Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul

This ninth installment takes the Heffleys on a hilariously chaotic family road trip, complete with a runaway pig, seagull attack, and crowded water‑park shenanigans. Kinney’s signature cartoon‑diary style brings laughs and relatable family dynamics, delivering more absurd comedy than ever before. A fun, fast-paced read that resonates with kids (and parents) who’ve survived summer travel disasters.

Another Diary of a Wimpy Kid book, another round of laughter for me. This one has been my favorite of them all. My family has traveled a lot, so Ive seen my share of road trip troubles, but never anything to this extent. The Heffleys just can't catch a break at all. I laughed out loud several times and saw moments I could relate to, as well as situations I'd never want to be stuck in. This one is definitely worth reading once or twice, although it'd be better to read them just before or during summer time.

Nope. Didn't care for this one much. Way too many coincidences and truly outlandish scenarios. Part of what makes the DoaWK novels so engaging is their ultra-realism. This one seemed to doff all that in favor of an over-the-top and frantic form of humor.

3.5

As always, cute. My son and I read these every year when they come out. I genuinely laugh out loud at least three times with each book. This one was just as funny in ways, but weaker in others since it took a hilarious situation and amped it up a little unrealistically. Sure, its all kids fiction, but this one is more far-fetched than the others. The magic and charm is humor that can be related to. This one has plenty to relate to, but goes over the top at the same time. It's a humor for kids who can sympathize, and adults who remember. Love these books and they haven't grown old.

I have read this entire hilarious series along with my daughter who grew up with it and is now in High School. I have also substituted in an elementary school media center for several years I can attest that nothing flies off the shelf faster than a Wimpy Kid book. The kids fight over who gets to check them out.

In this latest installment the Heffley family decide to take a road trip that fortunately for the reader goes horribly wrong. If you work with grade school children or have them you are probably familiar with Flat Stanley and the popular Captain Underpants series and Kinney lampoons both of them hysterically. The family road trip begins with a dive hotel that seemed familiar to some I have encountered. From there things go show more downhill with the acquisition of a pig ( you have to read it to see how cute the pig is), stalking by another family road tripping, numerous mishaps to the family vehicle, and a run in with a seagull. I am not a person prone to laughing out loud when reading but I did so several times with this book. I can empathize with the mom's desire to get rid of her husbands toy that is clogging the yard. Some of my favorite moments from the book included the high jinks that ensue when the dad tries to take a conference call in the car with an important client and the episode that results in the father running across a hotel parking lot with his pants around his ankles. Anyone who is in a family, kids, or parents, will find this book highly relatable.

As an aside my daughter waited in line six hours to meet Jeff Kinney at the Miami Book Fair when he released Cabin Fever. He brought down the kids who are in the movies to sign posters too. The wait was absolutely worth it as it was the highlight of my daughter's life. Even though Jeff Kinney signed thousands of books that day he took time to speak to my daughter and was so incredibly nice. Kids also love his educational poptropica site so if you have them check that out as well. show less

"Pack your bags. We're going on a road trip."

Thus begins the 9th book in the Wimpy Kid series. I have a feeling I know what you're thinking. Another Wimpy Kid book? Who wants to read more about the selfish brat also know as Greg Heffley? I mean, let's face it, he isn't the best role model (or even close for that matter). I've cringed many times while reading these books with my son; the way Greg treats his supposed best friend Rowley or the way Rodrick treats Greg. Please, even my kids treat each other better than this (which is a good thing). Of course, my son and I have spoken about Greg's behavior and how he isn't nice to Rowley and only uses him to get what he wants. And I don't deny my son the chance to read something he really show more enjoys. Anything you read is a chance to learn something, even if the book just teaches you to recognize bad behavior.

So, I was hugely surprised to find myself laughing out loud while reading this book to my son. Rowley is absent from this book and I think that helped. The book focuses entirely on Greg and his family and their misadventures. Greg's mom decides that a road trip is an excellent way to bring the family together. It doesn't exactly turn out as she expected, but they still manage to have quite the adventure.

I don't want to give anything away, but there is a piglet, crazy seagulls, a water park adventure and many funny driving and motel scenes that many of us can relate to. How many of us have been on a family trip and Dad has to take a work call. Everyone in the car is supposed to be quiet.... Very funny scene!!

Recommended to:
Any fans of the Wimpy Kid series and even some people who aren't fans. If you like funny family stories where everything that can go wrong does, you will enjoy this book. Think (totally PG) book version of one of the Vacation movies. show less

This is not a book that I would read for pleasure. The humor can be gross and I don't find it significantly entertaining. On the other hand my students devour these books. As soon as I get a Diary of a Wimpy Kid book turned in it is checked back out. I believe that the students like it because they are quick, easy reads but they have a lot of pages so it feels like a significant book.

Curriculum Connections:
This book is great for students that have difficult with longer books. I believe that it can give them the confidence to continue reading books with a lot of pages. I don't know that I would use this with my entire class but it is great for pleasure reading or for book reports or reviews.