Me and My Brian — Helen Rutter

With help from his grandma, Josh finds a way to quieten his overactive ‘Brian' in this gently humorous and empathetic tale about family and mental health by bestseller Helen Rutter.

Josh has always called his brain Brian, and Brian can sometimes be his best friend, helping Josh with tests and giving him brilliant moneymaking ideas. But he can also be Josh's worst enemy, keeping him awake at night worrying, and telling him that his family's problems are all Josh's fault.

When the arguments at home get really bad, Josh is sent to live with his grandma, who lives in a weird shack in the middle of nowhere. At first Brian's voice gets louder and louder, and Josh feels out of control. But as he helps his grandma in the garden, growing their own food, and with all the jobs that need to be done around the shack, Josh starts to realise that she understands him and Brian better than anyone.

Reviews

"It's such a clever, funny and moving story. What a wonderful way to remind us how to keep our chattering brains (or Brian's) in-check now and then. The power of a brilliant storyteller!" â€" Lisa Thompson

"Reassuring, authentic normalising of the complicatedness of family & our own busy brains. The beauty of holding space for each other of quietening unhelpful thoughts." â€" Teacher

"This would make a fantastic book for discussing mental health, additionally normalising discussion around mental health, particularly in boys." â€" Mini Midnight Reads, blog

"Heartwarming, witty and packed full of hope … A charming, relatable novella showing support for intergenerational friendships and giving strategies to combat anxious brains, Me and my Brian is a powerful story with some gorgeous illustrations that you'll love!" â€" Check 'Em Out Books, blog

"So poignant and heartwarming, this fabulous story talks about children's mental health in such a clever way for readers to understand. Many readers will identify with Josh … hopeful, powerful and clever" â€" Little Posts of Library Treasures, blog

"Thought-provoking, beautifully written and one which â€" like her other stories â€" deserves a place in every primary school library." â€" Mrs Sydney's Famous World's Smallest Library, blog

"This is such a great book for children to read, mental health is real issue that people of all ages struggle with and this story helps explain so much of it." -- A Paper Girl A Paper Town, blog

"This is a short but beautifully composed story â€" there is power in its succinct approach leaving powerful messages and potential strategies for dealing with mental health. This is an ideal book for 9-12 year olds struggling to find a calm within; a great book for discussion and ideal KS2 PSHE read. Highly recommended for parents and teachers but also a great read for young people who are finding life and their thoughts a challenge." â€" NetGalley review

About the author

Helen Rutter is an acclaimed author and comedian. Her debut novel, The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh, was a Waterstones Children's Book of the Month, in addition to being nominated for the Carnegie, shortlisted for the Costa, Blue Peter and Branford Boase Awards, and winning the Teach Primary Book Award.