Nothing to See Here

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson (2019) 254 pages

Lillian grew up with a single mother who didn't seem to care about her. As a young teen, she meets Madison, finally finding a friend who brings her joy. But at age 28, they haven't seen each other in years, communicating only by mail. When Madison asks Lillian to be a governess to her husband's twin children from a previous marriage, Lillian is enticed by the opportunity to be near Madison again, and to be well-paid, after years of low-paying jobs. The children's father, Jasper, is a Senator with hopes to eventually become President. It's imperative to him that there is no scandal in his life.

The catch: Bessie and Roland, age 10, have the ability to catch fire, especially when they are stressed. And yes, they have been very stressed by the divorce of their parents and of the recent death of their mother.

The book traces Lillian's feelings of unworthiness, her attempts to bond with the combustible children, and her complicated relationship with Madison. The premise of the book sounds odd, but I thought it worked.