Advice from a 12YearOld Nobody, Helen Rutter
Advice from a 12YearOld Nobody, Helen Rutter
List: $11.99 | Sale: $8.40
Club: $5.99

Advice from a 12-Year-Old Nobody

Author: Helen Rutter

Narrator: Joe Pitts

Unabridged: 1 hr 8 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 02/12/2026


Synopsis

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.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Katy on February 21, 2026

Short but poignant and relatable family issues story This felt relevant and contemporary. Vinny is 12 and not happy, not that he tells his family how he feels. His mum is a self-made advice guru online, helping other people with their questions but not noticing her son has some of his own, and needs......more

Goodreads review by Theediscerning on January 10, 2026

A further Barrington Stoke book from this author regarding a young kid and his mental capacity for working out all his issues, but better than the previous example I'd read. Vinny is seeing his world get more and more awkward – his best friends have found girls, and therefore dropped their weekly D&......more

Goodreads review by Tracy on February 12, 2026

Vinny has lots of problems. His best friends have discovered girls, and seem to think being with them is better than being with Vinny. Dad isn't coming home everyday. His brother is upset about something but isn't talking to him. His mum is a life coach - she literally sorts other peoples problems out!......more

Goodreads review by Steph on January 31, 2026

This was properly heartfelt. Vinny’s got a lot of problems and he just wants to talk to his mum again. When it’s clear things are unravelling (his parents, his sister, his friendships), he steps into role of advice-giver. Vinny is a lush character and this is a lovely story.......more


Quotes

"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, 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 "This is such a compassionate and nuanced portrayal of family breakdown and friendship issues, with an emphasis throughout on the importance of talking about things and that there are no quick fix or happy-ever-after solutions that this is bound to help many young readers better understand themselves and their situations." – LoveReading4Kids "In her moving, wise and empathetic tale about family and mental health, Carnegie-shortlisted author and comedian Helen Rutter captures the quiet ache of feeling alone and turns it into something hopeful and human … explores the fears and concerns that can grip youngsters and reminds adults that sometimes they miss those important warning signs of a troubled child." — "Another moving, funny story exploring changing friendships, parental separation, problem solving and social media addiction." — Check 'Em Out Books, blog