Wimpy Kid and the odd charms of children’s misfit lit

Tales of the misadventures of awkward boys, led by Jeff Kinney’s hapless hero, have an admirable power to win over reluctant readers

When it comes to heroes in children’s literature, I’ve always had a sneaking weakness for fantasy’s chosen ones. I’m gripped by boys or girls with latent magic, outstanding talent, or simply qualities of innate persistence and courage that set them above the rest – those who seem entirely ordinary, but are concealing great prowess unknown to everyone, including themselves. Harry Potter, in short, is right up my alley.

The “middle-school misfit” is the antithesis of my favourite fantasy protagonists; an unlikely real-world sub-hero, concealing no great prowess whatsoever. Often American, invariably male, he tends to the comically-shaped and socially inept. He isn’t an out-and-out geek or an untouchable, but he’s undoubtedly outside the charmed circle of the cool kids, bumbling haplessly along in the midstream. What is it about this funny little oddity that compels readers – especially boys – to devour him in their droves?

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