Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down
Halloween-themed 11th book a fun way to discuss kid scares.
Parents say
Based on 4 reviews
Kids say
Based on 15 reviews
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Double Down is the 11th book in the bestselling Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney. With most of the main action leading up to and following Halloween, this installment digs into some common kid fears: spiders crawling into your mouth while you're sleeping, a monster grabbing your ankles. And the main character, Greg, has nightmares after reading scary books in a Goosebumps-like series. He walks the plank toward sharks and is chased by a pitchfork-bearing mob. When Greg decides to make his own horror movie, he uses gummy-worm candy to pretend-kill two people. As usual in this series, Greg often makes the wrong decisions. Here he's caught lying -- with plenty of consequences -- and talks about how the rest of his family lies. Greg's mom remains the rock of the family, here insisting that Greg put down the video games and explore his many talents.
Community Reviews
Do not even bother
Report this review
Absolute garbage, only read if you’re under the age of 5.
Report this review
What's the Story?
In DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: DOUBLE DOWN, Greg can't wait for Halloween. There's all that candy and a Halloween party at a classmate's house -- a party he's determined to get invited to. When Greg finds out the only kids invited are in the middle school band, he talks his parents into buying him a French horn. When he finds out the party is also only for woodwind players, he talks his friend Rowley -- a clarinet player -- into making a two-headed costume. In the meantime, Greg lets the spooky season get to him. Reading a bunch of scary books gives him nightmares, and he takes his brother Rodrick's tall tales way too seriously. Will a monster really reach for Greg's ankles on the basement stairs? Better send his little brother, Manny, down first just to be safe.
Is It Any Good?
With plenty of jokes about scary books, horror movies, and kid fears, this 11th installment of the best-selling series will find its best audience in your favorite easily scared kiddos. They're the ones who avoid the Goosebumps books at all costs, so they'll really appreciate the way author Jeff Kinney lampoons that series in Double Down. And they'll definitely laugh as Greg's mom takes over the once-cool annual Halloween party and turns the games into family-friendly fun. The moments with Rodrick may be a little tougher to handle -- Greg is definitely taken in by every tall tale his brother tells -- but there's a good lesson there: Big siblings know how to get to you. Don't be fooled so easily!
That's not the only lesson here. Parents who may cringe at all of Greg's lying will be happy there are plenty of consequences. And Greg's mom continues to want the best for her kids, insisting that Greg get out there and explore what he's good at. Greg, on the surface, seems to fail at everything, but his wild imagination still comes through. What other kid looks at a pile of gummy worms and thinks "Let's make a horror movie"? When Kinney sticks to his Halloween theme, the story feels fresh and holds together well. When he veers to strange flashbacks about piano lessons and speech class, it feels more like filler. But it's guaranteed this effort is enough to scare up more fans for Book 12.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about scares in Double Down. Greg started having nightmares after reading all those I.M. Spooky books. Do you get scared more easily after reading or watching scary things? Do you get nightmares like Greg?
At the beginning of the book, Greg imagines that he's being secretly followed by a TV crew. When does he like this supposed attention? When does he want his privacy? Would you like your life filmed all the time?
How does this Wimpy Kid book compare with others you've read? Which one is your favorite? Why?
Book Details
- Author: Jeff Kinney
- Illustrator: Jeff Kinney
- Genre: Humor
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters, Holidays, Horses and Farm Animals, Middle School
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Amulet Books
- Publication date: November 1, 2016
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
- Number of pages: 224
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 13, 2017
Our Editors Recommend
-
Classic Goosebumps: The Haunted Mask
Popular series reissue is a fun sleepover read.
-
Dork Diaries 2: Tales from a NOT-SO-Popular Party Girl
Protagonist shows more depth here, but still pretty shallow.
-
House of Robots, Book 1
Mild story a winner for reluctant-reader robot fans.
For kids who love graphic novels and funny stories
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate