Pop Star: Book 3 — Dork Diaries by Rachel Renée Russell, $14.99.
Looking for a book for young readers? Fourteen-year-old Nikki Maxwell, self-confessed dork, must navigate the perils of a posh new school and the CPP (cute, cool and popular) group led by cruel queen-bee Mackenzie.
Along the way, she finds friends, gains confidence and even discovers her first crush over a dissected frog.
The Dork Diaries series has all the appeal of the hugely popular Diary Of A Wimpy Kid series, including the handwritten diary entries complete with doodles and cartoons.
Author Rachel Renée Russell perfectly captures the trials and tribulations of “tween” girls and their inevitable fascination with the approach of high school and the drama it entails with her keen ear for teen slang.
Charming and at times laugh-out-loud funny, I would recommend the series for girls aged nine to 12, particularly if they are reluctant readers, as the diary style and illustrations make the story accessible and fun.