A. Bibliographic Data:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: A Novel in Cartoons, by Jeff Kinney, published by Amulet Books in 2007; ISBN: 0810993139
B. Plot Summary:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid is the journal of Greg Heffley, an eighth-grade student who experiences the typical ups and downs of a preteen boy. Greg guides us through his school year, following his adventures with his best friend, Rowley, and his family, including his parents, younger brother Manny, and older brother Rodrick. Greg does his best to fit in at school while trying to decide who he wants to be. He avoids the Cheese Touch, plays video games, celebrates Halloween and Christmas with his family and friends, and works on figuring out how to be popular. Although he doesn’t win Class Clown in the yearbook, the book ends on a hopeful note for next year, leaving readers ready for the next volume.
C. Critical Analysis:
I have been hearing about the Wimpy Kid books for a while, and I had to see what all the fuss is about. The book is very well set-up, with a creative and attractive cover that uses texture to make it look like pages are actually taped to the cover. The illustrations throughout the volume are clear line drawings, done in a style reflecting the age of the narrator and the personalities of the characters. The story is told in entries labeled with days of the week and separated by month. Entries are printed in a handwriting-style font on lined paper, giving the feel of a real journal. The story is told in an authentic way to indicate the narrator’s age and perspective, using dialogue that represents the way that real eighth grade boys would talk and showing the priorities and thought processes that would occur to a boy of this age. These pictures and narrations connect to readers, especially boys, in upper Elementary and Middle school. As an older reader, I did not find the humor as amusing as most children and young adults might. One situation presented also concerned me: Greg finds himself “in a tough situation,” where he does not know what to do. He has done something wrong for which his friend is blamed. His mom, rather than prying, tells him to “try to do the ‘right thing’.” As Greg says, “I decided the right thing to do was to just let Rowley take one for the team this time around” (p. 183). When he tells Rowley the truth about what happened, Rowley is understandably upset. But when Greg’s mother asks if he did the right thing, Greg tells her that he did, and they go out for ice cream as a special treat. Although the truth is quickly revealed to the administrator at school, Greg never clearly realizes that he did not do the right thing. Because of the age group at which this book is aimed, it is important for the author to make clear when the narrator makes bad choices. I would hate to think that young readers of this book might decide that it was okay to do something mean and let someone else take the fall. On the whole, however, Diary of a Wimpy Kid is an entertaining, engaging, and well-designed graphic novel for children and young adults.
D. Review Excerpts:
~ “. . . 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.” – Kirkus Reviews
~ “Kinney has a gift for believable preteen dialogue and narration . . . and the illustrations serve as a hilarious counterpoint to Greg's often deadpan voice. . . . Kinney ably skewers familiar aspects of junior high life, from dealing with the mysteries of what makes someone popular to the trauma of a "wrestling unit" in gym class. His print debut should keep readers in stitches, eagerly anticipating Greg's further adventures.” – Publishers Weekly
~ “At every moment, Greg seems real, and the engrossed reader will even occasionally see the logic in some of his choices. Greatly adding to the humor are Kinney's cartoons, which appear on every page. The simple line drawings perfectly capture archetypes of growing up, such as a preschool-age little brother, out-of-touch teachers, and an assortment of class nerds. Lots of fun throughout.” - Booklist
E. Connections:
~ Have students keep a journal for a certain period of time.
~ Discuss the choices that Greg makes and how to make good decisions.
~ Compare/contrast with other diary-style books for young adults (e.g. Dork Diaries, by Rachel Renee Russell; Max Quigley, by James Roy; Ellie McDoodle, by Ruth McNally Barshaw).
~ Have students predict how Greg’s next school year will go and discuss their thoughts and reasoning.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: A Novel in Cartoons, by Jeff Kinney, published by Amulet Books in 2007; ISBN: 0810993139
B. Plot Summary:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid is the journal of Greg Heffley, an eighth-grade student who experiences the typical ups and downs of a preteen boy. Greg guides us through his school year, following his adventures with his best friend, Rowley, and his family, including his parents, younger brother Manny, and older brother Rodrick. Greg does his best to fit in at school while trying to decide who he wants to be. He avoids the Cheese Touch, plays video games, celebrates Halloween and Christmas with his family and friends, and works on figuring out how to be popular. Although he doesn’t win Class Clown in the yearbook, the book ends on a hopeful note for next year, leaving readers ready for the next volume.
C. Critical Analysis:
I have been hearing about the Wimpy Kid books for a while, and I had to see what all the fuss is about. The book is very well set-up, with a creative and attractive cover that uses texture to make it look like pages are actually taped to the cover. The illustrations throughout the volume are clear line drawings, done in a style reflecting the age of the narrator and the personalities of the characters. The story is told in entries labeled with days of the week and separated by month. Entries are printed in a handwriting-style font on lined paper, giving the feel of a real journal. The story is told in an authentic way to indicate the narrator’s age and perspective, using dialogue that represents the way that real eighth grade boys would talk and showing the priorities and thought processes that would occur to a boy of this age. These pictures and narrations connect to readers, especially boys, in upper Elementary and Middle school. As an older reader, I did not find the humor as amusing as most children and young adults might. One situation presented also concerned me: Greg finds himself “in a tough situation,” where he does not know what to do. He has done something wrong for which his friend is blamed. His mom, rather than prying, tells him to “try to do the ‘right thing’.” As Greg says, “I decided the right thing to do was to just let Rowley take one for the team this time around” (p. 183). When he tells Rowley the truth about what happened, Rowley is understandably upset. But when Greg’s mother asks if he did the right thing, Greg tells her that he did, and they go out for ice cream as a special treat. Although the truth is quickly revealed to the administrator at school, Greg never clearly realizes that he did not do the right thing. Because of the age group at which this book is aimed, it is important for the author to make clear when the narrator makes bad choices. I would hate to think that young readers of this book might decide that it was okay to do something mean and let someone else take the fall. On the whole, however, Diary of a Wimpy Kid is an entertaining, engaging, and well-designed graphic novel for children and young adults.
D. Review Excerpts:
~ “. . . 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.” – Kirkus Reviews
~ “Kinney has a gift for believable preteen dialogue and narration . . . and the illustrations serve as a hilarious counterpoint to Greg's often deadpan voice. . . . Kinney ably skewers familiar aspects of junior high life, from dealing with the mysteries of what makes someone popular to the trauma of a "wrestling unit" in gym class. His print debut should keep readers in stitches, eagerly anticipating Greg's further adventures.” – Publishers Weekly
~ “At every moment, Greg seems real, and the engrossed reader will even occasionally see the logic in some of his choices. Greatly adding to the humor are Kinney's cartoons, which appear on every page. The simple line drawings perfectly capture archetypes of growing up, such as a preschool-age little brother, out-of-touch teachers, and an assortment of class nerds. Lots of fun throughout.” - Booklist
E. Connections:
~ Have students keep a journal for a certain period of time.
~ Discuss the choices that Greg makes and how to make good decisions.
~ Compare/contrast with other diary-style books for young adults (e.g. Dork Diaries, by Rachel Renee Russell; Max Quigley, by James Roy; Ellie McDoodle, by Ruth McNally Barshaw).
~ Have students predict how Greg’s next school year will go and discuss their thoughts and reasoning.
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