Me and My Brian

Josh has named his brain Brian and sees it as a separate entity from himself. Brian gives Josh great ideas, helps him with tests, and tells him funny jokes, but he can sometimes be unbearably loud, filling Josh’s head with negative thoughts and making it difficult to sleep.

Home life is becoming increasingly stressful as Mum and Charlie, Josh’s teenage brother, are always fighting. As the arguments intensify, Brian gets louder and convinces Josh that the conflict is all his fault.  

To give him a break, Mum sends Josh away for a couple of weeks to stay with Grandma, whom he hasn’t seen since he was a baby. Josh wonders how he’ll cope, as Grandma lives in a tiny shack in the middle of nowhere, with no phone signal or TV. However, as they get to know one another, he realises they have more in common than he first thought.  

This touching, illustrated tale, infused with gentle humour, sensitively explores complex family dynamics and mental health issues. The book is ideal for reluctant or dyslexic readers, with accessible layouts to stop the page from becoming overcrowded and short chapters to help build confidence and stamina.