Diary of a Wimpy Kid

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. 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 show more 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 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 show more 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

I got a bit nostalgic recently and decided I was going to reread the early books in this series and then read the newer ones, just because. :) The first time I read a Wimpy Kid book was when I was 13, and I remember thinking it was downright hilarious. This book really does hold up well and I can easily see why the series continues to be so popular! I actually really admire the balance of humor Kinney has created; it's part middle school drama, part bathroom humor (which, lets be honest, is truly peak comedy for many middle school kids), and part slice of life/family humor which I think it relatable to not just kids but older readers, too! All around just a fun book that I'm going to keep recommending to people.

Best Moments in Book show more #1:
-Greg accidently making Manny eat a "spider"
-the whole idea/presence of the Cheese Touch - this cheese is ICONIC. If you read these books as a kid then you know this to be a straight up fact
-"ZooWeeMama!" show less

This made me LOL more than a few times. What killed me about it is that Greg, the main character/diarist, is kind of despicable. He treats his BFF pretty badly and he stoops so low to get his way. Still, you could say he's just a normal, un-idealized middle school guy. The half-comic-half-prose format lightens the whole thing so you don't take Greg too seriously, and in the end the book is a quick, fun read.

And I finally know what the "cheese touch" is!

This book by Jeff Kinney is a humorous, illustrated novel that follows the life of Greg Heffley, a middle schooler navigating the ups and downs of school, friendships, and family. Written in a journal style with doodles and handwritten text, the book captures Greg's thoughts, frustrations, and funny experiences as he tries to survive middle school. I like this book for students because it's engaging, funny, and relatable. The format makes it accessible to readers who might not enjoy long chapter books, and the humor keeps them hooked. Diary of a Wimpy Kid can be a great way to show that reading can be fun, not just something they have to do for school.

I thought I would read this series as they are very popular in our school library as well as encouraging non-readers to have a go at reading. I liked it as it was a funny look at school and friendships and how we to face up to growing up.
Being a kid can really stink. And no one knows this better than Greg Heffley, who finds himself thrust into high school where undersized weaklings share the hallways with kids who are taller, meaner, and already shaving. Luckily, Greg has his best friend and sidekick, Rowley. But when Rowley's popularity starts to rise, it kicks off a chain of events that will test their friendship in hilarious fashion.
Easy to read with scrawly illustrations, I can see why this series is popular with reluctant readers show more or those that just want a quick read. show less

Zoo-Wee Mama! Greg Heffley is a typical 5th-grader, struggling with how to be popular among the boys, especially the ones with cool video games. He also wants to avoid the girls, the morons, his older brother and his baby brother, not to mention various adults who make his life miserable. Kinney does a great job of creating a believable journal written and illustrated by a kid. I like the way Greg thinks – his schemes to get what he wants, win election to school office, develop and write a comic for the school newspaper, trick his uncle into getting him want he wants for Christmas, and to mold his friend Rowley into his image reminded me of my own younger brothers and their escapades.