Bim Blake’s Hot Takes: My Pencil Case Doesn’t Define Me

By: Tolá Okogwu, Ariyana Taylor

Brought to you by Puffin.

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 and humorous, Bím Blake's Hot Takes is perfect for fans of Dork Diaries and Geek Girl.

Hi bestie! My name’s Bím 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

© Tolá Okogwu 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

Critic reviews

‘Laugh out loud, full of heart and fantastic fun! I predict that the hot take among young readers will be that they completely love it!’

‘A perfect tween diary with a strong, immediate voice and relatable struggles, from accidentally flashing your class to first crush horrors.’

‘I loved Bím Blake’s Hot Takes on familiar tween firsts, like bra fittings, starting high school and experiencing her first crush, all whilst dealing with her well-meaning (and completely lovely) family. Amongst the comedy, some serious topics were dealt with sensitively, giving the story depth. Plus, Bím’s affirmations were both wise and uplifting. Ariana Taylor’s brilliant illustrations add to the fun yet realistic tween voice T?lá Okogwu has created for Bím, and the warmth of a Nigerian heritage family really shines through. Funny, warm and relatable – the perfect book for tweens moving up into year seven.’

‘A witty, wonder of a book!’

‘Brilliantly funny, full of heart, and the storyline had me hooked from the start – I couldn’t put it down!’

‘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 the world of Bím Blake as she navigates family, friendships, feelings and the very messy business of transitioning to secondary school.’

‘Honest, heartfelt and incredibly relatable, Bím Blake’s Hot Takes is absolutely perfect for readers navigating the emotional rollercoaster of starting secondary school. I loved the fierce friendships and affirmations, and the journal-style writing, mixing diary with text chat and illustrations, is highly readable.’

‘This is the book eleven-year-old me would have adored. Full of relatable embarrassments, drama and friendships, it’s packed with humour and warmth. And so many small details that gave me immense inner Black girl joy.’

‘Funny, witty and heartwarming with gorgeous illustrations. I loved Bím Blake’s character. The perfect book for tweens.’