Simple Things (Bill Condon, A&U)

Ten-year-old Stephen is shy. So when his parents take him to stay with Great Aunt Lola in the country, he’s simply dreading it. Things go from bad to worse when he meets his nearly 80-year-old aunt—she’s cold and prickly, and Stephen can’t wait for the next three weeks to end. This is a relatable situation and Bill Condon’s latest novel for junior readers is a delightfully warm and moving story about family, friendship, getting old and growing up. Acknowledging feelings of uncertainty and ambivalence, Condon asks his readers to look beyond what scares them to have empathy for others. It turns out that, despite the age gap, Stephen and Lola aren’t all that different after all. And, after negotiating their way through the initial awkwardness, they discover their unexpected friendship is a means to new beginnings and healing old wounds. Beneath Condon’s simple writing style, and Beth Norling’s supporting line drawings, are deeper themes about death, grief and acceptance. But while these themes hover around the book’s edges, its main focus is on life, living and the simple things we take for granted—the message, beautifully rendered for the age group, is that it’s never too late (or too soon) to open the door to a friend. This book is aimed at readers aged seven to nine. 

Meredith Lewin is a reviewer, editor and proofreader

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

Category: Reviews