Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Abrams Books For Young Readers, 2007
Fiction
ISBN: 0810993139
224 pages
Synopsis
Greg Heffley is just another average middle-schooler. All he wants is to be popular and have girls like him. However, a younger and older brother, well-meaning parents, and nerdy friends often get in the way of those quests. Told from the first person in ‘diary’ format, this hybrid between a traditional fiction book and a graphic novel takes a look into the life of a middle-school boy and brings the humor to the surface. I recommend this book to readers 8-13, and boys will find it most engaging.
Critique
These graphic novels by Kinney are so much fun to read. They’re quick and easy, but help to remind us all about the perils of middle school and growing up. They put “picture books” in an entirely different kind of category, walking the line between the often dark and ornate worlds of the comic books or graphic novels, and the simplistic messages conveyed by illustrated books for children. It feels very much like you’re reading the journal/diary of a tween.
The other books in this series are Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (book 2), Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Last Straw (book 3), and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (book 4).
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For the Classroom
Although this is a fun read and applicable to anyone in late elementary or middle school, it’s not something that can really be used as a classroom companion for normal studies.
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