The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4

"They were my gateway books as a dyslexic person—I had a huge sense of pride when I read this series. It’s so much easier to read something once you have read them already, especially if you’re a reluctant reader. Once I’d conquered these books, it made all other books seem less scary. That, along with the fact that I was a melancholic teenager from the midlands, meant that I’d found my kindred spirit. I love the gentle humour of it; I love the black comedy, too. It’s as if Alan Bennett had written a kids’ book. It will always have a special place in my heart."