Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney [book]

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney [book]

Publisher: Amulet Books; edition unstated, 2007
Language: English
Hardcover: 224 pages
ISBN: 0810993139

Plot Summary:
In the book Greg is in middle school and drawing and writing in the red diary that his mother bought for him for school (he asked for a journal). He has an older brother named Rodrick that makes fun of him and a younger brother named Manny who gets his way all of the time. Greg is in the middle and seems to think that he is blamed for everything and is always getting caught for things. The beginning of the book leads Greg into his first day of school in which he is immediately outcast with Fregley (who is a nerdier kid in school). Eventually Greg and his friend Rowley join wrestling, in which Greg quits, get into an incident that breaks Rowley's arm, which was Greg's fault, and join a Safety program that results in Rowley being fired, which was also Greg's fault. This causes a rift in their friendship that is not mended until the end when Greg takes the fall for a "cheese touch" incident involving Rowley. There is also a play that Greg is in as a tree; his brother shows up to the play with a camera and Greg is too embarrassed to actually do his part and the show ends up in chaos. All in all the story contains many misunderstandings and befuddled attempts to fit into life in middle school for Greg.

Critical Evaluation:
This book is fun and the pictures are drawn as if a young kid like Greg was actually recounting his life in them. The book is predictable in the way that middle school stories are usually written because the young adults are usually confused about social norms and what is right and what is wrong at this stage in life. The writing is easy and it is refreshing to see that the writing actually looks like what you would think Greg would write and talk like. The story line of Greg always feeling off put both in school and in his family is very easy to relate to, and it is made even better because it is a humorous story.

Reader's Annotation:
Greg is in middle school and just trying to make it through alive with his friends intact without getting into too much trouble.

Websites to look Into:
http://www.wimpykid.com/

The Author:
Jeff Kinney's series has 58 million copies in print worldwide as of 2010 and the first book was developed into a feature film for which Kinney served as executive producer.
Awards:
#1 New York Times Best Seller (114 weeks)
Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards, 2008
ALA Notable Book
Most Favorite Book Around the World, 2010

Similar Books:
"Rodrick Rules" by Jeff Kinney
"The Last Straw" by Jeff Kinney
"Dog Days" by Jeff Kinney

Booktalking Ideas:
Discussing the books and the movies
Talking about how kids can relate to feeling like an outsider, or bullying

Genre:
Humor, Fiction

Interest Age:
13+

Challenge Issues:
There is bullying in the books, but for the most part I can see no challenges in the book because it is humorous and it sends a good message to its audience.

Why this Book?
I chose this book because I used to see kid's at the library consistently checking these books out. They could never get enough of them, and after I read it I saw why... they are fun and have good themes and they make you feel good and laugh.