Yomi Adegoke and Elizabeth Uviebinene, The Offline Diaries, July 2022, HarperCollins, 247 pp., RRP $14.99 (pbk), ISBN 9780008444785
Ade is the new girl in town, in a new school and with a new step-dad who she blames for taking her away from her home and her friends. Suffice to say she hates everything, except writing in her diary. That is, until she meets Shanice entirely by chance. Together they discover that they going to the same school, Archbishop Academy, and are in the same class.
Shanice is an outsider at school, a studious girl who likes writing in her journal, and who doesn’t think much of her annoying older brother. And, she wants a bearded dragon as a pet. In short, she’s an introvert, with a liking for out of the ordinary pets.
For two outsiders, bound together by their love of journaling, meeting each other was a lifeline before venturing into the new school year at Archbishop Academy. There, Shanice introduces Ade to the ins-and-outs of the school, including Double-A: Amy and Aaliyah. They are popular girls, who are bullies and Shanice is usually the target of their bullying. With Ade in her corner though, Shanice feels a little bit better about having to endure school with them.
They become best friends, and constantly message each other on their school’s messaging app, talking about everything. The app is much like Instagram, with school kids able to post photos and videos, along with the typical chat.
The book chronicles how close they become: the sleep-overs, meeting each other’s family and honestly, it’s the kind of friendship anyone would want. However, things begin to change when Double-A set their sights on Ade, welcoming her into their duo. Outgoing Ade loves the attention, especially online, and when Double-A insult Shanice, she rationalises it away.
What follows is what we expect: their friendship fragments, Double-A get increasingly cruel towards Shanice and Ade is seemingly uncaring. Shanice’s hurt is genuine and fortunately, eventually Ade realises her mistake, but must work extra work to earn Shanice’s forgiveness. This section of the book will speak to young readers and invites their empathy and understanding.
As a bonus, the format of the book excellent. There are chapters from Ade’s POV and Shanice’s, but each chapter is formatted and looks like an entry from their diary. The distinct fonts and images help young readers build an image of each girl in their head: Ade, extroverted and spontaneous, with chapters that look like (messy-ish) handwriting, especially when compared to the neater more polished chapters from Shanice. It’s such a great way to identify with each of these girls.
The Offline Diaries is about true friendship, and about the things that matter in real life, and not the likes online. It reminds young readers that there’s no substitute for real relationships.
Reviewed by Verushka Byrow
