KIDS’ BOOK OF THE WEEK

THE OFFLINE DIARIES

by Yomi Adegoke and Elizabeth Uviebinene, Harper Collins Children’s Books, £12.99 (ebook £7.99)

★★★★✩

Twelve-year-old Ade is dreading starting a new school, until she meets Shanice, a shy girl with a pink journal just like her own.

Despite their differences, confident Ade and introverted Shanice form a fast friendship, talking online through messaging app “ChatBack”, although they share most of their problems and worries offline with their diaries.

But when Ade attracts the attention of the two most popular – and mean – girls in school, can the friendship survive?

A fresh and original take on growing up, Yomi Adegoke and Elizabeth Uviebinene create two distinctive and believable Year 8 characters trying to navigate the social maze of school, and whether fitting in is truly the most important thing.