The New Kid : Unpopular me by James O'Loghlin

Pan Macmillan, 2018. ISBN 9781760554255
(Age: 9+) Highly recommended. "The New Kid Unpopular Me" is a hilarious story about being the new kid in school. If it can go wrong it will! Sam is 11 and has just moved to Canberra with his family. He has already been targeted by the class bully, has only made one friend who is pretty unpopular and his mum keeps buying him rather embarrassing clothing. Sam is lonely. He won't admit it and he wants to be a good friend to his only new friend Gary. Sam decides he has to make Gary more popular to help himself become more popular. Will it happen during the school camp? Will fireworks be a good idea? Could the school play help Sam become more popular?
"The New Kid Unpopular Me" is a fun read with several embarrassing moments along the way. Sam's mum is just as embarrassing in the situations Sam finds himself in. Readers who have been to a new school will relate to the exaggerations in the story telling. It would be a great read aloud for the classroom thanks to its easy to read and descriptive text. The situations Sam gets himself into are also good for discussing feelings during the Child Protection Curriculum. It is highly recommended for independent reader aged 9+.
Kylie Kempster