About this title: An exciting new series begins. Greg Heffley is thrust into middle school, where undersized weaklings share the hallways with kids who are taller, meaner, and already shaving. The hazards of growing up are uniquely revealed through words and drawings as Greg records them in his diary.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Description: Very good. No dust jacket as issued. (A110_5/9)Book is in good condition. Binding showing light wear on edges. 216 p. Contains: Illustrations. Audience: Children/juvenile. read more
"Greg is back for another year of middle school. He's decided to continue his journaling, although he has a few secrets that aren't even safe enough for the journal to keep.
Greg's family is pretty typical. Mom is a preschool teacher who thinks any problem can be solved by talking it out and drawing pictures. His dad would rather be hiding out in the basement working on his model-size Civil War battle replica than watching chick-flicks with Mom. Greg has two brothers, Rodrick and Manny. Rodrick is in high school and loves to bully Greg. He also knows a secret from the summer that could ruin Greg's life forever. Manny is 3 and a huge tattle tale.
So what else is new! Well, Greg still has the Cheese Touch from the end of last school year and he's got to find someone to give it to. His parents decide to leave he and Rodrick alone for the night and Rodrick throws a huge party. Rodrick locks Greg in the basement but then threatens him to secrecy. Will the parents find out and if so, is there any sort of punishment that could make Rodrick finally leave Greg alone? Welcome to another addition of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid."
"I didn't like it, personally. The cartoons were cute and funny -- some parents may think that means younger kids can read it, but the reading level is definitely around 5th grade and older. Think the age the first HP book was aimed at, and you have the correct reading age for this book.
Why I didn't like it? The protagonist never learned a lesson of any sort whatsoever. Throughout the book, it was hinted at that his elder brother (Rodrick) had a horrific secret held over his head. I was honestly eagerly waiting for Rodrick to let that cat out of the bag, because as odious as Rodrick was depicted to be, the protagonist himself was even more of a jerk.
This main character who we're supposed to sympathize with insults his "friends" constantly, talking about how he thinks they're stupid and he only hangs out with them because they have a hot babysitter or can get him good grades or some other reason. He makes fun of everyone around him, and it's sometimes funny and sometimes insightful, but it's relentlessly cruel. I wanted him to be redeemed in the end, I wanted him to be taught a lesson. But he wasn't -- nothing happened.
I was hoping this would be something along the lines of "Harriet The Spy," but it wasn't. It wasn't funny, intelligent, life-changing or in any way great. The only decent thing about this book is that it apparently opens the door into reading for boys who otherwise showed little interest.
I say buy them the "Great Brain" series. Nothing Tom and his Great Brain can't handle."
By Marie,
The United States Minor Outlying Islands
"I was trying to articulate in my mind what it is I enjoy about these books. Is it because my son loves them? Is it the stick figure drawings? Is it the artful ability to make a "diary" not entirely un-cool for boys? All these things are true and yet non warranted a "4 star" response in my mind then I realized two things #1. I really, really love these book's unapologetic look at a kids world. Greg(the main character) does lots of stupid and even unwittingly mean things and happily the author avoids the pitfall of having greg "learn a lesson" at the end of each. Greg and his brother fight often, Greg's laziness causes hardships at school, Greg is un-gracious (as an understatement) to his best friend and he just keeps being that way. Yet his antics are common/honest and generally harmless enough that he is more recognizable than disdainable.
#2. As a soon to be 39 year old woman I am coming to grips with the fact that in many ways I am an adolescent boy at heart. I laugh too much, have a hard time controlling impulses to blurt things out and almost always see the crudity in language when crudity was not intended. I am what I am. The product of 3 brothers has had a lasting effect. The other day I had a typical text exchange with one of my brothers that involved him asking what to wear to a retirement dinner, me suggesting he "dress like a depressed clown hoping for one last gig" him retorting, "great! can I barrow some of your clothes then?" and me admonishing him, "only when you return the lingerie you already borrowed" This conversation is not so remarkable in and of itself except that when the "conversation" was over (and my delighted giggles stopped) it occurred to me that my brother and I have had exactly TWO....ever...in the time that text messaging has arrived...serious exchanges via this mode of communication. Later at the afore mentioned retirement party my sister, her boyfriend, my brother and I spent a good portion of the evening twisting words of speakers into perverted or ridiculous statements and nearly had to walk out when we couldn't hold it together during a particularly long (and ripe for puns) speech. When I got home, I saw the book on my table and thought. Ah-ha! No wonder I love these books so much! They speak to my inner adolescent boy self."
"Diary of a Wimpy kid: Rodrick Rules is the sequel to Diary of a Wimpy Kid and the second in the series. As I shared in my review of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, that this is one of my son's favorite book series. My son AJ who is 10, was so happy that I read the first book and when I finished it, he lined up book 2 and 3 in the series on my nightstand. What mother could say no to that?!
This book picks up after summer vacation when school starts for Gregory. He continues writing in his diary or as he prefers to call it a journal as diaries are for girls. The book is largely focused on Gregory's escapades with his older brother Rodrick who is in high school and has a band called the "loded diaper". Rodrick knows a secret about Gregory, something that happened over summer vacation that Gregory does not want anyone to know. So, Gregory ends up helping Rodrick with his homework and covering his share of chores to avoid his "secret" from being exposed. His secret is finally exposed but as things turn out it isn't as bad as Gregory thinks it will be as the story gets twisted in translation. Gregory is turned into a hero and Mr. popularity and he never expected that. These books address issues that kids often deal with including teasing, bullying, sibling rivalry and more. If you read it along with your child, you can discuss these issues with them. It has the kind of humor that kids like and adults often do as well."
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