"Laugh out loud school story in diary form with hapless, lovable hero"
September 2026 Book of the Month
Illustrated funny, diary style stories are very popular right now and with The Detention Diaries Sam Copeland puts a boysy twist on the format, even adding a touch of the detective story in a book that is guaranteed to have readers snorting with laughter.
Arthur Guppy is determined not to get a detention. His dad is holding out the offer of a MetaVR3000 as an incentive so no games of Bumflap with his best friend Carlos Chickens, no messing with the Fooligans. But each day it seems as though he’s failed, only to escape by incredible strokes of luck. But when school axolotls Wet Willy and Mad Maxolotl disappear, Arthur is – wrongly – in the frame. Can he track down the real axolotl kidnappers and stay out of jail, sorry detention?
Arthur’s diary entries are honest in the extreme, whether he’s discussing his trips to the loo or an episode in which he shaves off his little brother’s hair (which had me laughing out loud) and readers will quickly notice he’s not much of a detective. With cartoon style illustrations on every page, it’s accessible, a surprisingly accurate depiction of primary school life, and absolutely hilarious. Move over Greg Heffley, there’s a new Wimpy Kid in town.
The ultimate boy-friendly read! A brand-new diary-format series documenting the howl-somely funny injustices of Arthur Guppy whose best intentions always lead to the detention room.
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the best books for 9-12 year olds · the best books for teenagers
An absolute hoot - will give you a serious case of the chuckles!
What a hoot! Arthur Guppy's brilliant diary is a fast paced read, absolutely jam packed with great illustrations and plenty of tips for getting into all kinds of trouble. There are lots of hilarious naughty expressions and scrapes and you will definitely find yourself shouting "Bumflaps" in your loudest voice.
Why are you in detention Arthur Guppy? Well, because you are an absolute delight with your lovely Fooligan friends.
I read this book aloud to my 10 year old granddaughter and it's a toss up who laughed the most.... Read Full Review
One of the best books I have ever read - if you like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, you’ll oven this!
The Detention Diaries Worse Than Jail is one of the best books I have ever read and the funniest book since Diary of a Wimpy Kid. It tells the story of how Arther Guppy was unfairly sent to detention. The Detention Diaries also gives you a taste of the classic school problems, such as having to wear PE kit from the lost and found, horses breaking into school and seeing who can shout ‘Bumflaps’ the loudest! A perfect read for fun lovers aged between about 6 and 11.... Read Full Review
It was a good book - I would I read it if I were you!
The book was very compelling. It was fun and interesting to read about Arthur’s chaos at school. I really liked the layout of the book as it made it easy to read and the little illustrations throughout the book added to my enjoyment of the story.... Read Full Review
The ultimate boy-friendly read! A brand-new diary-format series documenting the howl-somely funny injustices of Arthur Guppy whose best intentions always lead to the detention room.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed The Detention Diaries: Worse than Jail and determined it is suitable for children aged 9-12 years old
The Detention Diaries: Worse than Jail features in the following genres: Featured Books for 9+ readers, Featured Books for 11+ readers, Books of the Month, Books Reviewed by our Reader Review Panels, Recommendations, Star Books, Adventure Stories, Crime & Mystery, Funny, School Stories, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Children’s / Teenage: General interest
Paperback. £8.09, down from the £8.99 cover price. In Stock.
The Detention Diaries: Worse than Jail was written by Sam Copeland and published by Bloomsbury Children's Books an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing (UK)
The Detention Diaries: Worse than Jail has 249 pages
Yes it is part of The Detention Diaries series
£8.09, reduced from £8.99. In Stock.
