Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Shout-out to screen-free time in 10th funny installment.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 7 parent reviews
Based on 27 kid reviews
Kids say this book offers a mix of humor and relatable themes, focusing on a technology-free lifestyle and the "good old days," though some readers found it lacking compared to others in the series. While many enjoyed the entertaining illustrations and comedic elements, a few expressed disappointment in the storyline and the representation of female characters.
- humor
- relatable themes
- technology-free life
- mixed reviews
- illustration appeal
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Greg's school is headed to a week of camping at Hardscrabble Farms, and he's determined to get out of it. That is, until things at home start to go awry. Greg's grandpa moves in and takes his room so Greg has to bunk with his baby brother, Manny. Then Greg floods the bathroom while his dad is out and tries to cover it up with a trip to the hardware store with Grandpa -- not realizing until it's too late that Grandpa lost his license and his brother Rodrick didn't fill the car with gas. Oh, and then there's that time he's chased by Girl Scouts in the park and almost turns fugitive. So Greg finally caves and decides his life must get better at camp … and that's where things get much, much worse.
Is It Any Good?
After a few diary entries that don't quite gel, this 10th installment finds its funny bone about halfway through, right about when Greg is chased by the incredibly industrious Girl Scouts. The story is at its absolute best at camp when one mishap piles on top of another to create truly ridiculous situations. Kids will guffaw at the loss of deodorant privileges and when Greg realizes they need to shower in their own sweat. There's a bit of humor for parents, too -- no joke -- such as how Greg's dad reacts to having his father live with them and how Greg's mom keeps tabs on her son.
And there's a moment of reflection for everyone about their screen time. Guess who breaks the rules in the end? Hint: It's not the kids.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about screen-free time. Have you ever tried to ditch the gadgets for a few days or a week? How did it go? How does this work out for Greg's mom?
What do you think of this Wimpy Kid installment? What makes the books funny? If Greg weren't a stick figure, would you want someone like that to be your friend? Why, or why not?
How does the Silas Scratch rumor get started? Why? Why does Greg keep it going when he knows the truth?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Jeff Kinney
- Genre : Humor
- Topics : Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Animals
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Amulet Books
- Publication date : November 3, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 224
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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