All the Little Tricky Things

by Karys McEwen

It’s the start of the summer holidays and twelve-year-old Bertie is worried. Next year she’s going to a high school in the city, while all her friends stay behind in Merri, the small town she’s lived in all her life.

To help her feel better prepared for high school, her best friend, Claire, makes a list of tasks Bertie has to complete over the summer. They start working through the list together, only to find that some of the cracks in their friendship are beginning to show. Soon, Bertie’s not even sure she’ll have one friend by the end of the summer.

All the Little Tricky Things is a charming, heartfelt novel about a time when everything is changing, and a girl who’s trying to make sense of it all.

Genres: Childrens, Family, Contemporary, Middle Grade, Fiction, Relationships, Friendship

192 pages, Paperback

First published May 3, 2022

About the author

Karys McEwen is the current president of the Victorian branch of the Children’s Book Council of Australia. She is also a school librarian, and she is passionate about the role libraries and literature play in the wellbeing of young people. She has been a columnist for Books+Publishing and her work has appeared in library journals such
as Synergy, Incite and Connections. All the Little Tricky Things is her debut middle-grade novel.

Reviews

[Text Publishing]

The following book reviews have been shared by Text Publishing – publisher of All the Little Tricky Things:

‘A sweet and hopeful slice of country-town life in the final summer before high school.’
Nova Weetman

‘A warm, relatable and reassuring read, this book is a must for anyone embarking on secondary school.’
Jane Godwin

'Karys McEwen’s prose is gorgeous and she deftly traverses the highs and lows of tweenhood with a rich cast of characters.’
Charlotte Callander, Books+Publishing

‘[A] wonderful book for not just readers who are struggling with anxiety about high school or a school change, but also for readers struggling with friendship balance and finding themselves. All the Little Tricky Things is an essential book for all school and public libraries as well as a making a great gift for any young reader who is about to enter a new phase of their lives.’
Storylinks

‘Astutely homes in on that complicated and specific space between leaving primary school and facing a completely new stage in life…McEwen honours the complexity of the tween experience, and infuses it with warmth and originality.’
Frances Atkinson, Age

‘A sublime coming-of-age story…This is a funny, wholly engrossing tale encompassing a twelve-year-old’s doubts and concerns about change…Bertie is a character with whom many middle-school readers will identify.’
Fran Knight, Magpies

‘A gentle but insightful story of the dilemmas of life and friendship for a young girl...This is a book that touches emotional strings and makes a tuneful note.’
ReadPlus

‘McEwan explores the dynamics of the friendship gently and sensitively.’
SAETA

[Rob De · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous debut novel by the president of the CBCA's Victorian branch, Karys Mc Ewan. As a school librarian she clearly understands kids, their feelings and what they need to read.
The storyline follows Bertie's life as she transitions from Grade 6 into high school. She suffers from anxiety and has always lived in the shadow of her best friend, Claire. Now Bertie is going to go to a big school in the city (one hour each way by train) and she is not at all sure that she will be able to cope with the upheaval.
When they add the new girl, Shiny to their friendship group Bertie soon feels that 3 is a crowd and that Claire is replacing her. How will she be able to cope with all of this change?
This is a tremendous story about growing up, facing your fears and dealing with change. It is beautifully written and will be a really useful asset for both grade 5/6 students facing high school as well as for those year 7's who are finding the move to high school challenging.

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Authentic, thoughtful, easy to sell to my students.

Congrats Karys!

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novel that everyone can relate to and an absolute must for any current upper primary reader. A really enjoyable and smooth read which flows so wonderfully, isn’t too predictable and has a complex but highly accessible writing style which makes for a really easy and delightful read. Even if your own road to year 7 seems a long long time ago, you will still get all of the warm fuzzies from reading this novel. Well done, Karys!

[Tyshana · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a way to spend my Autumn school holidays - reading my big sister’s debut middle-grade novel. I’m so proud! I loved every minute of Bertie’s adventure ticking off her Summer holiday list. It was beautifully written, nicely nostalgic and incredibly enjoyable to read. I can’t wait to teach this book to my students one day soon!

[Emily O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeous story, full of humorous and relatable childhood moments. Wonderful work Karys, loved every minute of it!

[Liz Ledden · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely brilliant contemporary middle grade read. Authentic voice perfectly capturing the big feelings and changing friendship dynamics of kids on the cusp of high school. Loved it!

[Kim Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and insightful story about the worries some kids have in the year before they start high school.

Lacking confidence, Bertie is anxious about going to a new school for yr 7 that none of her friends will be attending. Her best friend, Claire, decides to help build her confidence by creating a Summer List of things Bertie must do in the weeks before school begins.

This is a story of friendship, finding inner-strength, and moving on.

Highly recommend for ages 9+

[Susan Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the little tricky things is an encouraging story about 12-year-old Alberta who prefers to be called, Bertie. She has lived in the small town of Merri all her life but after the summer holidays, she’ll be travelling to the city each day to attend a private high school. Meanwhile, all her old friends from primary school will be commencing at the local high school.

Bertie’s, best friend, Claire writes her a list of things to do over the holidays to prepare for the challenges she will face at her new school. Claire’s list is a mixture of both the practical and unviable, but it helps Bertie develop a more positive attitude and in the process, she grows as a person. However, going to a new school isn’t the only challenge Bertie is facing. Over the school holidays, it becomes apparent that her friendship with Claire is also changing.

Karys McEwen has written about becoming a teenager with empathy, wisdom and insight. The audience for this book is quite small – girls in year 6. The book contains puberty themes and menstruation and body changes are discussed. Also, be aware there is an odd swear word.

Overall, I was pleased to see Bertie make some wise, age-appropriate decisions.

[Coral Smith]

It's the end of school and Bertie will be moving onto high school after the summer. She is extremely nervous and worried about all the changes that are going to come. She and her best friend Claire make a list to help Bertie prepare for the start of high school. A heart warming read about changing and how to make sense of it all.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2. It was a bit too childish for me but it was a good book. Written well and had a good story line. As someone who has been in high school for three years now I didn’t relate to the character much which is why I think I didn’t find it very enjoyable.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reads like a warm hug 🥺

[Anna Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super sweet story about becoming a teenager and the tricky terrain of navigating family and friendships.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet story about such a tumultuous time for young girls, brought to life very sensitively.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suitable for tweens.

[Hamielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t wait to use this as a book club text at school! Great writing and lots of funny moments- also lots of SEL opportunities, particularly with Bertie’s relationship with her best friend, Claire.

[Kat Schrav · Rating 4 out of 5]

A feel-good read for the middle years. Bertie navigates friendships, new beginnings and self identity as she transitions to high school in the city away from the comfort of her primary school friends. Perfect for years 5-7.

[Carmel · Rating 3 out of 5]

52 Book Club: #46 script font on spine

[Ollie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing debut!