Diary of a Wimpy Kid

by Jeff Kinney

book data

5,692 ratings, 4.10 average rating, 1,750 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		45%
4		28%
3		18%
2		5%
1		1%

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published

April 1st 2007 by Abrams Books for Young Readers

binding

Hardcover, 224 pages

isbn

0810993139 (isbn13: 9780810993136)

description

Boys don't keep diaries—or do they?

The launch of an exciting and innovatively illustrated new series narrated by an unforgettable kid every family ca...more

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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 7,033)

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05/17/08

Jolie rated it:

bookshelves: read-alouds-with-kids

I got this book based on a quick skim in the store where I saw lots of funny line illustrations and large fonts that mimic handwriting. Although the tone was sarcastic, I thought that it would prove to be a good read-aloud for my 6 year old son, who still needs some enticement into stories. I pictured him, the boy who fancies himself an author and artist, just eating up this book. And actually, he would have--except after one night of reading this out loud I discovered that the content was de...more I got this book based on a quick skim in the store where I saw lots of funny line illustrations and large fonts that mimic handwriting. Although the tone was sarcastic, I thought that it would prove to be a good read-aloud for my 6 year old son, who still needs some enticement into stories. I pictured him, the boy who fancies himself an author and artist, just eating up this book. And actually, he would have--except after one night of reading this out loud I discovered that the content was definitely not age appropriate (nor redeeming in any way, to my mind). I'm willing to cut an author some slack with characters that start out rough but learn valuable life lessons, but not with a character that embodies mediocrity, laziness, and is a smart aleck to boot...

To be fair, I didn't finish the book, and it may very well be a great book to give to a fifth or sixth grader who still struggles with recreational reading. But I did what I almost never have to do--I took the book back to store. I suppose one good thing came from it: Jacob came home from school the next day, sat down with a new notebook, and proceeded to design a cover and several entries for his new "diary" book.

**************** Update **************

Oddly enough, this book review seems to be engendering strong reactions in a number of readers. Thought I'd offer an update to be more specific and put to rest unfounded concerns...

This book is about a middle schooler. It is, despite the easy vocabulary and large font and illustrations and incessant marketing towards younger children, apparently intended for middle school ages and up.

Normally, in my hunt for challenging reading and listening material for my children, I pre-read books or read lots of reviews. My mistake here was in not doing so. However, I stand by my feelings about the main character, and when my children reach middle school, I will still encourage them towards books with redeeming characters. Until then, I guess we'll have to continue reading all the other books about older children that manage to both entertain AND provide a challenging reading/listening experience, develop vocabularies, broaden horizons, and remain, in some way, worthwhile. (less)

Like this review? yes (8 people liked it)

1 comment

03/18/08

Tony rated it:

Read in January, 2008

I read this for a conferance I'm attending about children's literature, and it's easily the worst thing I've come across in the 12 books or so on the reading list.

It features bland art that adds nothing (other than a misguided attempt to catch reluctant readers), boring characters who still managed to garner my dislike, a motionless plot with no character development or point. It was like a particuarly uninspired Saturday morning cartoon stripped of any of the facile enjoyment of ...more

Like this review? yes (5 people liked it)

8 comments

10/04/07

Lori rated it:

bookshelves: books-i-read-with-my-kids

Read in January, 2007

recommends it for: everyone with a child in school

While attending open house this year at my 10 year old sons school, he found this book for sale at the book fair. We thumbed through it, and thought it looked cute, so we purchased it, and read it together.

Its narrated by this middle-school aged kid in the form of a diary, with sketches and doodles included on every page, and basically follows his days from the begining of the school year to the end. He is a bit of a loser, and trys to create a better image for himself through attem...more

Like this review? yes (5 people liked it)

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05/22/08

Joanie rated it:

Read in May, 2008

recommends it for: reluctant boy readers

Okay, so it's funny and offers some insight into the preteen boy psyche. A ton of boys in my 5th grade class are reading it. Graham read it, then Todd did. Todd laughed out loud frequently, and then went back and asked Graham if he thought it was funny, too. Graham responded "yeah", but not with as much enthusiasm as I thought he would. I guess, for Graham, it's just a bit too close to reality to be SO funny. Todd, however, can look back on middle school with some perspective and laugh...more

Like this review? yes (3 people liked it)

