This is Brenton Cullen’s debut Middle Grade novel and it’s a cracker.
Written from the heart it grabs you immediately with a story of a sensitive lonely boy who takes action when his beloved grandma is moved to residential care in the city, a three hour drive away. Ten-year-old Wren has always enjoyed special relationship with her, she is perhaps the only one who ‘sees’ him, and loves him unconditionally. He needs her close by.
In a burst of inspiration he writes to the Prime Minister asking for help, after all it is her main job, to help everyone in Australia. Eagerly he waits for a reply but it is disappointing when it does come, and he is forced to take action himself, even though he lacks confidence and experience of this sort of thing. To his surprise he sets off a chain reaction which culminates in an exciting, heart-warming, Disney perfect ending.
The setting is really important in this story, a bit of friendly accessible country town where everyone knows everyone compared with the big slightly scary city. Wren grows from a friendless anxious worrywart to a quietly active confident boy – a journey that Brenton makes totally believable. He has the knack of creating vivid characters that children will immediately recognise – the caring but harassed overworked Mum with too many grown up problems, the casually dismissive older brother at home, the uncaring children in his class, the new girl who could become a friend, the grumpy neighbour with a heart of gold underneath. Wren negotiates his quiet way with everyone, underestimated, that is, until his ideas go viral and he is viewed in a different light. As the Prime Minister situation unfolds Wren learns to view himself differently, which is the heart of the story.
Brenton’s writing is descriptive and emotive, always going full throttle to engage the reader. Children aged 7 to 12 will relish the themes of personal growth, family, friendship and community engagement and enjoy the carefully structured happy ending, (tissues may be needed).
This is Brenton Cullen’s debut Middle Grade novel and it’s a cracker.
