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California Diaries #10
Ducky: Diary 2
Working extremely hard to be the best friend possible to the people he cares about, Ducky finds an upsetting challenge in Alex, who suffers from depression and who Ducky finds virtually unreachable. Original.
117 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1998
About the author
Ann M. Martin
1,146 books3,151 followersAnn Matthews Martin was born on August 12, 1955. She grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, with her parents and her younger sister, Jane. After graduating from Smith College, Ann became a teacher and then an editor of children's books. She's now a full-time writer.
Ann gets the ideas for her books from many different places. Some are based on personal experiences, while others are based on childhood memories and feelings. Many are written about contemporary problems or events. All of Ann's characters, even the members of the Baby-sitters Club, are made up. But many of her characters are based on real people. Sometimes Ann names her characters after people she knows, and other times she simply chooses names that she likes.
Ann has always enjoyed writing. Even before she was old enough to write, she would dictate stories to her mother to write down for her. Some of her favorite authors at that time were Lewis Carroll, P. L. Travers, Hugh Lofting, Astrid Lindgren, and Roald Dahl. They inspired her to become a writer herself.
Since ending the BSC series in 2000, Ann’s writing has concentrated on single novels, many of which are set in the 1960s.
After living in New York City for many years, Ann moved to the Hudson Valley in upstate New York where she now lives with her dog, Sadie, and her cats, Gussie, Willy and Woody. Her hobbies are reading, sewing, and needlework. Her favorite thing to do is to make clothes for children.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/annmma...
Ann gets the ideas for her books from many different places. Some are based on personal experiences, while others are based on childhood memories and feelings. Many are written about contemporary problems or events. All of Ann's characters, even the members of the Baby-sitters Club, are made up. But many of her characters are based on real people. Sometimes Ann names her characters after people she knows, and other times she simply chooses names that she likes.
Ann has always enjoyed writing. Even before she was old enough to write, she would dictate stories to her mother to write down for her. Some of her favorite authors at that time were Lewis Carroll, P. L. Travers, Hugh Lofting, Astrid Lindgren, and Roald Dahl. They inspired her to become a writer herself.
Since ending the BSC series in 2000, Ann’s writing has concentrated on single novels, many of which are set in the 1960s.
After living in New York City for many years, Ann moved to the Hudson Valley in upstate New York where she now lives with her dog, Sadie, and her cats, Gussie, Willy and Woody. Her hobbies are reading, sewing, and needlework. Her favorite thing to do is to make clothes for children.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/annmma...
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 19, 2025
I wasn't that crazy about the first Ducky book but this one more than made up for it. Ducky is trying so hard to reach his best friend Alex who's spiraling with depression. Though hinted at it's never actually said he attempted suicide at the end of the last book. Now he's skipping school staying home lots and Ducky finds bottles of booze in his room. To add to his problems his other friend Jay is still hounding him about dating Leanne and his parents have returned home and want to do some family bonding at Disneyland of all places all before they announce they are not staying home for Christmas but are going back to Ghana leaving their kids yet again. No wonder Ducky feels so torn and lost his parents don't even want to be with their kids. As these books do the ending is very dramatic. Ducky goes to see Alex, finds him locked in the garage with the car running, no doubt about it in this book is there? He manages to get him out before too much damage is done. Alex's mother begins to look into treatment for him Ducky is resigned to Christmas with just his brother. This one was a whirlwind of emotions. You just felt so bad for Ducky, trying to help everyone but no one seemed to notice or care about him. I'm still surprised these are targeted at a BSC audience since it seems like these kids are mid teens, although Ducky is 16 but wow these short books sure do pack a powerful punch.
July 5, 2017
The thing that always made me sad about this particular series is that we never got far enough to find out definitively that Ducky is gay. I mean, it's pretty obvious and constantly hinted at, but it was never confirmed. I always thought it would be amazing to have an out (or at least known) queer character in the extended BSC universe, but it never happened. So, alas, we will just always have to take what we were given!
This one was a bit of a let down though, as much as I adore the character (hence the four star rating). It was sort of a rehash of his first book, and revolved primarily around Alex's depression and eventual suicide attempt. Which is pretty much the same as diary one, although this one did introduce us to the McCrae parents.
Who, honestly, may be the worst parents in this weird universe and that really says something because Sharon Shafer-Spier exists. They just abandoned their 16 year old with his college aged brother to go off to another country and just think that's acceptable.
The hell, McCrae parentals?
This one was a bit of a let down though, as much as I adore the character (hence the four star rating). It was sort of a rehash of his first book, and revolved primarily around Alex's depression and eventual suicide attempt. Which is pretty much the same as diary one, although this one did introduce us to the McCrae parents.
Who, honestly, may be the worst parents in this weird universe and that really says something because Sharon Shafer-Spier exists. They just abandoned their 16 year old with his college aged brother to go off to another country and just think that's acceptable.
The hell, McCrae parentals?