1 comment

12/03/07

Kurtis rated it:

bookshelves: childrens-books, graphic-novels, guys-read

Read in November, 2007

recommends it for: reluctant readers

Subtitled “a novel in cartoons,” this is a nice hybrid that tells a story with copious illustrations that fit perfectly with the text. It takes the form of a diary… er, make that a JOURNAL… of a very ordinary kid named Greg Heffley. Greg isn’t an especially good kid or an especially bad kid, but he is (in his notebook) an especially honest one, and that makes him an extremely funny kid. He recounts a year in his life, recounting get-rich quick schemes, school, sports, girls, bullies, a...more Subtitled “a novel in cartoons,” this is a nice hybrid that tells a story with copious illustrations that fit perfectly with the text. It takes the form of a diary… er, make that a JOURNAL… of a very ordinary kid named Greg Heffley. Greg isn’t an especially good kid or an especially bad kid, but he is (in his notebook) an especially honest one, and that makes him an extremely funny kid. He recounts a year in his life, recounting get-rich quick schemes, school, sports, girls, bullies, and a nearly legendary piece of cheese that’s been on the basketball court for a year. Many of his adventures and misadventures involve his best friend Rowley. Though fairly episodic, the climax is a falling out with this buddy, which is quickly and humorously mended with a minimum of hugging and learning.

I’m not quite sure where I’d put Jeff Kinney… he reminds me more of Matt Groening or Bill Watterson than any other middle grade author. At the same time, I found Greg’s voice to be one of the freshest and funniest voices I’ve read in a long time, and everything about him reminded me so much of junior high I wouldn’t have been surprised to look up and see a nun glaring at me for reading during 8th grade religion class. Kinney has a unique talent for capturing both kid culture and kid habits, and the episodic nature of the book serves him well in that aspect, when a year has many short-lived ambitions and trials.

Somehow I’ve gotten through a few paragraphs without saying the most important thing, which is that this book is hilariously funny. I can’t remember the last time anything tickled me so much: movie, t.v. show, book, or comic. I read it Diary of a Wimpy Kid in one sitting, and my biggest challenge to getting through it was gasping for air because I was laughing so hard. At one point* I was honestly wheezing. (My wife picked it up the moment I was done, to see what the fuss is about, and I already hear her giggling from the other room.)

For that, and its lighthearted realism, I think this book must be practically currency in middle grade classrooms. It’s the kind of book that the most reluctant readers will read, and will be shared around classrooms on the sly. If you’re a teacher or a parent, just don’t let on that you approve of it. You’ll ruin it.

* Potential spoiler: the part where the squirrel says “Zoo Wee Mama.”
(less)

Like this review? yes (3 people liked it)

1 comment

07/03/08

Lucy rated it:

it was an awsome and very funny book it got the laughes right out of me

Like this review? yes (3 people liked it)

1 comment

06/01/09

Marie sweeney rated it:

Read in June, 2009

2. I'm reading some really great books right now. Some beautiful, thoughtful books, books that make you think and dream and hope.

Last night I skipped over all those books and choose to go to bed with this one again. I'm lovin it!

1. This is one of the books that has made me say something ridiculous to my son like, "If you don't close that and go to sleep you're going to be grounded from books" (which sets off a stream of laughter as we both realize how lud...more

Like this review? yes (2 people liked it)

4 comments

10/17/08

Lstirl rated it:

A web comic turned novel, Diary of a Wimpy Kid strikes the funny bone of kids everywhere.

This "novel in cartoons" is a hilarious addition to the tween fiction section. Presented as a 'journal' as the word diary is much to girly, chronicles the misadventures of Greg Heffley, middle school student. This was a fast read that was hard to put down. Each page featured at least one, sometimes many, cartoon illustrations that added to the humor of the book. Kids of the targeted ag...more A web comic turned novel, Diary of a Wimpy Kid strikes the funny bone of kids everywhere.

This "novel in cartoons" is a hilarious addition to the tween fiction section. Presented as a 'journal' as the word diary is much to girly, chronicles the misadventures of Greg Heffley, middle school student. This was a fast read that was hard to put down. Each page featured at least one, sometimes many, cartoon illustrations that added to the humor of the book. Kids of the targeted age group will identify with Greg and all of the middle-school issues he has to deal with, like popularity, little siblings, PE and girls. Jeff Kinney deals with these issues with humor, insight and compassion.

This is a great book to get reluctant readers into reading in the novel format. Each page has large, easy to read text interspersed with cartoons, however the book is long enough to tell a fairly complex tale and has a complicated enough vocabulary to keep kids from feeling 'talked down to.' This is definitely a book that will be popular among the tween set.

Publishers Weekly

Kinney's popular Web comic, which began in 2004, makes its way to print as a laugh-out-loud "novel in cartoons," adapted from the series. Middle school student Greg Heffley takes readers through an academic year's worth of drama. Greg's mother forces him to keep a diary ("I know what it says on the cover, but when Mom went out to buy this thing I specifically told her to get one that didn't say 'diary' on it"), and in it he loosely recounts each day's events, interspersed with his comic illustrations. Kinney has a gift for believable preteen dialogue and narration (e.g., "Don't expect me to be all 'Dear Diary' this and 'Dear Diary' that"), and the illustrations serve as a hilarious counterpoint to Greg's often deadpan voice. The hero's utter obliviousness to his friends and family becomes a running joke. For instance, on Halloween, Greg and his best friend, Rowley, take refuge from some high school boys at Greg's grandmother's house; they taunt the bullies, who then T.P. her house. Greg's journal entry reads, "I do feel a little bad, because it looked like it was gonna take a long time to clean up. But on the bright side, Gramma is retired, so she probably didn't have anything planned for today anyway." Kinney ably skewers familiar aspects of junior high life, from dealing with the mysteries of what makes someone popular to the trauma of a "wrestling unit" in gym class. His print debut should keep readers in stitches, eagerly anticipating Greg's further adventures. Ages 8-13. (Apr.)
Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information

I agree with the age range and synopsis. I don't think this review keys into exactly how funny this book is, as it had me and my kids rolling.

VOYA

Even though Greg Heffley would rather play video games with his friend Rowley than write in the journal that his mother gives him, he uses it to record, in pictures and in text, the harrowing and clever ways in which he navigates the middle school social scene. Undersized and skinny, Greg has adventures that center on how he manages to separate himself from the geeks and how he evades bigger bullies by employing quick wit and harebrained ideas. Unfortunately Greg's schemes usually backfire, providing readers with the opportunity to delight in his distress. Picked on by an older brother, embarrassed by his baby brother, and closely monitored by his clever parents, Greg reacts in typical middle school fashion, making him a character with which many readers will be able to identify. Kinney provides readers with a realistic view of middle school life as seen through the eyes of the entertaining but not very bright class clown. Readers can expect lots of middle school humor and exaggeration. Kinney manages to inject enough humor in the simple drawings to make them an integral element in the book. Because Kinney began his Wimpy Kid adventures on a Web site, many middle schoolers already familiar with the character will ensure a ready audience for this print version.

I liked this review better as it showed insight into Greg's character and makes the reader really want to read the book. A good description and evaluation in this review.(less)

Like this review? yes (2 people liked it)

1 comment

05/04/08

Jennifer Wardrip rated it:

bookshelves: personal-read, trt-reviews

Reviewed by Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

If you work with middle grade kids, be sure to check out DIARY OF A WIMPY KID.

Greg Heffley is a 6th-grade weakling trying to make his mark in the middle school world. His family includes a mom, a dad, a heavy metal big brother, and a whiny, tattling little brother. His best friend is Rowley, another odd 6th-grader with overprotective parents and the world-class ability to annoy.

Greg i...more

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01/28/08

Bill rated it:

bookshelves: comics, kids, teen

I know everyone seems to love this book, but it left me with a resounding "meh." Maybe it's because my own middle school experiences were so unpleasant that I have no desire to revisit them, even vicariously, but I think it's mostly because I didn't find the main character to be particularly interesting, or even worth my time. The kid's a little turd who sails through life learning nothing. Protagonists aren't required to be likable, but they should have some noticeable character ar...more

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09/11/08

Cindy rated it:

Read in September, 2008

I have five copies of this in each of my two middle schools and still have a waiting list. I bought another copy and read it before bringing it in to school, not because it needed promotion, but because I needed to know what to recommend to the fans next while they wait for more sequels. I can see why the boys are eating this up. I loved the snarky, self-deprecating humor and the take on middle school. The drawings are delightful. I'm thinking Gantos' Jack Black books might be a good follow up.....more

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01/20/09

Erin rated it:

Read in January, 2009

This book was hilarious. It may be a fun book for a kid in middle school, but I am twenty-four years old and enjoyed it immensely. It's refreshing to read a book like this where the main character is a boy. Most books with a diary style are aimed at girls, and while I find the Princess Diaries to be very entertaining, I find this book to be much more funny. This is a very normal boy who writes his true and simple thoughts about the middle-school world around him. It's the sort of simple hon...more

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

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01/21/09

David rated it:

I seldom give five-star ratings, but I feel the need to balance some of the negative reviews. First of all, this book is intended for slightly older readers--say, 9 and up. Second, anyone looking for profound wisdom will be disappointed. It's just a funny book, a very funny book. I'm not sure I'd go as far as to call is a graphic novel, either. The doodly illustrations enhance the "story" (such as it is), but they don't tell it. Jeff Kinney is an obvious disciple of Matt Groening (not ...more

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09/25/08

Brandi Rae rated it:

bookshelves: juvenile-fiction

Read in September, 2008

I wasn't really sure what to expect from this book, I often feel let down a little by books that have received crazy amounts of positive reviews. Sometimes it's just impossible to live up to the hype.

Greg's mom has decided that it would be a good idea for him to write his feeling and events of his life. He begrudingly goes along with it, making it clear that this is a "JOURNAL and not a diary" and if "she thinks he's going to wirte down his "feelings" in her...more

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06/25/08

Sherrie rated it:

I bought this book for my 9 year old son, who had begged me for it relentlessly for over a month. After i got it, i would hear him giggling and laughing in his room, and when i would peek in, he was always reading this book. So when he was done, i picked it up and started reading it myself.... and it really is funny! The voice of the main character is very authentic - a thing which is hard to find. I wish that people had been writing material like this when i was a preteen.
Edited to add: ...more

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06/02/08

Debbie rated it:

bookshelves: graphic-novel, humor, realistic-fiction, young-adult-lit

Read in June, 2008

recommends it for: humor fans

First book in the Wimpy Kid series.

Greg keeps a journal to record the events of his first year in middle school. He writes about getting put into teh gifted reading group, " I was pretty disappointed to find out I got put in the Gifted group, because that just means a lot of extra work."

Greg wonders about popularity and grades as he tries to figure out who he wants to be. His family doesn't help--his older brother is a creep and his younger brother tattles c...more

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04/29/08

Tuckerm rated it:

Read in May, 2008

recommended to Tuckerm by: Todd Ford
recommends it for: 5th though 6th graders

“Diary for a Wimpy Kid” is a worthless fictional book written by Jeff Kinney. Another interesting thing about this book is that it is some what of a graphic novel. Well, this novel or “Diary” is about the most pathetic kid ever, Greg Heffley. Greg goes to a middle school were more than half the kids in his school have gone through the big “P” (puberty) twice. Because of this, he finds himself constantly getting picked on because of his puny muscles, hairless pits, and twiggy figure. ...more

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

3 comments

04/01/08

Patrick rated it:

bookshelves: 2008

This was really funny, I don't know if it's supposed to be a kids' book or just meant to look like one. A fake journal of an awkward boy's first year of middle-school and his trials and tribulations, hand-written and complete with drawings. The voice is kind of like a less-savvy Nick Twisp from C.D. Payne's "Youth in Revolt." An example of a typical mini-storyline: the kid talks about how the only basketball hoop in his school's playground with a net has had a rotten piece of cheese...more

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01/19/09

zan rated it:

Read in January, 2009

My cousin's nine-year-old son recommended this book to me, and so when my flight was delayed for an hour, I picked up a copy and read it in one sitting. And laughed out loud many, many times. I think I'll go to my cousin's nine-year-old son for book recommendations from now on.

Like this review? yes (2 people liked it)

3 comments

02/15/09

Bookgirl rated it:

Read in February, 2009

I LOVED Diary of a Wimpy Kid. It was so hallarious, I almost fell of my bed. It didn't take me long to read, because it has so many pictures. I loved the plot, and how Greg thought about things. Rowley, his friend, didn't seem like someone Greg would want to be friends with though....

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"If there's one thing I learned from Rodrick, it's to set people's expectations real low so you end up surprising them by practically doing nothing at all." More quotes...