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How to be Prime Minister and survive grade five
Imagine your dad gets the top job but isn’t exactly up to it. Then he sneaks off on holiday, leaving the country without a leader. What would you do?
When Harper’s dad becomes the prime minister of Australia he’s terrible at it. He was thrust into the top job after a heroic boogie-board rescue of two kids (and a labradoodle) from a shark attack, but surviving government is proving hard. Their family is a laughing stock, and Dad disappears to a ‘conference’ – but he leaves his phone behind. With her little sister, Lottie, Harper must secretly take his place and decide on a new policy by the end of the week. She finds herself torn between ideas – should she ban plastic bottles? Or make weekends longer? Can she prove a kid can lead the country better than a grown-up?
When Harper’s dad becomes the prime minister of Australia he’s terrible at it. He was thrust into the top job after a heroic boogie-board rescue of two kids (and a labradoodle) from a shark attack, but surviving government is proving hard. Their family is a laughing stock, and Dad disappears to a ‘conference’ – but he leaves his phone behind. With her little sister, Lottie, Harper must secretly take his place and decide on a new policy by the end of the week. She finds herself torn between ideas – should she ban plastic bottles? Or make weekends longer? Can she prove a kid can lead the country better than a grown-up?
- GenresContemporary
272 pages, Paperback
Published August 2, 2022
5 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 27, 2022
Trigger warnings: mental health, vomit
Well, this was an absolute delight from start to finish. Reading the blurb, I was a little afraid that this would turn out to be one of those children's/middle grade books that kids LOVE and adults just roll their eyes over. But fortunately, it was hilarious from the very beginning and I loved every second of it.
There's a solid message underlying the slightly ridiculous "what if your dad, the Prime Minister, runs away and leaves his phone behind and you, an 11 year old girl, start texting his colleagues back pretending to be him so that the country keeps running" plot line. A message about learning to speak out for what you believe in, and for adults to listen to what kids have to say. And I had a lot of fun reading this.
Well, this was an absolute delight from start to finish. Reading the blurb, I was a little afraid that this would turn out to be one of those children's/middle grade books that kids LOVE and adults just roll their eyes over. But fortunately, it was hilarious from the very beginning and I loved every second of it.
There's a solid message underlying the slightly ridiculous "what if your dad, the Prime Minister, runs away and leaves his phone behind and you, an 11 year old girl, start texting his colleagues back pretending to be him so that the country keeps running" plot line. A message about learning to speak out for what you believe in, and for adults to listen to what kids have to say. And I had a lot of fun reading this.
January 3, 2025
This book is a shear joy to read and share.
I’d skimmed this book months ago, but only read from cover to cover these holidays.
Covering issues like:
- family support
- confidence
- public speaking
- leadership
- making friends
- supporting social causes
Sounds dull? That’s what I bring to this review - sorry. Brimming with ideas, lead character Harper (not Harriet), is part solver of mysteries, supportive big sister and anxious world citizen. Her voice (first-person narrative) is engaging and entertaining.
Author, Carla Fitzgerald has created circumstances that would set any kid’s teeth on edge, from an overbearing nanny (who packs spinach and sweet potato wraps for lunch), to Dad jokes and slimy politicians.
All brought together is a joyous culmination.
I would highly recommend this book to children aged +8 years old. It would make a sensational classroom text (fits nicely in to year 5 curriculum). But, it would make a great family movie also. With Sydney Harbour as the backdrop, in riotous colour (from Dad’s Hawaiian shirts, glitter pens to Mum’s purple hair, and flowering jacaranda trees), these characters are relatable and loveable - but, in circumstances few of us would ever truly understand.
Excellent design and cover too.
I’d skimmed this book months ago, but only read from cover to cover these holidays.
Covering issues like:
- family support
- confidence
- public speaking
- leadership
- making friends
- supporting social causes
Sounds dull? That’s what I bring to this review - sorry. Brimming with ideas, lead character Harper (not Harriet), is part solver of mysteries, supportive big sister and anxious world citizen. Her voice (first-person narrative) is engaging and entertaining.
Author, Carla Fitzgerald has created circumstances that would set any kid’s teeth on edge, from an overbearing nanny (who packs spinach and sweet potato wraps for lunch), to Dad jokes and slimy politicians.
All brought together is a joyous culmination.
I would highly recommend this book to children aged +8 years old. It would make a sensational classroom text (fits nicely in to year 5 curriculum). But, it would make a great family movie also. With Sydney Harbour as the backdrop, in riotous colour (from Dad’s Hawaiian shirts, glitter pens to Mum’s purple hair, and flowering jacaranda trees), these characters are relatable and loveable - but, in circumstances few of us would ever truly understand.
Excellent design and cover too.
July 13, 2024
I could read a DOS manual to my 11yr old kid and he’d listen as he drifted off. That’s fine - that’s why I had kids: so I could read aloud to them.
But this one, a great little read about overcoming youth anxiety, with only a chunk of need to suspend disbelief. My other kid - she also read it before I did and she gave it a four, relatable, funny, and “I just like it!”
But this one, a great little read about overcoming youth anxiety, with only a chunk of need to suspend disbelief. My other kid - she also read it before I did and she gave it a four, relatable, funny, and “I just like it!”
February 16, 2025
What a great book! The hysterical premise of this book seems like something I would expect from the next Morris Gleitzman novel - Harper's Dad unexpectedly became Prime Minister after he heroically saved two kids (and a Labradoodle) from a shark. However, being PM is not as easy as it looks and soon the pressure is mounting on him. The consensus is that he is not up to the job. When one day he disappears to a conference that no-one else seems to know about, it's up to Harper and her sister Lottie to take his place without anyone noticing.
However, while exploring that storyline is a lot of fun - especially the errands Harper & Lottie get the PM's aide to run for them - the bulk of the novel is actually about finding some self-belief and learning to speak up for the things that are important. It has a lot to say about politics, priorities, making a difference, social media and the way adults treat each other. Reading the comments on an article the paparazzi publish about her, Harper wonders:
"How could grown-ups be so mean? Didn't they have anything better to do? And weren't they the ones always lecturing us kids about being kind to one another?"
I thought the characters of Harper & Lottie were excellent. I enjoyed spending time with them, learning how they think, and seeing how they deal with the different challenges of their situation.
Highly recommended.
However, while exploring that storyline is a lot of fun - especially the errands Harper & Lottie get the PM's aide to run for them - the bulk of the novel is actually about finding some self-belief and learning to speak up for the things that are important. It has a lot to say about politics, priorities, making a difference, social media and the way adults treat each other. Reading the comments on an article the paparazzi publish about her, Harper wonders:
"How could grown-ups be so mean? Didn't they have anything better to do? And weren't they the ones always lecturing us kids about being kind to one another?"
I thought the characters of Harper & Lottie were excellent. I enjoyed spending time with them, learning how they think, and seeing how they deal with the different challenges of their situation.
Highly recommended.
July 26, 2023
4.5 Stars
This was such a fun novel! I won a copy from UQP publishing and knew that this would be an absolute smasher - I was not wrong!
It’s so brilliantly Australian, and the female characters in this are so strong-willed and determined, we absolutely must stan. I can imagine how much of an impact characters like these will make on children and it makes me so happy to see that they have such great female characters to look up to. I will always stand by my obsession with Australian children’s and YA books as they are truly something special. Undoubtedly this will be a book I will recommend to younger readers out there.
This was such a fun novel! I won a copy from UQP publishing and knew that this would be an absolute smasher - I was not wrong!
It’s so brilliantly Australian, and the female characters in this are so strong-willed and determined, we absolutely must stan. I can imagine how much of an impact characters like these will make on children and it makes me so happy to see that they have such great female characters to look up to. I will always stand by my obsession with Australian children’s and YA books as they are truly something special. Undoubtedly this will be a book I will recommend to younger readers out there.