May 20, 2020
I found these all as free e-books so I have to finish what I started. There are 5 more! I know I read at -least some of them in early high school when they first came out... they are over wrought but addictive and easy reads. I don't understand though why the girls stay 13 and in 8th grade just like the Babysitter's club. It makes no sense! In the first several diaries they went through an entire school year and Dawn's stepmom had a baby, so why are they still 13 the next fall. They should be 14 and Freshmen now! In the Babysitter's Club I sort of get it, it felt like a time warp they were in. But in this series it is all about the girls growing up and having more adult experiences, so why are they still 13?
May 6, 2025
I feel like the way this book was going to go was highly telegraphed from the beginning, but I was still kept in suspense somehow? I stayed in an airport longer than I needed to just to see how everything would resolve. Which is saying a lot.
I do love Ducky as a character. Despite being a bit of a doormat, he's such a good, kind, person who is genuinely supportive of his friends and family and who remains very true to himself even when the people he loves make it difficult.
I do love Ducky as a character. Despite being a bit of a doormat, he's such a good, kind, person who is genuinely supportive of his friends and family and who remains very true to himself even when the people he loves make it difficult.
January 12, 2024
This one's really good. Alex's mental health crisis comes to a tipping point, and Ducky feels the pressure of being the main form of support. It's a LOT for a 16 year old to handle.
TW: suicidal ideation and attempt, depression
TW: suicidal ideation and attempt, depression
March 19, 2020
This was difficult to read as it dealt with depression and suicide. I thought it dealt with it really well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2022
3.5 stars
October 10, 2023
As much as I ♥ Ducky, this book is kind of a drag because it's allll about Alex and how depressed and withdrawn he is.
February 16, 2025
Ducky’s diaries have always been my least favorite, but his storyline with Alex is super important (though some of his thoughts are more harmful than helpful)
February 5, 2018
This is a bleak one.
To say one of the California Diaries characters has the most depressing story isn’t really fair, because they all have some serious issues going on. But Ducky, and his depressed, suicidal best friend, is definitely up there. Watching Ducky’s attempts to help Alex, all while being so confused and helpless about how to understand him and sympathize with his situation, is so relatable and frustrating; as someone who has seen both sides of this situation, I totally believed Ducky’s confusion and irritation, while also knowing that, no matter how hard he tries, his words aren’t going to reach Alex. I liked how the book tracked his growing dismay and thoughts of giving up on his friend, and the book’s resolution (though it’s almost too messy to be called a resolution) is a nice way of closing up this segment of his life while still leaving the door open for plenty more emotional turmoil.
Writing about depression and suicidal thoughts, especially from the perspective of an outsider, can easily go the way of oversimplification or cheap melodrama, but this book never takes that route. It’s a very careful, tactful approach to the subject, and I sympathized with Ducky every step of the way.
3.25 stars.
(Although, SHAME on Ducky for thinking it’s not fun to go to Disneyland as an adult, or weird to go with your parents: that is the DEFINITION of fun.)
To say one of the California Diaries characters has the most depressing story isn’t really fair, because they all have some serious issues going on. But Ducky, and his depressed, suicidal best friend, is definitely up there. Watching Ducky’s attempts to help Alex, all while being so confused and helpless about how to understand him and sympathize with his situation, is so relatable and frustrating; as someone who has seen both sides of this situation, I totally believed Ducky’s confusion and irritation, while also knowing that, no matter how hard he tries, his words aren’t going to reach Alex. I liked how the book tracked his growing dismay and thoughts of giving up on his friend, and the book’s resolution (though it’s almost too messy to be called a resolution) is a nice way of closing up this segment of his life while still leaving the door open for plenty more emotional turmoil.
Writing about depression and suicidal thoughts, especially from the perspective of an outsider, can easily go the way of oversimplification or cheap melodrama, but this book never takes that route. It’s a very careful, tactful approach to the subject, and I sympathized with Ducky every step of the way.
3.25 stars.
(Although, SHAME on Ducky for thinking it’s not fun to go to Disneyland as an adult, or weird to go with your parents: that is the DEFINITION of fun.)
July 30, 2009
This was a good book.
This book is about a boy named Ducky (Real name Christopher) Ducky's best friend Alex is depressed so Ducky is trying to help him but Alex refuses and gets made at Ducky. During this book Ducky is also trying to figure out who he is. We also hear about this friends Sunny, Dawn, Amalia, and Maggie.
This book is about a boy named Ducky (Real name Christopher) Ducky's best friend Alex is depressed so Ducky is trying to help him but Alex refuses and gets made at Ducky. During this book Ducky is also trying to figure out who he is. We also hear about this friends Sunny, Dawn, Amalia, and Maggie.
January 9, 2026
Rereading this whole series as a guilty pleasure thing - I think more modern books sometimes put in gay characters to check a box, and it can feel forced, but I have to say, I really feel like Alex is gay, and possibly even in love with Ducky. Just throwing that out there! Still a five-star read for me, for sure!
February 25, 2017
I really enjoyed this whole series of books. (I'm a sucker for books written as diaries).
July 23, 2011
I am so glad there is finally some resolution in the Alex situation. And frustrated that no adults seemed to take action on their own. And who thought Ducky's handwriting was a good idea?
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews