine if Alice in Wonderland took place in a New York apartment building, and throw in a dash of Series of Unfortunate Events for atmosphere. This is a good book for younger readers, and judging by the preview of the sequel to be found in this one, future books in the Olivia Kidney series will be just as enchanting. Both whimsical and strangely touching, it’s a great start, and Ellen Potter clearly has a knack for capturing just the right tone.