Book Summary:
This is the first book of a series, and it begins by introducing the life of a middle-schooler, Greg Heffley. It is his first year in middle school, and the hazards of growing up are recorded through his words and drawings in his diary.
Greg's friend, Rowley, is his sidekick until Rowley becomes popular. Greg tries to use this to his advantage, but that causes things to happen that test their friendship (but in a funny way).
APA Reference of Book:
Kinney, J. (2007). Diary of a wimpy kid. New York, NY: Amulet
Books
Impressions:
The one main word I would use to describe this book is: hilarious! The author takes the drama of middle school life and makes it lighthearted.
The format of the book is just fun. I love the cartoon drawings, the speech bubbles, and the fact that it's written in diary form. That makes it an easy read. Not much deep thinking has to be done to understand this book, but it's catchy and I couldn't seem to put it down.
I also like that the "hero" of this story is an unlikely hero. He is always oblivious to his faults, and there's nothing "special" about his to make him a hero. I think kids can relate to Greg's character, and that's one reason this book would be appealing to them.
I think this book would be especially great for reluctant readers because it is so lighthearted, funny, and easy to read. Plus, they would enjoy the cartoon drawings.
Professional Review:
"Seventh grade is lousy enough, but when you are at the bottom of the popularity pecking order, your best (and only) friend embarrasses you, and no one else seems to recognize you as the brilliant leader you are, then middle school is downright unbearable. Luckily, Greg has a journal into which he can pour his frustrations, disappointments, and secret desires. In short entries, many of which read as independent vignettes, Greg describes the sometimes humorous, sometimes awful events of his life with an unflinching eye: his mostly failed endeavors are highlighted along with his rare accomplishments. The small black-and-white line drawings that accompany many of the entries are simple, as if indeed drawn by a budding artist, but not at all simplistic, as they interact with the text by sometimes contradicting Greg's account and often highlighting particularly cringe-worthy elements that would be less remarkable without the comic-style visuals. Inconsiderate, sullen, and greedy Greg is unfortunately not a very liable kid, but he's still funny and creative, and the frequent moments of sardonic wit add a richness and depth to his accounts. Kinney's well-designed and popular web comic (created in 2004) easily translates into illustrated novel format: devoted fans will be thrilled to have a print collection, while new readers can simply enjoy this as a stand-alone novel or they can head online to find out what happens next to Greg and the peculiar mix of characters who surround him."
Spisak, A. (2007). Diary of a wimpy kid review. [Review of the
book Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by J. Kinney]. Bulletin of the
Center for Children's Books, 60(10), p. 426. Retrieved from
https://libproxy.library.unt.edu:9443/login?url=http://search.
ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=brd&AN=5106
41911&scope=site
Library Uses:
Students could look at the diary format of this book and then start their own diaries about the funny things that happen during the day.
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