Burn Me Once: A Book Review of Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
Far away on a remote estate behind neatly pruned hedges, a wealthy senator and his power-hungry wife hide away their problem children. The temporary solution of boarding them in a state-of-the-art cottage runs its course as they stretch their sites to the White House. And who has time for handling volatile children when you are campaigning anyways?
For Senator Roberts and his perfect spouse Madison they have one discreet and under the table option remaining, and her name is Lillian. Lillian is a young woman whose whole life has been about compromise and sacrifice and survival. No one knows this better than her childhood best friend turned employer. Madison pairs the two most volatile sets of characters, an angry, out of luck woman and her out of control stepchildren, in hopes they will occupy each other and keep out of the presses.
Impulse control is one of those key lessons fostered in children. Raw kids cannot be set loose in the woods like wild animals and be expected to return as adults with manners, civility, or self-control. Lillian, the main character of Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson, shines bright in his creative modern-day fiction. The roiling rage she feels inside is an emotion she was taught to tamp down into a mountain of flammable material for almost twenty years. But when she meets Roland and Bessie, combustible twins, she believes she has the best shot at being their governess and saving their lives.
At first the childcare plan is controlled breathing, Zen meditation, and peaceful routines on the secluded grounds. But Lillian quickly learns that sometimes the hurt inside is so intense the only treatment is to burn it out by bright white fire. And she lets the children burn until their literal fire extinguishes itself. As she observes their catharsis, she becomes open to burning all the pain away from her own life.
A story with the most loveable and relatable characters I have experienced on the pages in a while. Even though I do not know anyone who can actually catch themselves on fire, I imagined the twins in real life as children I have met. One friend of mine could be Lillian. And America watches messy first families like The Roberts on CNN every day.
There is not much to say about this book other than it is great. I loved reading every word Wilson offered. His novel is humble, original, and good. And I am not alone in my steadfast love. Reviews in most newspapers agree that Nothing to See Here is a perfect story, the end.
Everyone can enjoy this book. The story has dark humor, light moments brought by the innocence of children, sports metaphors, real feelings, grandiose places to escape to, and a happy ending. Just pick it up and read, and then pass it to along to somebody else. There is everything to love about Nothing to See Here. Oh and maybe don’t burn through the pages as quickly as I did.
If you need a good laugh like Nothing to See Here then try one of these:
