Bim Blake?s Hot Takes: My Pencil Case Doesn?t Define Me

From the bestselling author of Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun comes the first in a brand-new tween slice-of-life series. Relatable, humorous and highly illustrated, Bím Blake's Hot Takes is perfect for fans of Dork Diaries, Lottie Brooks and Nina Peanut.

Pre-order the second book in the series, I'm Not Weird; I'm a Special Edition, coming in January 2027!

‘Laugh out loud, full of heart and fantastic fun!’ A.F. Steadman, author of the Skandar series

‘A perfect tween diary with a strong, immediate voice and relatable struggles.’ Louie Stowell, author of Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Being Good

‘Authentic, funny and painfully real.’ Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear

Hi bestie! My name’s Bím Blake. I've just started high school and here’s my hot take on it: Year Seven is a LOT harder than I thought! I’ve realised my school skirt is way too long, my pencil case is way too uncool, my boobs are way too big and the new boy (who’s the son of popstar parents!!!) is way too cute for my liking . . .

If that wasn’t bad enough, tell me why my dad has been acting weirder than usual. He’s been making TikToks (cringe!), experimenting in the kitchen (I call it attempted murder!) and he’s even started exercising . . . It must be tough being over forty! Add into the mix a trio of annoying older brothers (yes, I have three – pray for me!), a duo of feuding aunts, one friend mishap and a huge helping of drama and you have a recipe for chaos. Welcome to my life!

HAVE YOU READ THE FULL SERIES?
My Pencil Case Doesn't Define Me (Out Now)
I'm Not Weird; I'm a Special Edition (Coming January 2027)
Book 3 (Coming September 2027)

PRAISE FOR BÍM BLAKE'S HOT TAKES:
‘Funny, warm and relatable – the perfect book for tweens moving up into year seven.’ Jen Carney, author of The Accidental Diary of B. U. G.

‘A witty, wonder of a book!’ Lisa Thompson, author of The Goldfish Boy

‘Relatable, funny and heartwarming! Bím Blake is sure to be everyone’s new favourite fictional best friend.’ Sharna Jackson, author of High Rise Mystery

‘Brilliantly funny, full of heart, and the storyline had me hooked from the start – I couldn’t put it down!’ Abigail Balfe, author of This is NOT the Diary of Izzy Dobson

‘Perfect for fans of Lottie Brooks and Dork Diaries, this fun new diary-style book with its fantastic cast of characters gives us a window into family, friendships, feelings and the very messy business of transitioning to secondary school.’ Rashmi Sirdeshpande, author of Hari Kumar, Ultimate Superstar

‘Honest, heartfelt and incredibly relatable, perfect for readers navigating the emotional rollercoaster of starting secondary school.’ Vashti Hardy, author of Brightstorm

‘Full of relatable embarrassments, drama and friendships, it’s packed with humour and warmth.’ Claire Linney, author of the Time Tub Travellers series

‘Funny, witty and heartwarming with gorgeous illustrations.’ Diana Anyakwo, author of My Life as a Chameleon

Tolá Okogwu (Author)
Tolá Okogwu is a bestselling British-Nigerian children’s author and journalist. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, but raised in London, England, she studied Journalism and spent some years exploring the world of blogging, haircare and freelance writing before returning to her first love . . . fiction. Her debut middle-grade book, Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun, was Waterstones Book of the Month and shortlisted for the British Book Awards. She has published three books in this series and a World Book Day spin-off, alongside a number of picture books.

Ariyana Taylor (Illustrator)
Ariyana Taylor is a freelance illustrator and character designer based in Brooklyn, New York. In 2020 she graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology with a bachelor's degree in illustration. Since then, she has illustrated for both small businesses and larger animation companies, such as Netflix, Titmouse and Bent Image Lab.