Advice from a 12-Year-Old Nobody

Author:   Helen Rutter ,  Julia Christians
Publisher:   HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN:  

9780008759582


Pages:   88
Publication Date:   12 February 2026
Recommended Age:   8 years
Format:   Paperback
Availability:   Not yet available   Availability explained
This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon its release.

Our Price $16.99 Quantity:  
Pre-Order

Share |

Advice from a 12-Year-Old Nobody


Overview

Vinny needs support from his agony-aunt mum, but she’s too busy helping other people to notice in this empathetic tale about family and mental health by bestseller Helen Rutter. Vinny’s got problems – lots of them. His family's falling apart, and his best mates have dumped him for some really annoying girls. He should be able to turn to his mum for help – she’s an online life coach who answers other people’s problems for a living. But she’s too busy to see that Vinny is really struggling. 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 he can be as hilariously honest as any 12-year-old boy would be, but what will happen when Vinny realises he’s out of his depth? Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8.

Full Product Details

Author:   Helen Rutter ,  Julia Christians
Publisher:   HarperCollins Publishers
Imprint:   Barrington Stoke Ltd
Dimensions:   Width: 12.90cm , Height: 0.60cm , Length: 19.80cm
Weight:   0.150kg
ISBN:  

9780008759582


ISBN 10:   0008759588
Pages:   88
Publication Date:   12 February 2026
Recommended Age:   8 years
Audience:   Children/juvenile ,  Young adult ,  Children / Juvenile ,  Teenage / Young adult
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming
Availability:   Not yet available   Availability explained
This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon its release.

Table of Contents

Reviews

""A moving, wise, and beautifully observed novel. This book captures the quiet ache of feeling alone and turns it into something hopeful and human. By answering the questions in his mum’s agony-aunt column, Vinny discovers what we all learn eventually: everyone carries troubles, and sharing them – solved or not – makes them lighter."" — Jenny Pearson ""If you have ever felt unheard, Advice from a 12-Year-Old Nobody might be just the book for you. Funny, honest and heartwarming, this story follows Vinny, a boy who feels invisible; his mum is a popular online advice guru, yet she overlooks the struggles happening right at home … What makes this story special is how real Vinny feels. He is clever, kind and doing his best, even when life gets messy. You will laugh at his jokes, feel his loneliness and root for him as he finds his voice. This book gently explores imperfect families and how adults can miss what is right in front of them."" — Children's Books Ireland ""Helen Rutter really knows how to tap into the mind and dilemmas of the 10-13 year old age group … Advice from a 12- Year- Old Nobody is another brilliant Barrington Stoke pitch-perfect book for reluctant readers from 10 upwards who sometimes find reading a challenge but don’t want stories for younger children."" – NetGalley review


""A moving, wise, and beautifully observed novel. This book captures the quiet ache of feeling alone and turns it into something hopeful and human. By answering the questions in his mum’s agony-aunt column, Vinny discovers what we all learn eventually: everyone carries troubles, and sharing them – solved or not – makes them lighter."" — Jenny Pearson ""If you have ever felt unheard, Advice from a 12-Year-Old Nobody might be just the book for you. Funny, honest and heartwarming, this story follows Vinny, a boy who feels invisible; his mum is a popular online advice guru, yet she overlooks the struggles happening right at home … What makes this story special is how real Vinny feels. He is clever, kind and doing his best, even when life gets messy. You will laugh at his jokes, feel his loneliness and root for him as he finds his voice. This book gently explores imperfect families and how adults can miss what is right in front of them."" — Children's Books Ireland ""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."" — Library Lady, blog ""A powerful exploration of mental health and the hidden loneliness that many children face when their parents are overwhelmed by their own careers or personal dramas. Vinnie is written with a raw, authentic vulnerability that hits home immediately. He isn’t a movie version of a struggling kid; he’s real … It’s a masterclass in gentle strength that provides a fantastic roadmap for young readers navigating their own complicated relationships. A funny, deeply moving, and necessary read for anyone who has ever felt overlooked."" — Mrs Cleveland Is Reading, blog ""An emotional rollercoaster, this book will tug at everyone’s heart strings … I really enjoyed this book because I could relate to some of the troubles the main character went through."" — LoveReading4Kids Kids' Review Panel


""A moving, wise, and beautifully observed novel. This book captures the quiet ache of feeling alone and turns it into something hopeful and human. By answering the questions in his mum’s agony-aunt column, Vinny discovers what we all learn eventually: everyone carries troubles, and sharing them – solved or not – makes them lighter."" — Jenny Pearson ""Helen Rutter really knows how to tap into the mind and dilemmas of the 10-13 year old age group … Advice from a 12- Year- Old Nobody is another brilliant Barrington Stoke pitch-perfect book for reluctant readers from 10 upwards who sometimes find reading a challenge but don’t want stories for younger children."" – NetGalley review


Author Information

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.

Tab Content 6

Author Website:  

Countries Available

All regions
Latest Reading Guide

RGFEB26

 

Shopping Cart
Your cart is empty
Shopping cart
Mailing List