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What's New, Harper Drew? #1
What's New, Harper Drew?: Book 1
Bienvenido al tronchante mundo de Harper Drew. Está repleto de drama, pero ha inventado y probado todo tipo de métodos para lidiar con él.
Me llamo Harper Drew y mi vida no tiene NADA de normal. Pruebas que tengo:
1. Mi hermano Troy... tiene un vlog de skateboard. Pero solo tiene media tabla de skate.
2. Mi tío Paul... lleva un anillo de diamantes en el pie y se supone que es productor de Hollywood, pero nadie ha visto nunca una peli suya.
3. Mi padre... acaba de estrellar el microbús del cole. Delante de un policía.
Y eso por no hablar de mi madre, mi hermano pequeño o las llamas que aparecieron en las vacaciones del verano pasado y que fueron... otro desastre. ¿A alguien más le pasan estas cosas tan raras?
Me llamo Harper Drew y mi vida no tiene NADA de normal. Pruebas que tengo:
1. Mi hermano Troy... tiene un vlog de skateboard. Pero solo tiene media tabla de skate.
2. Mi tío Paul... lleva un anillo de diamantes en el pie y se supone que es productor de Hollywood, pero nadie ha visto nunca una peli suya.
3. Mi padre... acaba de estrellar el microbús del cole. Delante de un policía.
Y eso por no hablar de mi madre, mi hermano pequeño o las llamas que aparecieron en las vacaciones del verano pasado y que fueron... otro desastre. ¿A alguien más le pasan estas cosas tan raras?
- GenresChildrens
181 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 2, 2022
5 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Kathy Weeks
3 books6 followersBefore starting work on her children’s fiction series, Kathy had quite a few jobs. She was better at some than others.
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 (April 2018) and Dare to be You (September 2020) 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. With this in mind she has worked with both primary and secondary schools on confidence and resilience building programmes for young people.
Kathy’s new fiction series reveals the diary of Harper Drew and the frustrations, mishaps and headaches that crop up often with her crazy family and tricky friends at school. Harper is a zany, feisty and funny girl but she is smart enough to see through the madness which seems to be happening all around her.
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 (April 2018) and Dare to be You (September 2020) 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. With this in mind she has worked with both primary and secondary schools on confidence and resilience building programmes for young people.
Kathy’s new fiction series reveals the diary of Harper Drew and the frustrations, mishaps and headaches that crop up often with her crazy family and tricky friends at school. Harper is a zany, feisty and funny girl but she is smart enough to see through the madness which seems to be happening all around her.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
July 27, 2022
Dit roze boek kan niet ontbreken in de boekenkasten van beginnende boekenwurmen. Lizzie stelt iedereen voor aan de hand van snoepjes, welk kind houdt nou niet van snoepjes?
“25 juli, mijn dramatische verjaardag en de eerste dag van de zomervakantie.”
Nadat iedereen is voorgesteld, begint het een beetje chaotische verhaal van Lizzie. Lizzie wil heel graag vrienden zijn met Milou, het populairste meisje in de buurt en op school. Daar doet ze van alles voor. De familie van Lizzie is ook een beetje vreemd. Dat wordt wel duidelijk als ze op vakantie gaan naar Frankrijk.
Hoewel ik heel erg moest wennen aan de combinatie van herinneringen en gebeurtenissen van die dag, was het verhaal zeer vermakelijk. Lizzie brengt alles goed en er zit toch een diepere laag in het verhaal.
De dagboekvorm zal veel kinderen aanspreken, de vormgeving, maar ook het gebruik van verschillende lettertypes. En de grapjes natuurlijk.
Ik wil de vertaler een groot compliment geven. De namen zijn vernederlandst, maar het verhaal is ook zo aangepast dat het zich afspeelt in Nederland. Dit liep allemaal vloeiend en ik ben geen inconsequente dingen tegen gekomen.
Al met al vind ik dit boek zeker een aanrader voor kinderen vanaf ongeveer 8 a 9 jaar. Persoonlijk vond ik het lettertype lastig lezen, maar ik denk dat kinderen daar geen last van zullen hebben. Leuk om cadeau te geven voor de zomervakantie!
“25 juli, mijn dramatische verjaardag en de eerste dag van de zomervakantie.”
Nadat iedereen is voorgesteld, begint het een beetje chaotische verhaal van Lizzie. Lizzie wil heel graag vrienden zijn met Milou, het populairste meisje in de buurt en op school. Daar doet ze van alles voor. De familie van Lizzie is ook een beetje vreemd. Dat wordt wel duidelijk als ze op vakantie gaan naar Frankrijk.
Hoewel ik heel erg moest wennen aan de combinatie van herinneringen en gebeurtenissen van die dag, was het verhaal zeer vermakelijk. Lizzie brengt alles goed en er zit toch een diepere laag in het verhaal.
De dagboekvorm zal veel kinderen aanspreken, de vormgeving, maar ook het gebruik van verschillende lettertypes. En de grapjes natuurlijk.
Ik wil de vertaler een groot compliment geven. De namen zijn vernederlandst, maar het verhaal is ook zo aangepast dat het zich afspeelt in Nederland. Dit liep allemaal vloeiend en ik ben geen inconsequente dingen tegen gekomen.
Al met al vind ik dit boek zeker een aanrader voor kinderen vanaf ongeveer 8 a 9 jaar. Persoonlijk vond ik het lettertype lastig lezen, maar ik denk dat kinderen daar geen last van zullen hebben. Leuk om cadeau te geven voor de zomervakantie!
October 30, 2023
KOCHAM!!!
January 10, 2022
My son (aged 10) and my daughter (aged 9 - but quite an advanced reader) adored this book. Daughter laughed out loud throughout the book but also asked some pretty insightful questions after a bit of thought - some relevant issues about friendships/family came up pretty regularly but in such a subtle and realistic way that she did not realise she was learning about relationships. I thought my son might find it a bit 'girly' on the basis of the cover but not in the slightest. I heard him chuckling to himself several times and he finished it with no prompting about reading time. I also overheard both children talking about one of the characters in a way which demonstrated beautifully that humour really is a great way to teach children how to navigate the tricky issues that come up in the world of school politics.
I read it first to see what I thought - Harper is a great character. Clever, resilient and funny. Her friends (and her choice of friends) are nicely created and present a refreshing story in a traditional setting (school diary). The traditional context of the school diary worked well for my children as it made the plot, the characters, the jokes and the morals of the story entirely accessible and relevant to them.
I have seen the review below about the parents and neglect and it made me laugh nearly as much as the book itself - I suspect if Harper had read that she would roll her eyes as well.
In conclusion - we all loved it and I have ordered copies for my 3 god children as well as my niece. Looking forward to the next instalment.
I read it first to see what I thought - Harper is a great character. Clever, resilient and funny. Her friends (and her choice of friends) are nicely created and present a refreshing story in a traditional setting (school diary). The traditional context of the school diary worked well for my children as it made the plot, the characters, the jokes and the morals of the story entirely accessible and relevant to them.
I have seen the review below about the parents and neglect and it made me laugh nearly as much as the book itself - I suspect if Harper had read that she would roll her eyes as well.
In conclusion - we all loved it and I have ordered copies for my 3 god children as well as my niece. Looking forward to the next instalment.
January 10, 2022
I thought that this book was brilliant. I absolutely loved it and I laughed out loud on almost every page.
It is a diary format and similar to Tom Gates, Diary of a Wimpy or Dork Diaries although in many ways I think this book is better. It has an engaging narrative plot along with with some really innovative ideas. The Drew Dial rating for scoring the chaos and drama going on in Harper's world is genius.
The character of Harper is very relatable and the book is a warm and affectionate look at family and school life. Harper is grounded and confident. All of the characteristics that you would hope to see in an everyday heroine. I would defy any child (and adult) not to enjoy this.
It is a diary format and similar to Tom Gates, Diary of a Wimpy or Dork Diaries although in many ways I think this book is better. It has an engaging narrative plot along with with some really innovative ideas. The Drew Dial rating for scoring the chaos and drama going on in Harper's world is genius.
The character of Harper is very relatable and the book is a warm and affectionate look at family and school life. Harper is grounded and confident. All of the characteristics that you would hope to see in an everyday heroine. I would defy any child (and adult) not to enjoy this.
January 11, 2022
This book is absolutely hilarious! My 9 year old and I (we read it together) were laughing pretty much every other sentence. The family seems so over the top crazy, but unfortunately I have actually known people just like this! Everyone in Harper's family, except for her, is lovably eccentric. The situations they find themselves in are pure comedy. The way Harper navigates through it all, told from her perspective, is genius. I'm really surprised this is the author's first book! My daughter and I cannot wait for a sequel to come out.
January 21, 2022
My daughter read this book and is obsessed. Any book that makes her look forward to finishing is a win in itself! She said it is one of the funniest things she has ever read. She loved the family dynamics and thought Harper was the only normal one. She said the parents were so hopeless (which made me feel better!) and the big brother was so annoying but really funny. We're definitely hoping for a sequel.
January 12, 2022
Brilliant read and I read with my daughter and we couldnt stop laughing!! This is a fantastic book for readers who are looking for a warm friendly family drama with a fun and confident girl as the main character. I have already ordered it for 2 of my daughter's friends and I know they will love it! I would definitely recommend it.
January 13, 2022
Great book: fast paced, page turning plot; great characters; very funny. A charming, funny and relatable story of modern family life. Harper Drew is an excellent heroine - empathetic, charming, funny and kind.
February 10, 2022
This was a brilliantly funny read, fabulously illustrated, and aimed at children ages 9 - 12. In diary form, Harper invites you into her crazy life and tells you all about what's going on; from disastrous family holidays to disastrous pre-teen parties that rival MTV's Sweet 16!! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and I'm sure many youngsters will find this relatable and love the dramatic way in which Harper writes about her life, family and friends which was laugh-out-loud funny at times and took me back to my own childhood where I'd be quite often found writing in a diary (though nowhere near as funny as Harper). I would recommend this to any parent with pre-teens, even young teens!
June 5, 2023
3.5⭐️
,,Harper Drew Dziennik Katastrofy’’ autorstwa Kathy Weeks.
Ta książka była parodią - dosłownie (ale w pozytywnym sensie). Przezabawna książka dla młodszych jak i starszych czytelników. Opowieść Harper w formie pamiętnika o niej i jej rodzinie. Jeśli ktoś myślał, że ma pecha, to przeczytajcie tą książkę. Bardzo dobrze się przy niej bawiłam! Była to miła odskocznia od cięższych książek! Moja ocena to 3.5/5⭐️.
,,Harper Drew Dziennik Katastrofy’’ autorstwa Kathy Weeks.
Ta książka była parodią - dosłownie (ale w pozytywnym sensie). Przezabawna książka dla młodszych jak i starszych czytelników. Opowieść Harper w formie pamiętnika o niej i jej rodzinie. Jeśli ktoś myślał, że ma pecha, to przeczytajcie tą książkę. Bardzo dobrze się przy niej bawiłam! Była to miła odskocznia od cięższych książek! Moja ocena to 3.5/5⭐️.
December 8, 2021
"What's New Harper Drew" was kindly sent to me by Hodder and Stoughton and I picked it up immediately because I needed something light and I caught myself laughing and thinking of how much it reminded me of reading and loving "Diaries of a Wimpy Kid" as a young reader.
Although Harper ends up being caught up in the same kinds of hare-brained situations as Greg, she is mostly a sensible normal kid, consumed by middle school drama and trying to impress popular kids but also very observant and empathetic to the world around her. In fact, my favourite part and what I saw as the heart of this story was her awesome two best friends and how these three teens brought forward the best of each other. I also noticed that while Harper herself comes from a very white, middle class, British family, this is a book that features characters from diverse backgrounds, classes and abilities and how the author was able to show them in a non-tokenized way - with every character having quirks and arcs of their own, even if they showed up only for a couple of pages.
My biggest problem with this book was Harper's parents. I started this book laughing out loud at their scatterbrainedness because they had nice qualities and weren't abusive but after a while, all the gags that were supposed to make the reader laugh only made me cringe. All I could think was these are exactly the kind of parents, people write Reddit AITA posts about thinking it's a funny situation and get the kind of answers that tell them to go to therapy and surround themselves with better people. I mean, I understand Harper is a middle child just entering her teen years so of course she feels invisible and misunderstood but some of the situations that these parents put their kids in reeks of neglect.
The father although loving is an overgrown child who never stands up to his wife or parents his kids, the mother has some kind of OCD/shopping addiction for sure because no matter what might be happening in their lives, she needs to burn a couple of hours every day in every kind of supermarket she comes across no matter what kind of state of exhaustion her children are (forcing five people to stay closed inside a car for hours so she can go shopping and going on holiday with nothing but bleach and canned food being two of the examples) - if this wasn't a middle-class white family, they would have child services called on them. These parents sure are something but I don't think it's funny.
Conclusions
I finished this book wishing that it had been more focused on Harper's relationship with her friends and her younger brother Prune (who at the young age of six years old was the only one that seemed to know how to navigate his family without being taken advantage of so here's to you kid!). I reached the end of the book without seeing her parents go through any growth so I decided to write them off but thankfully the same could not be said for Harper who reached the end of the book with a new look at what was really important in her life.
This book also successes in portraying people going through difficult patches being helped and supported by their loved ones and community without making the story too heavy, which I particularly liked to see represented in a story aimed at younger readers.
Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton for this proof.
Rating: 3/5
Although Harper ends up being caught up in the same kinds of hare-brained situations as Greg, she is mostly a sensible normal kid, consumed by middle school drama and trying to impress popular kids but also very observant and empathetic to the world around her. In fact, my favourite part and what I saw as the heart of this story was her awesome two best friends and how these three teens brought forward the best of each other. I also noticed that while Harper herself comes from a very white, middle class, British family, this is a book that features characters from diverse backgrounds, classes and abilities and how the author was able to show them in a non-tokenized way - with every character having quirks and arcs of their own, even if they showed up only for a couple of pages.
My biggest problem with this book was Harper's parents. I started this book laughing out loud at their scatterbrainedness because they had nice qualities and weren't abusive but after a while, all the gags that were supposed to make the reader laugh only made me cringe. All I could think was these are exactly the kind of parents, people write Reddit AITA posts about thinking it's a funny situation and get the kind of answers that tell them to go to therapy and surround themselves with better people. I mean, I understand Harper is a middle child just entering her teen years so of course she feels invisible and misunderstood but some of the situations that these parents put their kids in reeks of neglect.
The father although loving is an overgrown child who never stands up to his wife or parents his kids, the mother has some kind of OCD/shopping addiction for sure because no matter what might be happening in their lives, she needs to burn a couple of hours every day in every kind of supermarket she comes across no matter what kind of state of exhaustion her children are (forcing five people to stay closed inside a car for hours so she can go shopping and going on holiday with nothing but bleach and canned food being two of the examples) - if this wasn't a middle-class white family, they would have child services called on them. These parents sure are something but I don't think it's funny.
Conclusions
I finished this book wishing that it had been more focused on Harper's relationship with her friends and her younger brother Prune (who at the young age of six years old was the only one that seemed to know how to navigate his family without being taken advantage of so here's to you kid!). I reached the end of the book without seeing her parents go through any growth so I decided to write them off but thankfully the same could not be said for Harper who reached the end of the book with a new look at what was really important in her life.
This book also successes in portraying people going through difficult patches being helped and supported by their loved ones and community without making the story too heavy, which I particularly liked to see represented in a story aimed at younger readers.
Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton for this proof.
Rating: 3/5
June 11, 2022
This is such a brilliant and hilarious story which made me laugh out loud so many times! When Harper Drew receives a journal for her birthday she decides to start writing down everything that happens in her life because Harper Drew’s life is anything but normal. While Harper is a little obsessed with being invited to Maisie Felix’s next party, her mum is obsessed about bleach and supermarkets, her older brother is obsessed with his hair and her uncle Paul is obsessed with being a Hollywood movie producer, though he’s never actually produced a finished film yet. While her life with her family becomes more and more crazy, Harper is determined to help her friend Edward by raising donations, however even raising money for a worthy cause has its problems.
This is such a good and funny read and I enjoyed it from the first pages. The book begins with Harper’s birthday and how it doesn’t go according to plan. Each chapter is a separate diary entry all taking place over the summer holidays. Drew’s character and family are easy to like from the start. I like how silly the family are, especially Troy with his hair and her mum’s obsession with supermarkets! Drew’s diary entries are all written in such a funny way that any simple situation is just made so funny. There are lots of very silly moments happening and I really enjoyed the holiday in France, the llamas (especially the way they look) and the funny Stockport references.
While the story is funny throughout and a great humorous read, it also brings up some great issues about friendships and even has some disability representation which I liked as the focus was on the character rather than their condition though it still played a part in the story.
There are illustrations throughout the book and I like how this book is printed with each page looking like it’s part of a spiral notebook. There are fun small illustrations dotted around some of the text with larger images spreading to a whole page sometimes appearing too. Every image is so funny and I couldn’t help but laugh at the way the llamas looked or some of the funny moments, especially when Harper’s dad is involved or her brother Troy’s hair is shown during a disaster in a supermarket (that scene really made me laugh!). All the illustrations are in black, white and grey and really do add to the humour of the story. Several times I found myself laughing at the story and then laughing again at the accompanying pictures!
