Diary of a Wimpy Kid

The series book I decided to read is Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney. This book was very popular with students my age when I was growing up, but for some reason I never chose to read them when they came out. I figured I owe it to my younger self to give it a shot and see what it’s all about. I started with book number one and I’ve really enjoyed it so far. It’s written in an extremely kid-friendly way which makes the book more approachable, as well as it includes pictures in comic book style that make for a funny read. I think a student who isn’t a huge bookworm would be able to pick this book up and feel like they would enjoy reading it.

The story is about a student named Greg Heffley, who has just started middle school. He is a little intimidated by the amount of scary, older students, and he’s nervous about his first year. He is an awkward kid and doesn’t quite fit in. This is something I like about the book because there are so many students who can relate to him, making their own fears and problems seem more “normal” and relatable. Greg shares his experiences in the form of his diary, which opens a door to his inner dialogue. Another aspect of the story that kids can relate to has to do with the people in his life. Greg’s best friend is named Rowley, and they start the year off as a team. This idea is comforting for Greg because he won’t have to face middle school alone. It turns out that Rowley starts to gain popularity, while Greg remains an outcast. This is a scenario that plays out in the lives of middle schoolers everyday. Teenage years involve a lot of growing and changing, including your friends. When students read this book before middle school, they will be able to expect and relate to the things that happen to Greg and Rowley. Greg also comes from a family with a mom, a dad, and two brothers. The family experiences everyday conflicts that may seem dramatic and overwhelming to middle schoolers, but they can read this story and realize that every family has it’s issues.