The Prime Minister Problem by Brenton Cullen

Title: The Prime Minister Problem

Author: Brenton Cullen

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: Riveted Press

Published: 28^th April 2026

Format: Paperback

Pages: 192

Price: $17.99

Synopsis: 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.

~*~

Wren is learning all about politics, democracy and the Prime Minister at school, and writes to her about the bushfires and animals. He is determined to get her to help. After all, she’s meant to help everyone in Australia, right? Wren’s classmates are less than enthusiastic about the topic, including the new girl Tamara. They’ve been paired together for an assignment about the Prime Minister.

But when Wren’s grandmother gets sick and has to go into a nursing home, Wren is even more determined to get in touch with the Prime Minister. He’s lonely, his grandmother is lonely, and he is inspired to do something when he gets no response from the Prime Minister. He wants to help make sure people aren’t lonely in rural areas and all around Australia, because loneliness doesn’t change depending on your age or where you live. Everyone is affected, even his mum who is working two jobs. It’s one small act, one small thing that one person can do to change the world, but it takes on a life of its own. It seems that Wren has spoken the quiet thing out loud, encouraging kids in his class who were never his friends before to speak out and admit to feeling lonely.

Wren doesn’t expect it to grow so much that the entire country gets behind him! But it’s important, because it shows Wren and readers that if you want to change something, you can do something about it yourself. You can make real and meaningful change, even if it is in a small way. It highlights that no matter where we are in life or in the world that everyone can feel lonely. Everything can find things in life hard. It’s got nothing to do with your age, your race, your gender…we all have times when we’re lonely and need to find our community.

The Prime Minister Problem is a book of hope and community, of finding your place in your community and the world. I found it reminiscent of books like Thunderwith. Like Lara, Wren seemed to feel adrift with a huge change in his life, and tried to find ways to deal with it and solve the problems he was facing. Anyone who has read Thunderwith will appreciate the loneliness Lara experience, and reading this, Wren’s loneliness is similar, but with a few differences that make this book fly of its own accord.

Wren’s teacher reminds him that one person can change the world. It’s a reminder to look at the people who have changed the world for the better, who have spoken out and made changes in the lives of people, whether a small group or many people. It speaks about bravery, using your voice and facing your fears in a world where things change for everyone all the time. It’s perfect to teach children about change and finding your way in the world, and it also helps adults reconnect with their community. We live in a time when we’re separated in so many ways, so this is a good book to remind us about maintaining meaningful connections, not letting people become isolated and telling people how we feel.

It’s honest and emotional, with strengths that make it sing, and all the ups and downs of life that we all face throughout our lives these days. It’s about growing up and finding your passion – at any age, because when do we really stop growing and finding the wonder in things and needing our community?

A beautiful, touching book that has something for every reader.