How to be Prime Minister and Survive Grade Five

Imagine your dad gets the top job but isn't exactly up to being Prime Minister. Imagine he sneaks off on holiday, leaving his phone behind with messages pinging in. Do you cover for him? You're eleven. How wrong can it go?

'It's not easy for a prime minister to go on holiday, but then my dad has always been good at avoiding work.'

When Harper's dad unexpectedly becomes the Prime Minister of Australia he's terrible at it. He was boosted into the top job after a heroic boogie-board rescue of two kids (and a labradoodle) from a shark attack, but surviving government is proving much harder. After a few months, their family is a laughing stock, and Dad disappears to a 'conference' - but he leaves his phone behind. To save his reputation, Harper secretly takes his place.
With her little sister, Lottie, the girls must decide on a new policy by the end of the week.
But Harper is torn between ideas - should she ban plastic bottles? Or make weekends go for more than two days?

Can she prove a kid can lead the country better than a grown-up?

About the Author

Carla Fitzgerald is a writer, a recovered lawyer and mum of three from Sydney. She studied Arts/Law at university before working for a judge, in private practice and at the Australian Human Rights Commission. Only after that did she rediscover the great fun of making stuff up and writing it down. Carla is a Books in Homes role model and a coach with the Harding Miller Education Foundation. Her favourite things to do are write, walk, read, eat, and hang out with her family. Not in that order.