Hari Kumar Ultimate Superstar

This is the highly illustrated diary style journal of Hari Kumar, who is 75% Indian, 25% French, and 100% superstar-in-the-making! We have teacher Mr Gill to thank for suggesting Hari keep a journal to help him cope with his feelings. Hari is autistic and has ADHD and this journal gives us real insight into what the world is like from Hari’s point of view. The author’s neurodiversity lends real depth and authenticity to his story. He struggles sometimes with expectations, noise, deadlines, focus and relationships and knows how lucky he is to have non-judgemental best friends Rahim and Lily. He dreams of becoming a Bollywood legend, and when a school filmmaking competition is announced, he’s convinced that this is his lucky break, and he has his friend’s full support. But with so many ideas buzzing around his head, Hari becomes too intense and too controlling and he risks losing them. Hari also struggles to process his feelings about new boy Cameron, who hangs out with the bullies and steals the limelight, with his dazzling football skills and top marks in class. Will Hari be able to put these distractions aside and focus on what really matters?   Hari and his friends and family are richly drawn and really spring to life from the pages, and we get lots of fascinating cultural detail, helpful Hindi translations, and definitions of Hari’s favourite long words. The lively illustration and doodles throughout and the fast-paced diary format will be very appealing to readers of all abilities. Warm, entertaining and engaging, Hari is a character everyone will be keen to meet again as the series continues.