Jeff Kinney

Greg’s world turns upside down when his best friend Rowley ditches him for a girlfriend, leaving him desperate—and hilariously directionless. He then relies on a Magic 8‑Ball to make all his decisions, leading to both comedic and awkward outcomes. Kinney nails the blend of humor and genuine kid‑feel angst, delivering a relatable and laugh-out-loud middle‑school adventure.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School focuses on what happens when kids are forced to live without technology and modern comforts. A main theme is how people resist change, especially when they are uncomfortable. Greg Heffley doesn’t suddenly become more mature, but he does start to notice his own mistakes a little more. His growth is realistic because he still tries to take shortcuts instead of doing the right thing.
The book uses humor and exaggeration to show how different expectations can be show more from reality. Greg often tells the story in a way that makes him look better, which makes him an unreliable narrator. The simple, cartoon-style drawings help show Greg’s limited understanding of the world. The diary format and illustrations make readers feel like they are inside Greg’s head, and they help show the loneliness and confusion he feels when things don’t go his way. show less

I've seen 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' pass over countless student desks in my classroom, and I finally just figured I should check it out. It's a very fast read.

Is there a complex moral message in this book? No.
Does the main character experience an epiphany as he completes his character arc? Nope.
Is this a book filled with deep philosophical humor that really makes you think? Um. No.

Is this book funny as hell? Yep.

It's the hilarious, often dumb and ridiculous adventures of a middle school boy. show more What did you expect? The title says a lot. I grinned, and yes, often laughed out loud through many parts of this book.

It's like 'Huckleberry Finn' without the moral message. 'Catcher in the Rye' without all the angst. You most certainly won't be elevated by the read, but you'll be entertained if you don't expect any more from 'Diary' than that. show less

The first in a series of wildly popular mixed-media novels - part comic, part middle-grade fiction - for younger readers, Diary of a Wimpy Kid is narrated by Greg Heffley, oblivious middle-school student and all-around wise-guy. From worrying about his "popularity rating" - he's 52nd or 53rd in the school - to struggling with his role as the middle child in his family, Greg's concerns will undoubtedly strike a chord with many kids, just as Kinney's humorous presentation, and frequent cartoon show more illustrations, will tickle their funny bone.

The reviewers of this one seem to fall into one of two camps, either deploring Greg's rather amoral character, and his lack of growth, or applauding Kinney's accessible format and dead-on use of middle-grade humor. I understand that these books have been successfully used to spark a general interest in reading in more than one boy reader - they do seem to be "boy books" - and that is undoubtedly very admirable. I myself enjoyed the humor, although not to the same extent as the intended audience, I suspect. I can sympathize with those who find Greg an unsympathetic protagonist, but I think that, in the end, it's more important for the protagonist to be relatable (which Greg certainly is) than admirable, and I doubt any young people will be "led astray" by these books. In short: although I probably won't continue with the series, I do recommend it to young middle-graders, particularly boys who are struggling with their reading. show less