Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Schultz
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Greg hilariously searches for dance date in 7th book.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 5 parent reviews
Based on 35 kid reviews
Kids say this installment revolves around Greg's humorous yet often awkward quest to secure a date for the Valentine's Day dance, highlighting his interactions with friends and a love interest named Abigail. While many find it entertaining and consistent with the series' charm, some believe it lacks depth and convey inappropriate messages about dating and relationships.
- funny situations
- relatable themes
- mixed reviews
- focus on dating
- children's humor
- awkward interactions
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In the seventh volume in Jeff Kinney's mega-popular series, DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: THE THIRD WHEEL, central character Greg Heffley describes his formative years -- even reaching back to his "memories" of life in the womb. Through journal entries and Kinney's trademark pen-and-ink illustrations, Greg also recounts a school controversy about toilet paper, a "Mad Pantser" who pulls down guys' pants at the most embarrassing moments, his deadbeat uncle, and his struggle to get a date for the school dance. As in the other Wimpy Kid books, Greg makes dozens of mortifying errors in judgment, and hilarity ensues.
Is It Any Good?
Jeff Kinney's capacity to embarrass his character, Greg Heffley, and amuse his readers seems to know no bounds. Like the other volumes in the Wimpy Kid series, this book is full of mostly tame, middle-school-type humiliation and laughs. Kinney's memorable illustrations are as dynamic as they are funny, and as always, they tell as much of the story as the narrative does. Wimpy Kid books have typically been popular with kids even as young as 7 or 8; however, as this particular installment focuses primarily on middle school life and the big dance (as opposed to family life), some of the youngest Wimpy Kid readers might not be as excited about this book as they were about some of the others.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about embarrassing moments. Have you ever been embarrassed at school? What happened? What did you learn from it?
How does Book 7 compare with the other Wimpy Kid books?
What aspects of Greg's middle school experience seem realistic to you, and what is exaggerated?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Jeff Kinney
- Genre : Humor
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Abrams
- Publication date : November 13, 2012
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 224
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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