Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Tween and typewriter on poignant, funny quest for lost mom.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
OLIVETTI is a vintage typewriter, but he's also been an important part of the Brindle family since before they were a family, and he'll be the first to tell you that something hasn't been right for quite some time now. The kids who used to play with him have moved on; dad Felix seems to always be at work, and mom Beatrice, who used to always pour out her thoughts on Olivetti's keyboard, seems to have forsaken him for a laptop. But nothing prepares him for the day Beatrice dumps all her writings in the trash, puts Olivetti in a box, sells him to the local pawnshop, and disappears. As her family searches without really knowing where to start, Ernest, her 12-year-old, introverted son who reads dictionaries for fun and recites strings of words to cope with stress, is especially grief-stricken, because he parted on bad terms with his mom. With a little help from the pawnbroker's daughter, Quinn, who befriends him, and Olivetti, who proves to have hidden capabilities, he's determined to get her back and make things right.
Is It Any Good?
Typewriter buff Allie Millington's lively, heartstring-tugging tale finds a San Francisco family in crisis when mom goes missing—and a forgotten but loyal piece of retro tech might be able to help. Vintage typewriter Olivetti is outraged when Beatrice dumps him at the pawnshop, but also loves her enough to know that something's very, very wrong, and joins forces with her 12-year-old son, Ernest, to find her and make things right. There's a strong message of family, friendship, and sticking together, because that's what gets you through whatever trouble may be coming your way—even if, like Ernest, you'd really rather do it alone.
"This was exactly what I didn't want to happen. Two seconds in and we were already sharing unnecessary details about ourselves.
"'Come on. I've already seen you cry. Plus shoplift,' Quinn pointed out, unhelpfully. "Telling me your name should be the least of your worries.'
"Wincing, I slid my hand into hers. And I didn't think about how soft it was—which was surprising for someone who had just been digging through garbage.
"'Ernest.'
"Quinn smiled. 'I promise, Ernest.'"
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about stories like Olivetti that feature machines as characters. What stories do you think do this especially well? What's the appeal of having machine characters?
Do you like typewriters, or would you rather stick with whatever the latest technology has to offer?
Do you know anyone whose family has been through a really tough time? What happened, and was there anything you could do to make things easier for them?
Talk about the empathy that exists between Olivetti and Ernest. How do they find common ground? How does it help them in their quest to find Beatrice?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Family Life
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Empathy , Gratitude , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Feiwel & Friends
- Publication date : March 26, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 256
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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