Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Fantasy Book Review
LS 5603.20/Spring 2010
S. Vardell

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Kinney, Jeff. The Diary of a Wimpy Kid. New York: Amulet Books, 2007.

PLOT SUMMARY:
Middle school student, Greg Heffley chronicles his year in a diary. He is trust into a new school where size is intimidating, especially if you are a "undersized weakling" like Greg Heffley. Kids lives are tough and Greg cannot seem to get a break. He deals with serious middle school social issues and his attempts; to be popular, continually backfire resulting in a long year.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:

Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a realistic depiction of the fear and insecurity felt by kids, all over the world on their first day in a new school. Humour draws young readers in. Kids find Greg's random situations "funny". He lives with his parents, overbearing big bother Rodrick and little brother Manny who can do no wrong. Greg is the quintessential middle child. His character, actions and challenges are relatable. He is stuck between the dopiest unpopular boys, has to wrestle with the kid who made up his own language, cannot get any attention from the girls and ends up with the dreaded "cheese touch" (known as the cooties). The diary is a place he can write things that must go unsaid, when you are a "wimpy" and trying to survive middle school. He torments his "best friend" Rowley by lying and playing cruel tricks. Despite all his attempts "to be somebody" he finds himself on the bottom rung of the social ladder. Greg's contrived efforts for attention backfire. Rowley, on the other hand, gets noticed and makes new friends being who he is. The "good" defeats the conniving and still Greg can not pinpoint the cause of his trouble. The author has created a low fantasy environment for this zany character and readers are with him, laughing, every step of the way.

Author Kinney is responsible for the format and illustration. He bridges the gap between the popular trend of graphic models and appropriate content for kids. His primitive cartoons paired with hand written script contribute to the whimsical story. Mr. Kinney is very clever and as a result creates a character and story that children want to visit again and again. With three more books in the "Wimpy Kid" series combined with the upcoming movie version, Greg, the "Wimpy Kid", has found a permanent place in children's literature.



AWARDS WON AND REVIEW EXCERPTS:
3 Apples Book Award, 2009 Winner Children New York
Borders Original Voices Award, 2007 Winner Young Adult/Independent Reader United States
Buckeye Children's Book Award, 2008 Winner Grades 3-5 Ohio
Children's Choice Book Award, 2008 Finalist Author of the Year United States
Colorado Children's Book Award, 2009 Winner Junior Books Colorado
Cuffies: Children's Booksellers Choose Their Favorite (and not-so-favorite) Books of the Year, 2007 Honorable Mention Hottest Selling Book to Go Out of Stock United States
Cuffies: Children's Booksellers Choose Their Favorite (and not-so-favorite) Books of the Year, 2007 Winner Best Book Title United States
Cuffies: Children's Booksellers Choose Their Favorite (and not-so-favorite) Books of the Year, 2007 Winner Funniest Book United States
Cuffies: Children's Booksellers Choose Their Favorite (and not-so-favorite) Books of the Year, 2008 Winner Favorite Series United States
Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award, 2009 Winner Vermont
Golden Archer Award, 2008-2009 Winner Middle/Junior High Wisconsin
Indian Paintbrush Book Award, 2009 Winner Grades 4-6 Wyoming
Kentucky Bluegrass Award, 2009 Winner Grades 3-5
Kentucky Maine Student Book Award, 2009 Winner Maine
National Parenting Publications Award, 2007 Gold Book Ages 9 & Up United States
North Carolina Children's Book Award, 2009 Winner Junior Book North Carolina
Quill Awards, 2007 Nominee Children's Chapter/Middle Grade United

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, March 1, 2007 (Vol. 75, No. 5))
First volume of a planned three, this edited version of an ongoing online serial records a middle-school everykid’s triumphs and (more often) tribulations through the course of a school year. Largely through his own fault, mishaps seem to plague Greg at every turn, from the minor freak-outs of finding himself permanently seated in class between two pierced stoners and then being saddled with his mom for a substitute teacher, to being forced to wrestle in gym with a weird classmate who has invited him to view his “secret freckle.” Presented in a mix of legible “hand-lettered” text and lots of simple cartoon illustrations with the punch lines often in dialogue balloons, Greg’s escapades, unwavering self-interest and sardonic commentary are a hoot and a half—certain to elicit both gales of giggles and winces of sympathy (not to mention recognition) from young readers. 2007, Amulet/Abrams, 224p, $14.95. Category: Fiction. Ages 9 to 11. © 2007 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Matt Oldenburg (The ALAN Review, Spring/Summer 2007 (Vol. 34, No. 3))
Diary of a Wimpy Kid is immediately described as a “novel in cartoons,” and that it is. Jeff Kinney transforms his popular web comic of the same name, into a great young adult novel. Greg Heffley, the wimpy kid, begins by telling us that by no means is what we are about to read a diary; it is a journal. He gives us insight into an entire year of his life including everything from wrestling class to trick or treating with his little brother, and of course hilarity ensues. This book is definitely meant to tickle the funny bones inside all of us. Themes include friendship, loyalty, and family, which are all relevant young adult topics. This book is great because it takes these themes and gives them a twist of humor that any young reader is sure to enjoy. Category: Loyalty/Family/Humor. YA--Young Adult. 2007, Abrams/Amulet Books, 224 pp., $14.95. Ages young adult.Muncie, IN

CONNECTIONS:
Jeff Kinney Website

Diary of a Wimpy Kid series
Rodrick Rules
The Last Straw
Dog Days


Images Credited to: Time.com, Jeff Kinney's Website  and Barnes & Noble