> Skip to content

Article  •  12 May 2016

 

Meet Middle School hero, Rafe

Say hi to Rafe Khatchadorian – James Patterson’s Middle School series hero.

You may know James Patterson as one of the biggest-selling crime and thriller writers of all time. What you may not know is that he also writes hilarious, hugely popular children’s books.

If you haven’t already met him it’s our pleasure to introduce you to Rafe Khatchadorian, the comically tragic hero of the Middle School series.

‘Hi I’m Rafe Khatchadorian, and if you already know me, then you know I do things a little differently than most people. I like to break the rules. No, I love to break rules. Especially dumb ones, like no talking in the hallways at my school and only being allowed to use the bathroom two times a day, no matter what.'

With his ‘pukey sister’ Georgia, school bully ‘Miller the Killer’ and the diabolical teacher he names the ‘Dragon Lady’ constantly on his case, it’s no wonder Rafe spends plenty of time in his favourite subject  . . .  after school detention.

But on a serious note:

The first book in the series, Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life, follows eleven-year-old Rafe as he navigates his way through Grade 6, while also juggling a problematic home life. Told from the riotously honest perspective of Rafe, readers really get into the headspace of a young boy who is just trying to fit in and be accepted by others.

It’s the characters in Middle School that really give this series its heart. As well as Rafe, you’ll meet other likeable and relatable kids such as his sister Georgia Khatchadorian, who is just trying to live up to her big brother’s reputation, and Jamie Grimm, a middle schooler with a mission to become the world’s greatest stand-up comedian.

But don’t just take our word for it, have a read and find out for yourself!

Feature Title

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life
A heartwarming and uproariously funny illustrated novel from bestselling author James Patterson. Now a major Hollywood movie!
Read more

More features

See all
Article
Everything you need to know about hockey romance books

What is hockey romance? Why is BookTok obsessed? Check out this article for everything you need to know.

Article
Better Reading’s Top 100 books of 2024 announced

Penguin Random House is proud to have twenty-four titles on the list this year.

Article
Penguin Noir is back with two events in 2024

Learn about two exciting Penguin Random House author showcases this August!

Article
Mini-me reads for mums and kids this Mother’s Day

Read by example this Mother’s Day with these book duos, perfect for mums and their children.

Article
Books recommended by Marian Keyes

If you love Marian Keyes, you might also enjoy these books. See the titles she’s praised publicly and get ready to add them to your ‘must read’ list.

Article
A guide to Marian Keyes

Want to read Marian Keyes’s books but aren’t sure where to start? Check out this run-down on the bestselling author and her many wonderful works.

Article
An Inheritance Games series explainer

Learn about the Inheritance Games series, how the books relate to each other and the correct order in which to read them.

Article
Look inside Creating Effective Spaces

Natasha Swinger, the creator behind the @effectivespaces Instagram has released a book to help you organise everything in your life. Sneak a peek here.

Article
The best books to read with your book club in autumn 2024

These are the Penguin Random House books that over 80,000 book clubs voted as the best group reads this month.

Article
Generate a husband

Generate a husband in honour of Holly Gramazio’s debut novel, The Husbands.

Article
8 tips for aspiring authors from Morris Gleitzman

Morris Gleitzman shares his top tips for writers ahead of his new book, Tweet.

Article
Natasha Swingler shares her #1 tip for starting your decluttering journey

We caught up with the creator behind @effectivespaces to learn about her upcoming book.

Looking for more articles?

See all articles