Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Book)

Author: Jeff Kinney. Release date: 2007. Publisher:  Amulet Books. ISBN: 9780810993136.

Plot summary: Greg Heffley is a middle school student who, at his mother’s insistence, is recording his thoughts, experiences and illustrations in a diary. Greg is small and somewhat shy, but has a lot to say about his classmates, teachers, and family in his diary. Greg and his best friend Rowley must deal with typical middle school challenges: a wrestling unit in P.E., weirdo nerd Fregley who wants to be friends, older and younger brothers, parents who won’t let them play video games, and school plays. They also have to survive a horrible contagious disease that has run rampant in their school: the dreaded Cheese Touch. In his diary Greg muses that he will certainly someday be rich and famous, but for now he is stuck in middle school with a bunch of morons. Will he survive his trials and tribulations?

Review: Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a truly laugh-out-loud funny book for ‘tweens that perfectly epitomizes many of the standard “middle school” experiences in an entertaining and unusual format. The combination of Kinney’s text and drawings makes this novel a fast read. What makes it even faster is Kinney’s humor. Greg’s biting commentary on his peers, parents and school will certainly hit home with most readers. His family experiences, like his older brother who is constantly picking on him and his younger brother who is a tattle-tale, are sometimes funny, sometimes heartwarming. Greg’s relationship with his friend, Rowley, is endearing. Greg proclaims that he’s not sure he wants Rowley as a best friend anymore, but it’s clear that Rowley means more to Greg than he admits. Many of the situations in the storyline, the school play, Greg allowing Rowley to take the fall for something he didn’t do, will resonate with readers and help them deal with similar experiences in their own lives. The wild popularity of the entire Diary of a Wimpy Kid series is understandable after reading this fun and clever story.

Genre: Fiction/ Humor

Reading level: Grades 5-8

Similar titles:  Rest of Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.

Personal thoughts:  I found myself laughing-out-loud while reading this novel. I was aware of its extreme popularity with young readers,  and now consider myself a Wimpy Kid fan after reading this first installment. Kinney’s humor is razor-sharp but he also manages to include heartwarming relationships and moral lessons. I am looking forward to the rest of the series.

Themes: Middle school, family relationships, friendship.

Awards/Reviews: Positive reviews from School Library Journal, Booklist, and Publishers Weekly.

Series Information: Part of Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.

Character information:

Greg Heffley – The “wimpy kid.” A small, shy middle-school student who writes his experiences in a combination of text and pictures in his “diary.”

Rawley Jefferson – Greg Heffley’s best friend. A chubby and gullible but sweet middle school student. His parents are strict and won’t let him play violent video games.

Rodrick Heffley – Greg’s older brother who likes to pick on him. Plays in a band.

Manny Heffley – Greg’s little brother. He wants to play with Greg, but is a tattle-tale.

Mr. and Mrs. Heffley – Greg’s parents. They don’t always seem to understand what he’s thinking or feeling, but are kind and caring.

Fregley – Greg’s sometimes friend. He is very strange and often makes off-the-wall comments.

Annotation: Experience the trials and tribulations of middle school in Greg Heffley’s diary.