By Tolá Okogwu (author) , Ariyana Taylor (illustrator) Part of the Bím Blake's Hot Takes series
"A warm, funny middle-grade story about friendship, starting secondary school and growing up, with a narrator you want to be friends with and fun illustrations on every page."
Paperback In Stock £8.99 £8.09
View All Editions (1)
June 2026 Book of the Month
Bim Blake is a must read for all girls who want to survive and thrive in Year 7. Written in a diary style, the book is instantly relatable – covering issues such as first bras, unwelcome crushes and friendship dramas. Full of laughs and cringy mishaps the book will have readers laughing out loud whilst fully emphasising with Bim’s dilemmas.
Bim lives with her dad and her three, irritating older brothers, as her mum died 3 years ago. This family dynamic is well-handled, with the continuing grief and sadness Bim feels at her mum’s absence sensitively and realistically portrayed. The presence of two loving, but incredibly opinionated aunts bring the female influence Bim needs, but doesn’t always want!
Ideal for fans of Katie Kirby’s Lottie Brooks and Lisa Williamson’s Bigg School series, this is a sure-fire hit for girls aged 9 years+. We can’t wait to find out what Bim gets up to next!
Find out more! Join LoveReading4Kids Editorial Expert Amy McKay for a lively chat with Tolá Okogwu and her daughter Elizabeth as they dive into the brilliantly funny My Pencil Case Doesn’t Define Me!
From the bestselling author of Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun comes the first in a brand-new tween slice-of-life series. Relatable, humorous and highly illustrated, Bìm Blake's Hot Takes is perfect for fans of Dork Diaries and Geek Girl.
Read the full description
Hi bestie! My name's Bìm Blake. I've just started high school and here's my hot take on it: Year Seven is a LOT harder than I thought! I've realised my school skirt is way too long, my pencil case is way too uncool, my boobs are way too big and the new boy (who's the son of popstar parents!!!) is way too cute for my liking . . .
If that wasn't bad enough, tell me why my dad has been acting weirder than usual. He's been making TikToks (cringe!), experimenting in the kitchen (I call it attempted murder!) and he's even started exercising . . . It must be tough being over forty! Add into the mix a trio of annoying older brothers (yes, I have three - pray for me!), a duo of feuding aunts, one friend mishap and a huge helping of drama and you have a recipe for chaos. Welcome to my life!
'Laugh out loud, full of heart and fantastic fun!' A.F. Steadman, author of the Skandar series
'A perfect tween diary with a strong, immediate voice and relatable struggles.' Louie Stowell, author of Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Being Good
'Funny, warm and relatable - the perfect book for tweens moving up into year seven.' Jen Carney, author of The Accidental Diary of B. U. G.
'A witty, wonder of a book!' Lisa Thompson, author of The Goldfish Boy
'Brilliantly funny, full of heart, and the storyline had me hooked from the start - I couldn't put it down!' Abigail Balfe, author of This is NOT the Diary of Izzy Dobson
'Perfect for fans of Lottie Brooks and Dork Diaries, this fun new diary-style book with its fantastic cast of characters gives us a window into family, friendships, feelings and the very messy business of transitioning to secondary school.' Rashmi Sirdeshpande, author of Hari Kumar, Ultimate Superstar
'Honest, heartfelt and incredibly relatable, perfect for readers navigating the emotional rollercoaster of starting secondary school.' Vashti Hardy, author of Brightstorm
'Full of relatable embarrassments, drama and friendships, it's packed with humour and warmth.' Claire Linney, author of the Time Tub Travellers series
'Funny, witty and heartwarming with gorgeous illustrations.' Diana Anyakwo, author of My Life as a Chameleon
Tola Okogwu is a journalist, author and Hair Care Educator. She has written for multiple publications, including Black Ballad, Metro UK, Huffington Post and Refinery29.
Born in Lagos, Nigeria but raised in London, England, she now lives in Kent and writes children's books, including the Daddy Do My Hair series, Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun and, under the pen name Lola Morayo, the Aziza's Secret Fairy Door series. You can keep up with Tola Okogwu on Instagram @tolaokogwu
75 Best Back to School Books for Starting School
Brilliant Children's and YA Books to Read this Summer
the best books for 9-12 year olds · the best books for teenagers
The Unfamous Diaries of Daisy Brewster: The Superstars
The Seriously Epic Holiday of Lottie Brooks
Ella Jones Vs the Sun Stealer
Reggie Houser Has the Power
From the bestselling author of Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun comes the first in a brand-new tween slice-of-life series. Relatable, humorous and highly illustrated, Bìm Blake's Hot Takes is perfect for fans of Dork Diaries and Geek Girl.Hi bestie!
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Bim Blake's Hot Takes: My Pencil Case Doesn’t Define Me and determined it is suitable for children aged 9-12 years old
Bim Blake's Hot Takes: My Pencil Case Doesn’t Define Me features in the following genres: Featured Books for 9+ readers, Featured Books for 11+ readers, Books of the Month, Interviews with Authors and Illustrators, Recommendations, Star Books, Stories about Family and Friends, Funny, School Stories, Books to Motivate Reluctant Readers age 9+, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational
Paperback. £8.09, down from the £8.99 cover price. In Stock.
Bim Blake's Hot Takes: My Pencil Case Doesn’t Define Me was written by Tolá Okogwu and published by Puffin an imprint of Penguin Random House Children's UK
Bim Blake's Hot Takes: My Pencil Case Doesn’t Define Me has 295 pages
Yes it is part of Bím Blake's Hot Takes series
£8.09, reduced from £8.99. In Stock.
©PTC International Ltd T/A LoveReading is registered in England. Company number: 10193437. VAT number: 270 4538 09. Registered address: 157 Shooters Hill, London, SE18 3HP. Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer
The National Year of Reading starts here. Join thousands of families and schools supporting reading for pleasure across the UK.