- Comedy
- Bim Blake collection
- Ages 9–12
Bim Blake
Part of the collectionBim Blake→Bim Blake's funny, honest illustrated diary of surviving Year Seven — big laughs, real friendship drama and a gently handled thread of grief, for fans of Dork Diaries and Lottie Brooks.
- Books2
- Arcs1
- Span2026–2027
- StatusOngoing
The series
At a glance.
Tolá Okogwu's relatable, highly illustrated tween diary series following Bim Blake through the ups and downs of starting high school. Across the books Bim navigates a brand-new school and all its chaos — first crushes, first bras, the bottom maths set, sabotaged birthday parties and ever-shifting friendships — with a funny, honest voice and gorgeous illustrations by Ariyana Taylor on every page. Home is loud and warm, shared with her dad and three brothers, and threaded quietly through the comedy is the loss of her mum to cancer three years earlier, whom Bim hasn't really gotten over. The series keeps the laughs coming while holding on to that tender undercurrent, making it both genuinely funny and quietly moving. A slice-of-life comedy in the tradition of Dork Diaries and Lottie Brooks, strong for reluctant readers.
Bim Blake's funny, honest illustrated diary of surviving Year Seven — big laughs, real friendship drama and a gently handled thread of grief, for fans of Dork Diaries and Lottie Brooks.
Primary themes
Overall tone
- Funny
- Warm
- Heartwarming
- Bittersweet
Read in publication order — the school year and Bim's life move forward across the books.
One arc
The shape of the series.
- IStandalone collection arcBooks 1–2 · 2026–2027Moderate sensitivity
Bim's Year Seven
Bim's funny, honest diary of surviving Year Seven, one chaotic term at a time.
An illustrated diary series that runs term by term through Bim Blake's first year of high school. Book one launches her into Year Seven and its comedy of first bras, first crushes, maths misery and friendship drama; book two returns for the spring term, with the bottom maths set, a sabotaged birthday party and yet more family chaos. Each book is highly readable in its own right, but they follow Bim's year in order, so publication order reads best. The register stays funny and warm throughout, carried by Ariyana Taylor's illustrations, while a quiet, tender thread about the mum Bim lost to cancer gives the comedy real emotional weight. Ideal for reluctant readers and fans of the diary format, and gentle enough to sit alongside its heavier subject with care.
Fit check
Right for your reader?
Where the series lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- 15
- 17
- 19
- Best fit · 9–12
- Read aloud · 9–12
- Independent · 9–12
Reluctant-reader friendliness
Very high
Read-aloud quality
Workable
Adult crossover
Low
Grows with the reader
Not especially
Sensitivity envelope
Moderate overall, and consistent.
Content notes
- Grief
- Death of parent
- Illness or disability
Where it sits
In conversation with other series.
About the author