A Relatable New Series: Read Our Review of What’s New, Harper Drew? by Kathy Weeks, illustrated by Aleksei Bitskoff

A Relatable New Series: Read Our Review of What’s New, Harper Drew? by Kathy Weeks, illustrated by Aleksei Bitskoff

ME (Harper). MY WORLD. MAXIMUM DRAMA!

My name is Harper Drew. I’m using my new journal to take note of all the totally ridiculous things that seem to go on around me with my family and friends. I seem to be the ONLY ONE who sees all of this stuff for what it is. Completely BEYOND normal.

Recently I’ve been logging Drew Dial Ratings for all the mayhem. On a scale of 0 to 10, how likely is someone to SAY or DO something that would be less sensible than for example… a demented camel?

First up is the annual Drew trip to France… and while there might not be camels, there are BATS and Llamas – and my brother Troy who is so obsessed with his hairstyle, he won’t even go swimming… that’s a whole lot of ratings. I’m just hoping I land an invite to Maisie Felix’s party when I’m back to distract me from the Drews… for one whole evening!

Welcome to the hilarious world of Harper Drew. There’s a whole lot of drama, but luckily she has tried and tested methods to deal with it.

If What’s New, Harper Drew?’s vibrant pink cover with true-to-character illustrations doesn’t catch your attention, the book’s blurb sure will – I was hooked before even reading the first page.

Harper Drew’s voice is one I could read all day. From the hilarious character profile at the beginning of the book to her whacky Drew Dial Ratings to the hilarious antics she and her family encounter, this book is a real page-turner.

My favourite diary entry was 25 August: Going to the Pestival. In true Harper Drew fashion, everything goes right until it goes wrong. Though amidst the drama, there are revelations and remorse, showing that things, and people, aren’t as perfect as they seem.

Beyond the hilarity, however, this story tells a tale of a young girl who’s out of the box (in a good way) but wants to fit in. So, as you can imagine, this is no easy feat for Harper. Ultimately, this story is about family, genuine friendships and staying true to yourself – even if it defies the norms. Author Kathy Weeks herself believes that children should all have confidence in their own potential, and not be limited by the beliefs they – or others – hold about themselves, and this message rings true in What’s New, Harper Drew?

Perfect for fans of Dork Diaries and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, this is a laugh-out-loud series about one girl’s eccentric family, a whole lot of mayhem, and her unique way of dealing with it. This is the first book in the new series and I can’t wait to see where Harper Drew’s unique life takes her next. I recommend this for readers aged 9+.

Buy a copy of What’s New, Harper Drew? here.

Publisher details

What's New, Harper Drew?
Authors
Aleksei Bitskoff, Kathy Weeks
Publisher
Hachette
Genre
Children’s Fiction
Released
08 February, 2022
ISBN
9781444961775

Synopsis

Recommended for ages 9+.For fans of Dork Diaries comes a laugh-out-loud series about one girl's eccentric family, a whole lot of mayhem, and her unique way of dealing with it. ME (Harper). MY WORLD. MAXIMUM DRAMA!Welcome to the hilarious WORLD of Harper Drew... there's a whole lot of DRAMA, but luckily she has tried and tested methods to deal with it! Perfect for fans of Dork Diaries.My name is Harper Drew. I'm using my new journal to take note of all the totally ridiculous things that seem to go on around me with my family and friends. I seem to be the ONLY ONE who sees this all of this stuff for what it is. Completely BEYOND normal.Recently I've been logging Drew Dial Ratings for all the mayhem. On a scale of 0 to 10, how likely is someone to SAY or DO something that would be less sensible than (for example) ... a demented camel?First up is the annual Drew trip to France... and while there might not be camels, there are BATS and Llamas - and my brother Troy who is so obsessed with his hairstyle, he won't even go swimming... that's a whole lot of ratings. I'm just hoping I land an invite to Maisie Felix's party when I'm back to distract me from the Drews... for one whole evening!The start of a relatable new illustrated series, all about embracing your family, and finding unique ways to deal with life's dramas.
Aleksei Bitskoff
About the author

Aleksei Bitskoff

Born in Estonia, Aleksei loved to draw as a child and doodled all over his school books. Although he originally intended to become a teacher, his extensive travels brought him back to art. Aleksei studied illustration in London at LCC and Camberwell, where he received his masters degree. Influences on his quirky, humorous illustrations include Tove Jansson and Russian animators. He lives in London with his wife and son.

Books by Aleksei Bitskoff

Kathy Weeks
About the author

Kathy Weeks

Before starting work on her children's fiction series, Kathy had quite a few jobs. She has worked on the music counter at WH Smith, been an investment banker, a waitress, a property developer, investigated missing millions for The Sultan of Brunei, founded a successful consulting business, worked for HM Treasury restructuring banks, oh....and cooked dinners at a care home for the elderly.But her love of writing was sparked when collaborating on the best-selling children's non-fiction titles You Are Awesome and Dare to be You with Matthew Syed. Kathy believes that children should all have confidence in their own potential, and not be limited by the beliefs they (or others) hold about themselves.

Books by Kathy Weeks

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