Not Logan: How I Accidentally Became A YouTube Star

by Melanie Hunter

Winner of a Moonbeam Children's Book Award

The book for screen-obsessed kids who “don’t read”… until they accidentally laugh their way through every page.

Not How I Accidentally Became a YouTube Star is a laugh-out-loud illustrated chapter book for boys and girls ages 8–13—especially kids who’d rather play games or scroll YouTube than read.

Twelve-year-old Logan Blake is not famous. He’s not cool, not coordinated, and definitely not expecting his YouTube channel, Not Logan (with a whopping three subscribers—hi Grandma), to blow up.
But then, during a livestream, a bizarre video game glitch turns him into a headless flying bunny—and the internet loses its mind.

Overnight, Logan becomes internet-famous. Views skyrocket. Sub counts explode. Suddenly, he’s being asked to do interviews, sell merch, and play the part of “Not Logan”—the weird, viral character the world thinks he is.
The problem? Logan’s not sure being himself is enough to keep the spotlight.

He’s just a middle school kid who likes snacks, gaming, and getting through the school day without face-planting in the cafeteria. Now, caught between digital chaos and real-life awkwardness, he has to figure out what happens next—while dodging trolls, keeping up with content, and surviving sixth grade.

This book was born out of desperation.
When nothing could get one video game–obsessed, reluctant reader to enjoy books, a mom and her 12-year-old son decided to write one themselves. They created the exact story they wished fast-paced, hilarious, and written in a voice that sounds like a real kid.
Today, that same screen-addicted kid is the co-author behind Logan’s painfully real (and ridiculously funny) middle school adventures.

Told in Logan’s laugh-out-loud voice—with doodle-style illustrations and nonstop awkward chaos—Not Logan is perfect ages 8–13 who love YouTube, gaming, or funny booksFans of Big Nate, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dog Man, Dork Diaries, or Middle The Worst Years of My LifeParents, teachers, and librarians looking for high-interest books for reluctant readersAnyone searching for graphic novel alternatives for boys, funny books for 8–13 year olds, or chapter books that actually get kids readingMiddle school students and fans of funny children’s books
From chaotic livestreams to a burnt cookie blob named Crispy Steve, Not Logan is a hilarious and relatable look at viral fame, YouTube culture, middle school drama, and staying true to yourself—even when your life feels like one giant glitch.

The book that turns screen lovers into readers—one laugh at a time.

Perfect for summer reading lists, school book fairs, independent reading time, and read-alikes for Wimpy Kid or gamer books for kids, Not Logan is fast becoming a favorite among parents, teachers, and kids who swore they hated reading.

Genres: Humor, Middle Grade

252 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 7, 2025

About the author

Children’s book author Melanie Vitalli and her son Hunter Vitalli, writing under the pen name Melanie Hunter, created Not Logan as a last-ditch effort to help 12-year-old Hunter finally enjoy reading. What started as a fun side project turned into a laugh-out-loud middle grade novel inspired by Hunter’s real-life gamer chaos, awkward tween moments, and offbeat humor. Hunter, who once claimed he “hated books,” now co-authors the series, and has become the voice behind Logan’s painfully relatable middle school adventures. For every book purchased, a second will be donated to a young reader, school, or library in need. Plus, a portion of the proceeds supports national youth literacy programs.
Melanie is also the co-founder of AngelWatch, a national child safety initiative, and Common Purpose, a sustainability-focused e-commerce platform. Together, the Vitallis live between New York and Tennessee with their Bernese Mountain dog, tree frogs, and too much YouTube. Their goal? To turn reluctant readers into real ones—one laugh at a time.

Reviews

[Dun's · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here’s what I learn from this book… that becoming a YouTube star involves a combination of a deep passion (for whatever it is that makes your content “relatable”), happenstance, persistence, the mercy of the algorithm monster, and a great sense of humor. Thick skin also helps.

