Children’s Mental Health Week takes place every February. It was started in 2015 to give a voice to all children and young people and to raise awareness of children and young people’s mental health. This year it runs from 9th to 15th February and with impeccable timing Barrington Stoke are publishing a new book by Helen Rutter on 12th February. This particular author has a well deserved reputation for tackling mental health issues with understanding and insight in her award winning books for children. Her characters are well rounded and even when they are struggling there is something hopeful about their attitudes. Advice From a 12-Year-Old Nobody, illustrated by Julia Christians, very much follows Rutter’s previous successful approach to tricky subject matter.

12 year old Vinny needs help with his problems and he has lots of them at the moment. His family is falling apart, and his best friends no longer want to hang out with him and have dumped him for some really annoying girls. He knows that he should be able to ask for assistance from his agony aunt mum. However she is too busy to notice how much he is struggling, so Vinny takes matters into his own hands in this empathetic story about family and mental health. Unable to solve his own issues, Vinny starts replying to unanswered posts on an old blog of his mum’s. At first the solutions seem easy, and his honest, candid and sometimes hilarious answers help those seeking help. But what will happen when Vinny realises he is out of his depth? Worse still although he appears to be helping others his own problems are multiplying and deepening.

Vinny comes to life in this poignant story and Helen Rutter’s knack of depicting children realistically, and their response to difficult situations, shows real understanding. Many children will recognise the feeling of being a little ‘different’ and alone in their problems. Through the clever storyline Vinny starts to realise that many others, even adults, are encountering worries and difficulties. The importance of open communication is highlighted throughout and the sadness and preoccupation of both parents is portrayed with compassion. There is no quick fix provided but the sensitive and poignant portrayal of marriage break up, family and friendship issues may help youngsters gain an understanding of both their own and others’ problems. 

As with all books published by Barrington Stoke Advice From a 12-Year-Old Nobody is presented in a dyslexia friendly format and at just over 80 pages with appealing illustrations throughout this will have appeal to less committed readers too. Published on 12th February and with a reading age of 8 this would be suitable for children of about 10+. I should like to thank the publishers and Poppy McLean for my review copy.