The Overthinkers' Club - Nat Luurtsema

 

Birdie and her best friend, Chloe, both overthink everything in their life so their teacher, Ms Mulder, suggests they should tackle this together, and so The Overthinkers' Club is born.  The aim is to tackle their feelings in different ways, so they begin a list of ways to help them feel happy, each of which they will try out.  But can the list help these tweens relax and be happier?

Birdie is your typical twelve year old, but one who spends huge amounts of her time overthinking everything that happens to her (I can relate to that!).  And she feels she has a lot to overthink: her parents are divorced and she and her brother live with their dad whilst their mum is off saving the planet.  They are about to become a blended family as they are moving in with her dad's girlfriend, Maxie, and her children (and she's definitely thinking A LOT about the move!).  Then there's her best friend, Chloe, who has announced that she would like to make some new friends as well as having Birdie's friendship.  Add in addition to that, she worries about her elderly hamster, Pamela; she's concerned that she doesn't yet own a bra, and she thinks a boy at school may have a crush on her ... she has a lot going on!

At first, The Overthinkers' Club appears to be another diary-style story that is entertaining and a funny read, but once you begin reading, you realise that it is so much more than that.  Yes, it's a diary-style, first person novel; yes, it's funny (it definitely made me chuckle); yes, there are illustrations peppered throughout... But this book is so much deeper than that for The Overthinkers' Club addresses some big issues that occupy the minds of so many tweens.  Nat does this in a way that readers will be able to relate to; she uses humour but doesn't shy away from tackling issues that can be tricky, and I really like this.  Being twelve is such a tricky age and being able to see yourself in books is incredibly important.

I also like that there are some very valid ways to relax and calm the mind woven into the story.  Some are more useful to the girls than others, but they try them all and they list them in their book and the actual novel so readers will be able to try them themselves (although, I'm not certain I'd be as brave as Birdie with the cold water swimming!).

The first in a brand new series, The Overthinkers' Club is a brilliant, funny book that has mental health and anxiety at its heart.  It's a book that will help to reassure readers that they are not alone and I guarantee that it's a book that will be politely grabbed out of my hand tomorrow morning when I announce that it's available for borrowing in school (there's already been much interest as people have seen me reading it!)

The Overthinkers' Club publishes on the 12th March and is perfect for fans of Lottie Brooks and Dork Diaries.