Hari Kumar, Ultimate Superstar

LoveReading4Kids Says

Hari Kumar bursts onto the page with all the charisma of its ten-year-old hero - 75% Indian, 25% French, and 100% superstar-in-the-making. Hari dreams of becoming a Bollywood legend, and when a school filmmaking competition appears on the horizon, he’s convinced this is his lucky break. His ticket to stardom. The moment the world finally sees what he can do. What he’s capable of.

The book is told through Hari’s own journal - with doodles galore from the brilliant Mamta Singh. It’s an idea suggested by Mr Gill, his ever-encouraging learning support teacher - and it gives readers a front-row seat inside Hari’s brilliant, autistic, ADHD mind. His fizzy brain. His thoughts often travel at what he describes as “a zillion miles per hour”.

He’s clever, funny, larger than life, prone to hyperfocus and hyperfixations, sometimes forgetful, sometimes overwhelmed, but always, always full of heart.

And as Hari shares his story, he speaks directly to his fellow autistic, ADHD, and neurodivergent readers - and helpfully explains a few things to the neurotypicals along the way.

Hari’s world is richly drawn by the incredible Rashmi Sirdeshpande : there’s Nisha, his unstoppable 6-year-old sister; friends Lily and Raheem; and a new kid Cameron, who somehow becomes mates with Hari’s sworn rival, Martin. Add in a flurry of fabulous aunties, heaps of positivity, and a sprinkle of melodrama, and you get a story that’s as vibrant as the Bollywood films Hari is desperate to appear in.

Throughout, Hari’s unique voice shines. He defines the big words he sometimes uses, throws in Hindi translations (“Hari beta, Hindi speakers, bear with me!”), and embraces all the ways he feels the world intensely. His emotions are BIG. Sometimes so big it’s like someone has hit a giant red button inside him.

But with humour, honesty, and heart, he lets readers see how he processes it all, how he crashes, how he regroups, and how he keeps moving toward manifesting his best life.

This is a story about friendship, perseverance, teamwork, and believing in yourself even when things get messy or complicated. It’s about turning a dream into something real. Not through perfection, but through passion, creativity, and the courage to show the world who you really are.

This is for any young reader who sees even a flicker of themselves in Hari. In his energy, his imagination, his identity, his neurodivergence. And for everyone else, it’s an unmissable chance to understand a mind that fizzes at full volume. Full pelt. In all of its glory. I cannot wait to see more of Hari Kumar!

Reviewed by Deborah Maclaren
Deborah is a book reviewer, passionate literacy advocate, regular speaker and presenter about the power of books and the importance of reading for pleasure.
More reviews by Deborah Maclaren

About Hari Kumar, Ultimate Superstar

Meet HARI KUMAR, superstar-in-the-making, in this laugh-out-loud doodle-packed diary series for 8+ readers.

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