- Illustrated Chapter Books
- Ages 9–12
- Comedy
Bim Blake's Hot Takes: I'm Not Weird; I'm a Special Edition
Book 2 of 2 in Bim BlakeView the full series
The second warm, witty, highly illustrated Bim Blake diary: back for the spring term of Year Seven, Bim faces the bottom maths set, a birthday party that keeps getting sabotaged and yet more family chaos.
- Best for9–12
- FormatIllustrated
- Length320 pp
- Read aloud~2 hr10 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Comedic
- Conversational
- Epistolary
Tone
- Funny
- Warm
- Heartwarming
- Bittersweet
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Just when Bim Blake thought she was finally getting the hang of high school, the second term of Year Seven turns into one plot twist after another. She's landed in the lowest maths set (after confidently calculating twenty-seven pounds change from a tenner in front of the whole class), she's trying to plan a birthday party that someone keeps mysteriously sabotaging, and home is as chaotic as ever with her dad and three brothers. Told through Bim's funny, honest diary and illustrated throughout by Ariyana Taylor, this second book in the relatable slice-of-life series keeps the laugh-out-loud comedy coming while holding on to its warmth and its quiet, tender thread about the mum Bim still misses. Perfect for fans of Dork Diaries, Lottie Brooks and Nina Peanut.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
A 9-12 independent read continuing the series' fast, illustrated diary format. The comedy suits younger tweens, while the ongoing thread of missing a parent gives it emotional depth for older and more sensitive readers.
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- Best fit · 9–12
- Read aloud · 9–12
- Independent · 9–12
Prose load
Light
Visual support
Moderate
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Workable
Works well for
- Reading together
- Reluctant readers
Preview before sharing if a child is sensitive to: grief, death of parent.
Bedtime suitability
3 / 5 · Workable
Sensitive-child
3 / 5 · Mostly fine
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Funny diary
- Secondary school
- Reluctant readers
- Inclusive representation
Avoid if
- Sensitive to parental death
Particularly good for children who are…
- Making friends
- Low self esteem
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
Bim's diary is at its funniest as she survives the lowest maths set and a birthday party someone keeps wrecking. Kids love her honest, quick-witted voice and the illustrations that make every page fly by.
- Friendship and belonging
- Being understood finally
- Proving yourself
Why parents love it
A funny, inclusive second outing that keeps reluctant readers turning pages while gently carrying Bim's ongoing grief for her mum. Warm and reassuring, it's an easy, layered next step for anyone who loved book one.
- Shared humour
- Cultural representation
- Conversation starter
In the series
Bim Blake.
2 books · open the series →
About the creators
About the creators.
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Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.
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