Overall this is such a great and funny read and I’d recommend it to anyone who loves a funny story with lots of silly things happening. There is never a dull moment in this book and so many silly things happen that it will keep you laughing out loud throughout. It also ends in a way that leaves you with a smile on your face, not just from laughing but because things wrap up well for Harper and her friends and family too. This book is the first in a series of Harper Drew books and I can’t wait to see more of what will happen to Harper and her family. If this book is anything to go by then the rest of the series should be brilliant! 😀
-Thanks to the publisehr for a free copy for review.
This is such a good and funny read and I enjoyed it from the first pages. The book begins with Harper’s birthday and how it doesn’t go according to plan. Each chapter is a separate diary entry all taking place over the summer holidays. Drew’s character and family are easy to like from the start. I like how silly the family are, especially Troy with his hair and her mum’s obsession with supermarkets! Drew’s diary entries are all written in such a funny way that any simple situation is just made so funny. There are lots of very silly moments happening and I really enjoyed the holiday in France, the llamas (especially the way they look) and the funny Stockport references.
While the story is funny throughout and a great humorous read, it also brings up some great issues about friendships and even has some disability representation which I liked as the focus was on the character rather than their condition though it still played a part in the story.
There are illustrations throughout the book and I like how this book is printed with each page looking like it’s part of a spiral notebook. There are fun small illustrations dotted around some of the text with larger images spreading to a whole page sometimes appearing too. Every image is so funny and I couldn’t help but laugh at the way the llamas looked or some of the funny moments, especially when Harper’s dad is involved or her brother Troy’s hair is shown during a disaster in a supermarket (that scene really made me laugh!). All the illustrations are in black, white and grey and really do add to the humour of the story. Several times I found myself laughing at the story and then laughing again at the accompanying pictures!
Overall this is such a great and funny read and I’d recommend it to anyone who loves a funny story with lots of silly things happening. There is never a dull moment in this book and so many silly things happen that it will keep you laughing out loud throughout. It also ends in a way that leaves you with a smile on your face, not just from laughing but because things wrap up well for Harper and her friends and family too. This book is the first in a series of Harper Drew books and I can’t wait to see more of what will happen to Harper and her family. If this book is anything to go by then the rest of the series should be brilliant! 😀
-Thanks to the publisehr for a free copy for review.
April 9, 2022
This is a brand new diary-style series which I feel operates on two levels.
On one - it is an illustrated, high-jinx drama diary about Harper Drew, who seems to be the only sane person in her family 🤣 She is wont to saying, “is it just me, or…(insert totally incongruous situation right in front of her and her reader)?
Dad is highly accident-prone and gets Harper into more scrapes even with the best intention. And Mum is obsessed with bleaching every surface and going to…supermarkets. Yup. (Sounds a little like me on holiday 🤣💨)
The family embarks on a road trip to France and in Harper’s words, it’s “Maximum Mayhem”.
This is where the second level comes in - because author Kathy Weeks’ really wins on her witticisms. Harper “writes” these lines with an honest-to-goodness straight face. They’re hilarious and older middle graders and especially the writers will appreciate!
Harper is desperate to get invited to Maisie Felix’s summer glamping party. Friendship is a hard thing sometimes at this age, and I really enjoyed how Harper really has a good head on her shoulders.
📚: @definitelybookskids @definitelybooks
On one - it is an illustrated, high-jinx drama diary about Harper Drew, who seems to be the only sane person in her family 🤣 She is wont to saying, “is it just me, or…(insert totally incongruous situation right in front of her and her reader)?
Dad is highly accident-prone and gets Harper into more scrapes even with the best intention. And Mum is obsessed with bleaching every surface and going to…supermarkets. Yup. (Sounds a little like me on holiday 🤣💨)
The family embarks on a road trip to France and in Harper’s words, it’s “Maximum Mayhem”.
This is where the second level comes in - because author Kathy Weeks’ really wins on her witticisms. Harper “writes” these lines with an honest-to-goodness straight face. They’re hilarious and older middle graders and especially the writers will appreciate!
Harper is desperate to get invited to Maisie Felix’s summer glamping party. Friendship is a hard thing sometimes at this age, and I really enjoyed how Harper really has a good head on her shoulders.
📚: @definitelybookskids @definitelybooks
January 29, 2022
I love the rise of this new genre of highly illustrated books for newly confident readers. It really helps them feel more confident, and if it's done right it really adds to the story. This one is done very right.
Kids will recognise a lot of their own families in Harper's, and a lot of the problems, although magnified, will feel similiar. Who hasn't had a holiday go bad, or desperately wanted to go to the party (or been really embarassed by their parents?) Harper is very honest and I really enjoyed reading along with her.
I've mentioned the illustrations, but I'm going to mention them again, because they are fantastic! Comic-y enough to be really funny, while clear enough to be realistic. I adore Harper's mom's supermarket obsession and the sequences set in supermarkets were really funny.
Harper's a great character, smart, empathetic and really fun. I'm looking forward to having more adventures with her.
Kids will recognise a lot of their own families in Harper's, and a lot of the problems, although magnified, will feel similiar. Who hasn't had a holiday go bad, or desperately wanted to go to the party (or been really embarassed by their parents?) Harper is very honest and I really enjoyed reading along with her.
I've mentioned the illustrations, but I'm going to mention them again, because they are fantastic! Comic-y enough to be really funny, while clear enough to be realistic. I adore Harper's mom's supermarket obsession and the sequences set in supermarkets were really funny.
Harper's a great character, smart, empathetic and really fun. I'm looking forward to having more adventures with her.
July 18, 2022
In dit leuke dagboek volgen we Lizzie een meisje met een familie, tja, ik weet niet of ik het zo lang had uitgehouden zoals Lizzie. Een moeder geobsedeerd door supermarkten, wiskunde (hou op met de rekenvragen, ik skipte ze maar gewoon), en bleek, maar vooral de supermarkt. Een vader die zo clumsy is dat alles misgaat. Ik had soms wel medelijden met haar maar ik vond het wel stoer dat ze vaak een oplossing zocht en zelf het beste ervan probeerde te maken (en dat ze ook bezig was om een lift te realiseren voor haar beste vriend die anders lessen niet kon volgen was geweldig).
Ik heb ook gelachen om haar rating-systeem om iedereen een nummer te geven en ook de waarom. Ik vond het jammer dat ze zo om die ene popi meid heen hing, die meid zal nooit aardig zijn, geef het gewoon op.
Toffe illustraties! En leuk formaat (als een dagboek).
Ik wil meer!
Ik heb ook gelachen om haar rating-systeem om iedereen een nummer te geven en ook de waarom. Ik vond het jammer dat ze zo om die ene popi meid heen hing, die meid zal nooit aardig zijn, geef het gewoon op.
Toffe illustraties! En leuk formaat (als een dagboek).
Ik wil meer!
July 22, 2022
✍️This is the story of sweet Harper Drew and her world surrounded by her kooky family and everyday life.
This was an exceptionally FUN and uproarious story tailored for middle grade readers about Harper Drew and her covey of eccentric and loveable family and friends as she navigates through her life replete with pandemonium, drama and fiasco. The book is written in diary entry format and told in Harper's first person narrative which I enjoyed as well as the use of the bold and comic expressive text with illustrations to match. The characters were exceedingly cultivated and I delighted in each journal entry and what calamity and mania would strike in Harper's day to day life. In addition to the hilarious was also the important hidden messages about resilience, positiveness and rejoicing throughout life.
This was an exceptionally FUN and uproarious story tailored for middle grade readers about Harper Drew and her covey of eccentric and loveable family and friends as she navigates through her life replete with pandemonium, drama and fiasco. The book is written in diary entry format and told in Harper's first person narrative which I enjoyed as well as the use of the bold and comic expressive text with illustrations to match. The characters were exceedingly cultivated and I delighted in each journal entry and what calamity and mania would strike in Harper's day to day life. In addition to the hilarious was also the important hidden messages about resilience, positiveness and rejoicing throughout life.
September 28, 2022
Harper Drew is part of a very eccentric family, a family that is so strange that she sometimes despairs of them. She is the voice of reason, but nobody is really listening. Even her best friend is a bit mad.
This is Harper's summer holiday diary in which she tries to get herself invited to Maisie Felix' birthday festival, raise enough money for a wheelchair ramp for school for her friend Edward and figure out how to survive the insanity of her family holiday to France. And what is going on with her uncle Paul's mysterious film director career?
This is very, very funny. It has echoes of Louise Rennison and Joanna Nadin's brilliant diary series, with a smattering of Tom Gates. It's perfect for middle grade readers. Smart, eccentric, hilarious and with wonderful characters. I laughed out loud on more than one occasion.
This is Harper's summer holiday diary in which she tries to get herself invited to Maisie Felix' birthday festival, raise enough money for a wheelchair ramp for school for her friend Edward and figure out how to survive the insanity of her family holiday to France. And what is going on with her uncle Paul's mysterious film director career?
This is very, very funny. It has echoes of Louise Rennison and Joanna Nadin's brilliant diary series, with a smattering of Tom Gates. It's perfect for middle grade readers. Smart, eccentric, hilarious and with wonderful characters. I laughed out loud on more than one occasion.
February 18, 2022
Harper Drew has a completely not normal family.
There is her mother who loves supermarkets, her accident-prone father, her hair obsessed older brother and her totally adorable younger brother, the Prune.
Along with best friends Edward and Priya, Harper tries to navigate life and survive the numerous catastophes caused by her wacky family.
Harper's journal takes us on an often hilarious journey with her family and friends, from family holidays to France, to working out how to get invited to the birthday party of the year.
A fun read for fans of Wimpy Kid and Dork Diaries.
What's New Harper Drew? will be available is available to borrow from the school library now.
Thanks to @hachetteaus for a review copy of this book.
There is her mother who loves supermarkets, her accident-prone father, her hair obsessed older brother and her totally adorable younger brother, the Prune.
Along with best friends Edward and Priya, Harper tries to navigate life and survive the numerous catastophes caused by her wacky family.
Harper's journal takes us on an often hilarious journey with her family and friends, from family holidays to France, to working out how to get invited to the birthday party of the year.
A fun read for fans of Wimpy Kid and Dork Diaries.
What's New Harper Drew? will be available is available to borrow from the school library now.
Thanks to @hachetteaus for a review copy of this book.
January 30, 2022
This was a brilliant middle-grade book with a quirky protagonist, hilarious writing and a seriously inspiring message! The writing was really funny and engaging! Harper was a really fun character to read about and her mission to raise enough funds to buy a stairlift for Edward was very heartwarming. Overall this was a brilliant read and I would definitely recommend it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free e-arc!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free e-arc!
June 15, 2025
Kathy Weeks’s debut humorous novel for readers aged 9+ (the first in a trilogy) has a good narrative voice and builds its funny scenes well while Aleksei Bitskoff’s energetic illustrations bring out the absurdity of Harper’s family and the situations that she finds herself in. My biggest criticism is that the family’s attitude to arriving on time for things triggered my anxiety and I would have liked a bit more normality to make it feel grounded.
January 12, 2022
We all loved this book! I read it to my two sons at bedtime (age 8 and 6) and fell in love with Harper and her world around her. She is kind, loyal, smart and carefully navigates the chaos thrown at her. It’s a warm read about family and friendship and all that comes in between. We can’t wait to read what Harper does next.
February 12, 2022
This isn’t what I would normally read, but it was a quick, delightful and funny book.
I love that it is in diary format, which I think would appeal to the younger reader. I also thought the narrative was really engaging.
Harper is exactly what you want in a heroine, and is certainly relatable.
Hilarious read.
I love that it is in diary format, which I think would appeal to the younger reader. I also thought the narrative was really engaging.
Harper is exactly what you want in a heroine, and is certainly relatable.
Hilarious read.
May 12, 2023
It's a really fun read because the images help the reader feel like a teenager with their teenage stuff (sometimes really crazy stuff). It's great!
Es una lectura muy divertida. Las ilustraciones ayudan al lector a sentirse como un adolescente, con sus cosas de adolescentes (a veces, cosas muy locas). ¡Es genial!
Es una lectura muy divertida. Las ilustraciones ayudan al lector a sentirse como un adolescente, con sus cosas de adolescentes (a veces, cosas muy locas). ¡Es genial!
May 12, 2022
Well I’ve found a new character to fall in love with! I loved this book. I’m a huge fan of the diary form and there were just moments I couldn’t stop laughing at. Loved it from beginning to end.
June 24, 2023
I love this book! It’s absolutely hilarious and always triumphs in making me laugh. My favourite bit is the trip to France, it’s SO funny, but really I love everything about this book!
September 8, 2024
Loved this book! Full of humour, heart and disastrous situations! Will definitely be reading the next one :)
April 5, 2025
Amazing very slay
February 1, 2023
What's New, Harper Drew? introduces us to Harper's family and friends. Through Harper's diary entries, we are able to witness the ill-fated yet hilarious trip to France, her brother Troy's attempts at making a skateboarding vlog and the suspicious behaviour of her Uncle Paul (who is supposed to be a Hollywood movie producer though no one has ever seen any of his films). All this while Harper tries to get on the good side of the very popular Maisie Felix to bag an invite to Maisie's garden party.
Written in a diary format, the book follows the drama and antics of the Drew family, recorded by Harper, middle child and probably the only sane person in the family (except for her little brother, The Prune, but he's still young so there's time for that to change).
The book literally had me laughing out loud. Not only are the events hilarious but the writing is so witty, making an already funny situation even funnier. The illustrations are brilliant at both portraying the characters accurately and capturing the humour in the story. Harper herself is an endearing main character; she's smart, kind, thoughtful and funny. Her family members, friends and various other side characters are just as well crafted and even the very minor characters make quite an impression.
Written in a diary format, the book follows the drama and antics of the Drew family, recorded by Harper, middle child and probably the only sane person in the family (except for her little brother, The Prune, but he's still young so there's time for that to change).
The book literally had me laughing out loud. Not only are the events hilarious but the writing is so witty, making an already funny situation even funnier. The illustrations are brilliant at both portraying the characters accurately and capturing the humour in the story. Harper herself is an endearing main character; she's smart, kind, thoughtful and funny. Her family members, friends and various other side characters are just as well crafted and even the very minor characters make quite an impression.
June 5, 2022
As soon as I got the email about this one, I knew I wanted to read it because it just looked like such a FUN book, and it did indeed bring a little burst of sunshine into my life when I read it last weekend. It’s about a girl named Harper who has a very eccentric family (to say the least!) and it’s extracts from her diary, which is always such a great format for a comedy, especially when there are super fun illustrations too (which are by Aleksei Bitsoff, who also does Simon James Green’s MG books!). I’d say the plot is quite slice of life, which always makes for an enjoyable read, but some of the things Harper is trying to get through without disaster over the course of the book are: fundraising enough money to buy a stair lift for her school (I’ll explain why in a second), get an invite to the most popular girl in school’s party and survive the family holiday.
The fundraising aspect was undoubtedly my favourite aspect of the book. Not just because it puts Harper in a great many hilarious, awkward situations, such as the car boot sale, but also because of what the fundraising is for. Harper’s best friend Edward is disabled and their school is inaccessible to him, and while I don’t want to make this all about me, I’ve been in similar situations, so seeing Harper be such an ally made me love her even more than I otherwise would have.
That said, the characters are also amazing and an absolute joy to read about. We’ve already covered that Harper is a brilliant ally, which makes me like her straight away, but she’s also very long suffering and witty in terms of the antics her family get up to, and she really reminded me of Ally from the Ally’s World series (which is a huge compliment!! Karen McCoy is the best!). I also loved her vain, slightly self-obsessed brother Troy’s part in the story, and her parents quite often made me howl with laughter. I don’t know what it was about her mum’s supermarket and bleach obsession and her dad’s habit of inventing dangerous games, but it just really appealed to my sense of humour.
The fundraising aspect was undoubtedly my favourite aspect of the book. Not just because it puts Harper in a great many hilarious, awkward situations, such as the car boot sale, but also because of what the fundraising is for. Harper’s best friend Edward is disabled and their school is inaccessible to him, and while I don’t want to make this all about me, I’ve been in similar situations, so seeing Harper be such an ally made me love her even more than I otherwise would have.
That said, the characters are also amazing and an absolute joy to read about. We’ve already covered that Harper is a brilliant ally, which makes me like her straight away, but she’s also very long suffering and witty in terms of the antics her family get up to, and she really reminded me of Ally from the Ally’s World series (which is a huge compliment!! Karen McCoy is the best!). I also loved her vain, slightly self-obsessed brother Troy’s part in the story, and her parents quite often made me howl with laughter. I don’t know what it was about her mum’s supermarket and bleach obsession and her dad’s habit of inventing dangerous games, but it just really appealed to my sense of humour.
October 29, 2022
Love the funny parts
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