March 16, 2024
I had fun reading this with my kids. It’s roughly for the 8-10 age bracket. My boys lost interest half way through (it’s very repetitive) so we stopped and came back to it months later. The second halve was much more engaging.
I enjoyed the discussions it provokes with my boys around politics, kids rights, leadership, bravery, pride, empathy and empowerment.
I enjoyed the discussions it provokes with my boys around politics, kids rights, leadership, bravery, pride, empathy and empowerment.
December 27, 2022
If you have not read this, then you are missing out. This is FANTASTIC! Imagine your parent, who just happens to be prime minister, bailing on everyday life and work commitments, and you secretly step in to keep the wheels turning, all the while self-doubt is by your side, thinking you can't do it. You are greater than you think. Love this. Highly recommend it.
July 4, 2023
Carla Fitzgerald is a Sydney-based author who has previously published the picture book Keeping Up with the Dachshunds. How to Be Prime Minister and Survive Grade Five is her debut middle grade novel.
The book opens with eleven-year-old Harper’s dad—Australia’s newest Prime Minister thanks to his role in a boogie board rescue that went viral—heading off to a ‘conference’ no one else seems to know about and accidentally leaving his phone behind… in Harper’s possession. With their mum away, no one but Harper and her younger sister Lottie know he’s gone… so, not wanting him to be any more of a laughingstock than he already is, the sisters tell everyone their dad has a highly contagious illness and, by impersonating him in text messages to his assistant, take charge of the country for a few days.
Of course, Harper and Lottie’s plan to save their family’s reputation while making several kid-approved changes to the nation’s modus operandi proves to be more challenging than expected given the presence of an overbearing nanny, personal security guards, lurking paparazzi, an unscrupulous kid-hating politician and a looming deadline to announce a new government policy! Add in social dramas at their fancy new school, a public speaking competition and Harper’s discovery that her favourite park is going to be sold to developers, and the girls are in for an eventful few days. However, all’s well that ends well… for the First Family, and Australia too.
The back matter includes a quiz about former PMs and a page of ‘Would You Rather’ questions. (There are one or two serious questions hidden amongst the silly ones, and when my children read this page in the car it led to a conversation in which the nine-year-old explained to the six-year-old what pollution is!)
Featuring plenty of humour, a strong sibling bond, and themes of courage, environmental activism and family love, this is a fun, charming and wholesome read that is perfectly pitched at its target age group. After all, what kid wouldn’t want to run the country while getting to eat as many lollies as they want?
This review was first shared on StoryLinks Australia.
The book opens with eleven-year-old Harper’s dad—Australia’s newest Prime Minister thanks to his role in a boogie board rescue that went viral—heading off to a ‘conference’ no one else seems to know about and accidentally leaving his phone behind… in Harper’s possession. With their mum away, no one but Harper and her younger sister Lottie know he’s gone… so, not wanting him to be any more of a laughingstock than he already is, the sisters tell everyone their dad has a highly contagious illness and, by impersonating him in text messages to his assistant, take charge of the country for a few days.
Of course, Harper and Lottie’s plan to save their family’s reputation while making several kid-approved changes to the nation’s modus operandi proves to be more challenging than expected given the presence of an overbearing nanny, personal security guards, lurking paparazzi, an unscrupulous kid-hating politician and a looming deadline to announce a new government policy! Add in social dramas at their fancy new school, a public speaking competition and Harper’s discovery that her favourite park is going to be sold to developers, and the girls are in for an eventful few days. However, all’s well that ends well… for the First Family, and Australia too.
The back matter includes a quiz about former PMs and a page of ‘Would You Rather’ questions. (There are one or two serious questions hidden amongst the silly ones, and when my children read this page in the car it led to a conversation in which the nine-year-old explained to the six-year-old what pollution is!)
Featuring plenty of humour, a strong sibling bond, and themes of courage, environmental activism and family love, this is a fun, charming and wholesome read that is perfectly pitched at its target age group. After all, what kid wouldn’t want to run the country while getting to eat as many lollies as they want?
This review was first shared on StoryLinks Australia.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews