Book Review: Diary of a Wimpy Kid

It says it right there on the front: BAM! “The #1 New York Times Bestseller.” Well! That’s quite the endorsement. I’m like a lemming when it comes to following the purchasing habits of the masses, so I was literally unable to resist buying Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid (which is on the NYTimes Children's Series best seller list). Before long, I’ll own every #1 NYTimes Bestseller ever . . .

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is impressive right off the bat. I really like the concept: a journal, in both words and cartoons, kept by 7th-grader Greg Heffley. It covers a full school year, hitting a bunch of mini-stories along the way: Halloween, the school play, Christmas, a wrestling unit in P.E., writing the comic for the school newspaper, etc. There isn’t too much of a plot, but it doesn’t really matter because the writing and pictures are HILARIOUS. I’m actually a little disappointed with myself for not picking this up earlier, but whatever!

I don’t know where to start; Fregley’s face, which cracks me up literally every time I see it, or the form letter Greg made for his Christmas cards (“I love the way the     PANTS    looks on my   LEGS    ! All my friends will be so jealous that I have my very own     PANTS       .”), or the song in the school play where Greg just stops singing and everyone else does too . . .

But there’s a saying by one of my idols, author E. B. White, that goes like this: “Analyzing humor is like dissecting a frog. Few people are interested and the frog dies of it.” With that in mind, I’m going to solemnly resolve NOT to tell you any more about why Diary of a Wimpy Kid is so funny. I’m just going to tell you to go out and get a copy — and don’t drink milk while you read it. (And if you want a preview, just check out this online version of the book — which is how the series first started.)

If you need some more encouragement, though, here’s a cool video of actress Sammi Hanratty talking about the book. See how much she likes it? That could be you!

I was really pleased to hear that a movie is being made, and that Jeff Kinney’s appearance at the NY Comic Con drew a huge crowd — this series deserves a lot of recognition, and I definitely plan to pick up the next two books in the series, Rodrick Rules and The Last Straw. I also hear there’s another entry in the series coming out in fall of 2009, so it looks like I’ll be giggling uncontrollably at Greg’s antics for a while yet. Sweet!

P.S. If you like this series, you’ll love the classic comic strip Calvin and Hobbes. Bug your parents until they buy a C&H book for you.

Till next time, Splotters!

— Jack, STACKS Staffer

Comments

[Comment #1]

Dairy of a wimpy kid com on oh please give me a breake. I think that book is sooo overrated. You see my brother read those books; I read the first 2 minutes of it and almost threw it in the trash. I really think those books are stupid and I could be a very good critic one day

[Comment #2]

I think it was a very funny book, actually the whole series was funny! But I don't think it would be a very good book to do a book project on. Well, it depends.

[Comment #3]

i personally think that this book was immature and pretty much horrible but im known to have a separate opinion.

[Comment #4]

i love your book,s and thay are funny love, karleigh8

[Comment #5]

Diary of a Wimpy Kid rocks! It's hilarious!!!

[Comment #6]

Some things in the book are stupid but most of it is really funny.

[Comment #7]

I like the 1st and 3rd book of diary of a wimpy kid because it is funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Comment #8]

i have read every single book in the series and i am also pleased to hear that a movie is coming out.

[Comment #9]

i think a movie would be cool but the books were sorta stupid

[Comment #10]

I think that Diary of a Wimpy kid is a great book. All of these reviews depend on what the writer is like. Clearly some people don't have a sense of humor...

[Comment #11]

i love diary of a wimpy kid books because there so funny and intresting

[Comment #12]

i love diary of a wimpy kid books soooo funny

[Comment #13]

thes books are sooooo funny

[Comment #14]

diary of a wimpy kid is so funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!OMG

[Comment #15]

I havent read the book yet but everyone sas it's awesome so i'm getting the book next week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Comment #16]

this book is awsome and im cyced to hear theres gonna be a new one in fall

[Comment #17]

I THINK THE AUTHOR DID A EXELLENT JOB I EVEN MADE A FAN CLUB FOR IT ON THIS ONLINE CHAT THING I LUV DIARY OF A WIMPY KID I MEEN LUV IT!!!!!!!!!! EVERY BODY IN MY FIFTH GRADE CLASS LOVES THE BOOK TO ITZ MOST POPULAR !!! FROM ..YA GURL PRETTY ZARI

[Comment #18]

These books are AWSOME. Jeff Kinney did a great job.

[Comment #19]

I read the first one and it was funny but I didn't read the second and third. I have the Do it yourself book and I put alot of funny stuff in it too.

[Comment #20]

I think the second and third are the best

[Comment #21]

i got this book at my school book fair and couldnt put it down! It's hilarious!

[Comment #22]

I've read all the books so far and I think every one of them are funny.I laughed so hard over the first one I cried!

[Comment #23]

diarynof a wimpy kid Rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Comment #24]

dairy of a wimpy kid is my the best i read all the books its so funny

[Comment #25]

i only read those books because they are worth a lot of points and over half of it is pics....lol :)