Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that main character Greg is a kid who usually doesn't do the right thing the first time around. His cluelessness about what would keep him out of trouble and why parents, teachers, and friends are upset with him is part of the book's humor, which leads the reader to any lesson Greg should be learning. Parents will appreciate that Rowley's dad looks up video games on a parent Web site to see if they have too much violence. Also, you can tell that Greg's mom is working hard to raise respectful sons. When a bikini picture from her oldest son Rodrick's heavy metal magazine ends up in her youngest son's hands for show-and-tell, she makes Rodrick apologize to all women on paper. Parents will also be thrilled to know that despite the fact that the book is written in less-formal journal style with fun cartoons, everything is spelled correctly (i.e., no texting slang in sight!).
Families can talk about Greg's journal. Would you or have you ever kept a journal? Would you include art and humor in your journal? How would yours be unique? Also, what do you think of Greg's friendship with Rowley? Is he a good friend to him? Have you had friendships like that? What would make Greg a better friend?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Carrie R. Wheadon
Begun in 2004 by a game developer as comics on the site www.funbrain.com, this "novel in cartoons" translates really well to book form. It reads like little episodes in clueless middle schooler Greg Heffley's life, with a great sense of humor throughout. Many kids have been there before, so they'll laugh heartily at Greg's mishaps.
Greg's grand schemes -- to become popular (running for treasurer, writing the comic for the school newspaper), get the most candy on Halloween, make the biggest snowman on record, or build a robot in Independent Study that won't repeat swear words -- are all destined for failure. The reader knows where the flaws are in Greg's half-baked plans, as well as the lesson he doesn't quite get in the end.
And with a contagious "cheese touch" that terrorizes the student body -- sounds worse than your average cooties -- how could this book not draw in even the most reluctant of kid readers? It's easy to see why DIARY OF A WIMPY KID is a bestseller. Maybe it's also encouraging kids to start their own journals and diaries. Writing down your thoughts on actual paper may be old-school in the Facebook age, sure, but it still has many benefits -- including privacy.
From The Book
Thursday
Well, I found out today that the kind of wrestling Mr. Underwood is teaching is COMPLETELY different from the kind they do on TV.
First of all, we have to wear these things called "singlets," which look like those bathing suits they used to wear in the 1800s.
And second of all, there are no pile drivers or hitting people over the heads with chairs or anything like that.
There's not even a ring with ropes around it. It's just basically a sweaty mat that smells like it's never been washed before.
Plot Summary:
Greg Heffley gets a journal from his mom ("a JOURNAL, not a diary") and records a middle school year's worth of crazy kid schemes, brushes with bullies, bad units in gym class, bids for student government, school play humiliation, and more.
Related Books:
More School Humor:
Donuthead by Sue Stauffacher
Donutheart by Sue Stauffacher
Nicholas by René Goscinny
Web Site:
www.funbrain.com
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Sexual ContentBoys notice girls at school. Greg's older brother gets in trouble for letting their baby brother bring a magazine picture of a girl in a bikini to show-and-tell. His mom makes him apologize to all women on paper. |
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ViolenceGreg draws pictures of kids getting pushed around by bullies at school. Teens chase him in a truck and make Rowley eat something disgusting. Greg breaks Rowley's hand in a dangerous stunt. |
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LanguageKids get in trouble in Independent Study for writing down all the swear words they know -- but you don't see any of the words, and it's for a pretty innocent reason. "Jerk," "morons," and "fart" are the strongest words used in the cartoons. Greg tries to listen to his brother's Parent Advisory-labeled music and gets caught. |
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Social BehaviorA big part of the book's humor is Greg's cluelessness about what would have kept him out of trouble and why his parents, teachers, and friends are upset with him. Readers get this message in the humor. Greg mistreats his underdog friend Rowley more than a few times, but this comes back to haunt him. Greg's parents try hard to lead him in the right direction; his mom is especially formidable in a few situations. Rowley's dad looks up video games on a parent Web site to see if they have too much violence. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoIn an anti-smoking poster contest at school, Greg loses to a kid who he says smokes at least a pack of cigarettes a day. |
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