Description
When a lonely boy’s mission to save his grandmother goes viral, it sparks a movement that reshapes his country town — and everyone in it. Ten-year-old Wren has always felt invisible. Mum is busy working two jobs, his brother has his own life, and at school, Wren hides in the library with the books his grandmother taught him to love. Grandma is the only person who truly sees him — until she has a stroke and is forced to move away to a nursing home in the city.
Lonelier than ever, Wren writes to the Prime Minister for help. When no reply comes, his small act of hope takes on a life of its own — and Wren discovers he isn’t the only one who feels forgotten. As his town rallies around him, Wren learns that real solutions don’t come from politicians, but from the people who call the town home.
A moving story about isolation, connection, and how one quiet voice can make a difference — echoing the warmth of Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds and the emotional honesty of Aster’s Good, Right Things.
Review
Things are not great for our ten-year-old main character, Wren. He lives with his single mum and much older brother, in a small Queensland country town. His mum struggles, working two jobs just to make ends meet, and she doesn’t seem to have much time for Wren. He constantly gets bullied at school, and lives a lonely, friendless life. Luckily, he has his Grandma who is his best friend and confidant.
But when his Grandma suffers from a stroke that means she will probably need to move into a nursing home two hours away, Wren decides that something must be done. His class are doing a project on the role of the Prime Minister and Wren decides that, as it is her job to help everyone, he will reach out and ask for her help. But his letters keep being ignored, or answered by one of her aides saying how busy she is!
Wren realises that his Grandma is lonely too, and that there are probably many older people just like her, so he suggests an adopt a grandparent scheme to his class. No one could have dreamed of the success that this could achieve, and the flow on effects to the whole community.
It turns out that although prime ministers, and their job of helping people, are certainly important, other people can also help to make change themselves. It tackles themes of bullying, loneliness, and the need for friendship, as well as how we can all make a difference and help make the world a better place! It is perfectly placed for upper primary students.