The proportions of the above factors vary greatly by upload, and are influenced by… who knows? At the very least, the internet trolls’ moods and the weather.

That said, this book is a hilarious read that I and my younger family member thoroughly enjoy. We love the short chapters, the no-nonsense sentences, the chaotic plots, and the sketches. I know the “people” in the book are big fans of Crispy Steve, but I root for Not Logan all the way.

Many thanks for the e-copy I received in a Goodreads giveaway. We look forward to the sequels!

[papasteve]

This was an extremely fun middle grade story that I needed right now. After reading about dragon riders fighting mutated beetle carappace encrusted people and other huge bugs, I needed something to laugh about. Full of snarky self-deprecation one malformed and over-baked cookie (carrying my name, no less!!) I got my laughs worth.

But there’s something else here, something deeper. It’s kind of an answer to a question of how people become famous. You can say hard work. You can say dedication. You can say stamina. You can say taking every opportunity given you. But what it really comes down to, most of the time is happenstance. Why is Taylor Swift such a mega star? Why not someone else just as talented, just as driven, just as beautiful (even that is genetic happenstance; and, have you ever seen a homely female singing star!?). Somewhere, somehow, you screamed, fell out of your chair, and let a toaster waffle fly, and it was just a chance happening, but, wonder-of-wonders, it propelled you into stardom. You got lucky. So many others didn’t. So don’t break your arm patting yourself on the back, oh you who lucked out. Remember that just a single glitch of happenstance can also ruin you. It goes both ways. What it all comes down to, as Steve says, is “Staying Crispy.”

[Lucas Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not Logan: How I Accidentally Became a YouTube Star by Melanie Hunter is a hilarious illustrated chapter book for kids aged 8–13, perfect for reluctant readers who live on YouTube and video games.

Twelve-year-old Logan Blake isn’t famous, just an ordinary kid with three subscribers (hi, Grandma!), until a strange video game glitch turns him into a headless flying bunny during a livestream. Overnight, he becomes an internet sensation, navigating viral fame, trolls, interviews, merch, and middle school chaos, all while trying to be himself.

Told in Logan’s funny, awkward voice with doodle-style illustrations, this fast-paced story blends gaming, YouTube culture, and middle school mishaps into a laugh-out-loud adventure. Fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dog Man, and Dork Diaries will love it, making it a perfect choice for summer reading, school book fairs, or anyone looking for a story that turns screen addicts into readers.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun, little read! This book had me hooked from the dedication. As a teacher of middle grades, I could see upper elementary through 7th grade students connecting with the accident-prone protagonist. This book contains quick chapters, engaging illustrations, relatable characters, and is a great opportunity for hesitant readers to connect to a fun story. Book is hefty enough to not look like a little kids read, but made more accessible through 61 brief story snippets. I see potential for connections to English, math, BSEL, science (Crispy Steve), and so much more. When recommending this to our counselor and librarian, I discovered there’s a website loaded with pre-made resources! We have a book club at our school and I’m planning to propose it as one of their next reads. I would recommend the Not Logan series for children ages 9-12.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I really liked the book, but at times, it seemed to be too long. I feel like some of the story could have been cut out and the reader would still understand the whole book. Besides this, I found myself pleasantly surprised how creative these kids were with their "fan mail" creations, fan fiction and other creative sources found throughout the book.

[matcha.mochi.mocha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was endless fun and lovably chaotic. The humor, the casual tone, and the amusing main character make it the perfect book for middle grade readers. My little brother flew through the book in less than a day, and he's already started counting down the days until the next Not Logan book comes out.

[S.J. Barratt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not Logan is clever, chaotic, and full of heart. Logan’s voice feels 100% real, and the YouTube twist makes it irresistible for today’s kids. My tween was hooked from the first page. Highly recommend for ages 8–13!

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful read about a young boy who is about to become a YouTube star. My loved where this tale took her
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and my niece loved it

[Angie Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun children’s book. It was interesting and cute. I was given an arc and i choose to give a honest review.