 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
- By Jeff Kinney
- Genre: Humor
Common Sense Media says
More funny antics mixed with bad and clueless behavior.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that while there is none of the usual kind of objectionable content, every character, both adult and child, behaves badly, and often dishonestly. Humor centers around siblings tormenting each other and friends manipulating, lying to, and stealing from one another. Plus kids hand out nasty Valentine cards, parents lie to their children and steal their snacks, students avoid learning, and teachers behave unfairly and unreasonably.
What's the story?
Like its predecessors, there's no real story here. Greg torments and is tormented by his siblings, schemes to avoid work and learning, tries vainly to impress a girl, manipulates his one friend, and is treated unfairly by parents and teachers.
Is it any good?
There are two ways to look at this story and, indeed, the whole series. One is that it's a humorous, short, easy-to-read book that appeals to reluctant readers, and there's no doubt that all of that is true. It's the illustrations that make it particularly funny -- simple b&w cartoons that are so brilliantly done that they convey both the characters as well as Greg the narrator's attitude towards them, and yet somehow still remain believable as a kid's drawings. Along with that comes text that always ensures that the reader knows more than Greg and can have the uh-oh pleasure of anticipating what is going to go wrong.
The other way to look at it is that the story is basically The Three Stooges without the nasty violence, or perhaps an extended version of America's Funniest Home Videos. Every single character, major or minor, adult or child (including, especially, the narrator, Greg), is pretty clueless, often devious and mean as well, and much of the humor derives from watching them get humiliated. There's no real plot, no character growth, no lessons, just the dubious pleasure of feeling superior to these characters. So if your kids like it, fine; it probably does no harm. But as to the argument that we need books like this to entice reluctant readers to read, one can hope that J. K. Rowling has forever dispelled that notion.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about why we find cluelessness and bad
behavior funny. Why, for instance, is the situation depicted on the
cover, which anyone
would find completely humiliating if it happened to them, funny when it
happens to someone else?Why are these books so popular when none of
the characters are anyone you would want to know in real life? Is it
realistic?Have things like this ever happened to you? Are there times
when you have thought like Greg?
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- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Lighten Up!
I haven't read this one yet, but I've read others, and as a children's librarian and mom, I must say that this series has reached a level of reader that often couldn't (or wouldn't) tackle Harry Potter, or who weren't into fantasy. Greg, the main character, is so self-centered and clueless that his first-person narration is hilarious. Kids are smart enough to realize that he is not a role model. They can also appreciate exxageration. ALL the things that happen--unfair teachers, sneaky parents--may not realistically happen to someone, but that's why this is FICTION.
As a parent, you might want to discuss some of the issues in the "Parents need to know..." section, but don't spoil your kids' enjoyment of these books by making a moral lesson out of them. They're FUNNY! Read one and try not to laugh.
Aso, as mentioned, the pictures are brilliant, and the diary-and-cartoon format has already inspired lots of kids to try their hands at authorship.
At a time when we are complaining that there aren't enough boys reading, and too many kids are addicted to video games, let's be glad there are some books they are really excited to read. And get ready to give them another book when they're done.
I think Common Sense Media does a great job of reviewing kids media, but they may have missed how excited kids are about these books!
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AGE
there is a quick reference in the book to Spin the Bottle.
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AGE
YEAH!!!!!!
I LOVE THESE BOOOOOOOOOKS!!!! THEY ARE SOOOOO FUNNY AND MY SISTER READS THEM TOOO!!! THEY'RE JUST GREAT BOOKS!!!
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Kid, 11 years old
August 13, 2010
AGE
such language aint good for younger children
but rodrick tell such language in front his small brother .and he cant be a better role model.
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Kid, 12 years old
August 10, 2010
AGE
even though it could mildly offend christians, its good
its pretty good. but be warned, you could be offended if your a christian because in one part rodrick tries to skip church. also, greg is a bad role model (as usual)
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Kid, 9 years old
November 16, 2010
AGE
Funniest book I have ever read
This book is awesome! One of the funniest parts of the book was when Greg's mom banned bad words in the house (all of them are completely censored) and Greg and Rodrick came up with code words for the banned words. (Example: Spooky Stork!) Sometimes Greg forgets to switch back when he gets to school and ends up calling someone a Raspberry Plastic Tickle Bear. XD
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AGE
My Favorite Book of The Series
If your child is used to books that don't have small bad words like "stupid", "moron","idiot", and of course "wimp", this would not be a good book to read head on.
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| Author: | Jeff Kinney |
| Illustrator: | Jeff Kinney |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Humor |
| Publisher: | Amulet Books |
| Publication date: | January 13, 2009 |
| Number of pages: | 224 |
| Hardcover price: | $12.95 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 9 - 12 |
| Read aloud: | 8 |
| Read alone: | 9 |
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