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Oliver by Mandy Haynes

Reader’s Reviews:

“What a sweet Southern yarn. Make no mistake: the narrator has plenty of spitfire and sass, which keeps the tale lively, but it's the sweet brother most of the town has bullied and dismissed who carries the story to its heartwarming conclusion. The author has a good ear for Southern dialogue and prose rhythms, but this is a tale that calls upon the Yiddish and Eastern European tradition of the wise fool. Think Isaac Bashevis Singer, "Gimpel, The Fool," for example. Think Aristotle and peripitas, or reversals, in which the weak become mighty and the mighty weak, and then just enjoy a good, colloquial Southern read.”

“Mandy Haynes' Oliver takes us back in time to a warm summer place where a boy and girl can ride their bikes all over town, observing, exploring, and enjoying each other’s company without adult interference. But it’s more than that. It’s about the magic that percolates in a child’s heart. It’s about fierce loyalty and sibling love and the way the moonlight unites us all. Oliver does not take long to read. But in that short space you will be transported to a very special world.”

“Reading the fast paced, witty, heartwarming story of siblings Oliver and Olivia places author Mandy Haynes in the company of great Southern writers. Heck, great writers. This novella is a joy and a lesson. Scout and Boo Radley together. This book has feeling! Haynes perfectly captures the voices of her characters.”

“Mandy Haynes’ writing always compels and moves me, and I blinked back tears as I turned the last page of her latest, Oliver. The characters are a gift and the impact of her storytelling spreads compassion to an audience-and world-in need of many more like her. Treat yourself to Oliver-and all of Haynes’ work.”

“This novella charms like chocolate melting on the tongue and captivates like the scent of lavender in the air, so its power sneaks up from behind and taps you on the shoulder. Don't be surprised if the pure goodness of Olivia and Oliver, the sister and brother who inhabit this book, brings a tear or two to your eyes. And you don't have to be a Southerner to enjoy this story. Anyone who recalls even a tiny bit of what it was like to be a child will love this sweet read. It has timeless, universal appeal.”

“Oliver by Mandy Haynes is a marvel, quietly drawn and elegantly refined in its restraint. You instantly delve into the psyches of the twelve-year-old narrator, Olivia, and her older brother, Oliver. With Haynes’s gift for dialogue and understanding of voice, her young characters are credible and vibrant.

Scrappy, mischievous, brave, and funny, Olivia is fiercely and unabashedly protective of her brother. And Oliver, despite being discounted by almost everyone except his parents and sister, is wise and true, loyal and compassionate. Oliver, unaware of his fundamental goodness, brings out the “better angels” in others.

When Oliver follows his instincts and Olivia follows his example, sometimes in spite of herself, their acts of kindness begin to change the community. This winsome duo will have you cheering loudly for them and for Haynes, who could single-handedly bring back the novella as a literary form. Cheers for Mandy Haynes!”