My Brother Oliver

Toalson (The Unforgettable Leta “Lightning” Laurel) centers a sensitive younger sibling in a stirring, semi-autobiographical verse novel about a family navigating adolescent depression and neurodivergence. Sixth grader Brooks Rutley lives “in a shadow./ It’s called my brother, Oliver,” a talented, neurodivergent seventh grade violinist who experiences emotional dysregulation. Despite Brooks’s passion for singing, he eschews joining the school choir to instead take up playing viola in the orchestra alongside Oliver, whom Brooks feels compelled to protect; at home, Brooks caters to Oliver’s preferences surrounding food, games, and more, hoping to manage his brother’s “minefields/... his meltdowns.” As Brooks prioritizes Oliver’s needs over his own, he starts to harbor resentment for his sibling, and soon stops defending Oliver from bullies, which later culminates in a fight and Oliver’s suicide attempt. Though Brooks’s intervention saves Oliver’s life, Brooks is tormented by guilt, which Toalson achingly renders in frank yet riveting verse. Via first-person narration that alternates between present-day and the week leading to Oliver’s hospitalization, Brooks reconciles conflicting feelings toward his brother and finds the courage to repair strained relationships. Throughout, affirming messages about love, forgiveness, and shifting interpersonal dynamics buoy this gut-wrenching and unforgettable story. The Rutleys cue as white. Includes an author’s note and resource list. Ages 8–12. Agent: Rena Rossner, Deborah Harris Agency. (May)