Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules

Greg Heffley’s middle-school misadventures continue in this cleverly illustrated sequel, where the spotlight shifts to his mischievous older brother, Rodrick. Packed with textbook teenage drama—talent shows, secrets, and prank wars—the book combines laugh-out-loud humor with relatable family dynamics. Kinney’s cartoon-diary format keeps readers hooked, making this an excellent follow-up for fans hungry for more from the Wimpy Kid universe.

An ultimate classic from my childhood, and one of the best book-to-screen adaptations there is. This book was in my backpack all through my elementary school days, I loved it so so much. As an older brother myself, relating to both Rodrick and Greg, everything in this story feels like it could've happened in my own life. The nuances of older/younger brother relationships is hard to put into words, but Jeff Kinney masterfully captures everything about it, especially brothers in that awkward age when you're "not a little kid anymore!" but you're also not entirely a teenager yet.

When I finished the first Wimpy Kid book I showed it to my daughter. She feigned non interest so I left it lying around and within 2 days she had read it through and was begging for more. Then we had a school book fair and she not only picked up the next two books, but she convinced loads of friends to try it too. The original copy is now on loan to friends, and I just managed to read this one after she had finished it and before she lent that one out too!

So without a doubt this book is popular with its intended audience. It states 9+ on the back of the book, although my daughter is 8. There is no maximum age for this book though, because it is hilarious and works on so many levels.

Adults will read this book and be transported back to show more their school days. Greg, the diary writer (or journal writer as he would prefer it to be called) is very much a typical 12 year old boy. The genius of this book is how the author captures that so perfectly and succinctly. Like any 12 year old boy, he does not waste words in his diary on feelings and touchy feely stuff. He writes as he thinks, and then draws pictures - and these are hilarious.

I found myself literallly laughing out loud at this book (and few books have that effect on me). Anyone who has been a kid will identify with this flawed but lovable boy as he struggles against the victimisation at the hands of his older brother, and all the other curved balls life throws at him.

A wuick but excellent read. Well worth it. show less

I read this book for two reasons: I needed to get my book count up for the reading challenge, and reading We Need To Talk About Kevin immediately after No Country For Old Men was too much darkness, even for me. I picked this up from son's shelf, because I had enjoyed the first book: my son was flabbergasted, and my wife made fun of me, saying she'd give me Peter Pan next. But I am glad I did pick it up, however.

Greg Heffley is a loser: bullied by his elder brother and followed about by his tattletale younger one, ignored by the pretty girls and able to befriend only the unspeakable Rowley, he must be justified in feeling that life is unjust to him. He pours all this righteous indignation into the "journal" (he will kill himself before show more he calls it a "diary"!) his mother forces him to write. The result is HILARIOUS.

Jeff Kinney is a truly comic writer who has mastered the strength of the understatement. Greg's voice throughout the book is a sort of sardonic monotone-one is reminded of those sad-faced clowns who will have you in stitches. The journal is pieced together in little vignettes, like a series of connected jokes-and the punchline is often a cartoon. (I feel that authors should use illustrations more often, even in serious novels. In Vanity Fair, Thackeray's illustrations are as famous as his words.)

Greg, in this book, has grown up a little from his previous outing. His sarcasm has taken on an edge, and the portraits he paints of his Dad and Mom are less than flattering. Yet, they are lovable, all the same.

Jeff Kinney has written a book that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.

Recommended whenever one needs a mood uplift! show less

personal response: I love this series. Truly hilarious. I would have to say it is the best thing I have read in years. Considering the fact that I read at least 1 book a day that is saying a lot. Though story and events are things that I can identify with and remember similar things happening when I was in middle school. I think the best quality is the overall honesty that the author manages to capture. You know, the things everyone wishes they could do, that everyone is thinking, but like to deny that they would ever think that way.
grades 6 - 9

curricular connections:
creative writing: alternative format writing
group reading

This one was definitely better than its predecessor. Like that I read it out loud to my son at bedtime (while he was polishing off book four in the series). The wimpy kid is definitely developing as a character, and he's pretty selfish and objectionable most of the time. His total lack of empathy adds to the fascination that makes it an interesting story. I've read other reviews where people complain about this, but for me the character flaws add depth and make him a more interesting read. They also allow for some in depth discussions with children about opinions on the issues. While the wimpy kid apparently has no insight into his own behaviour, the kids that read him are more than aware of how horrid he is to the others in the stories.

Another of these that I read with my child. I really just don't like the Heffleys, I guess. The whole family is a mess, and I have to wonder why there is a whole slew of content about them. The children are all mean and lazy, constantly bullying each other and their friends, underachieving corner-cutting students... and the parents don't parent at all. I'm reading it with my kid and spending the whole time trying to bite my tongue to keep from lecturing him about how this is the worst example. It's just so damn popular that it's like... you know what, fine, he can experience the cultural zeitgeist of it all, but here's hoping we can pick up Percy Jackson after and wash it away with something better. Geez.