So That Happened . . . But Maybe You Already Knew That

This hilarious and heart-warming middle-grade debut tackles how to be a good friend (and realise when you’ve been a bad one), leaving childhood behind, and, most importantly, how to get back up when it feels like the world has knocked you down.

Natalie (Nutty to her friends) knows turning 12 is a big deal, and even though she doesn’t like change AT ALL, she’s prepping for:
a) having the best bat mitzvah party anyone has ever been to
b) graduating from primary school and
c) hopefully getting a boyfriend.

But there’s even more headed Nutty’s way that might change everything, like her parents running out of money and selling her childhood home, along with the reassuring family smell. Or when her best friend no longer feels like a girl and wants to leave the bat mitzvah group altogether. It seems only Natalie can keep her family, her friendships and her party from falling apart.

The voice of the child in this story is powerful and I liked that Nutty was open with us as the reader, and I think getting to watch her grow and realise things when she needed to worked well as well – it’s how many of us learn as kids and it ensured that nothing was forced.
I definitely want to read this one again -I loved it so much, and it is an awesome debut novel! Well done, Tami! I hope those who pick it up enjoy it, and find something within it that they can identify with.

Ashleigh Meikle
A scrumptiously honest sharing of the exhilarations and anxieties of life as a twelve-year-old girl in Jewish Sydney. This novel crosses generations through its colourful and genuine characters… A hilarious and heartfelt novel with valuable representations, this is a fantastic read for children around 9-12 years old and a great point for discussion on topics such as growing up, gender, discrimination, and religion. Reading Time
Author Tami Sussman has turned a sacred cultural celebration that many of us are unfamiliar with, into a witty and inclusive novel. It’s a wonderful read and indeed, an all-round gem. Highly recommended. Reading Time

Tami Sussman is a Sydney-based author with a background in theatre, comedy, spoken word poetry and copywriting. She spent her twenties facilitating creative writing workshops for primary and high school students and her early thirties contributing humorous opinion pieces for online and print magazines. Tami is also a celebrant, the most sarcastic participant in your group chat and loyal servant to the little creatures in her home. She credits her eccentric family with inspiring her quirky, loveable characters.

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