Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth

For kids nearing puberty, this could be a good starting point for talking about what they're going through in a humorous way. Also, at one point Greg talks about the fact that his brother Rodrick didn't get a job because he posted less-than-professional pictures of himself online. Could provide a good entry point into Common Sense Media's Internet Safety Advice.

Greg is pretty irresponsible most of the time -- he lets his neighbor's plants die when he forgets to water them and even leaves his cousin on the side of the road with a flat tire when he walks home and forgets to tell anyone. But he's not mean-spirited, and readers learn the lessons he should be learning but never does. Greg's parents are still positive influences on him; his mom goes back to school, so his dad and the kids take on extra chores to help her reach her goal.

It's puberty time for Greg. There's talk of health class permission slips and kids being confused in a class about zygotes, but all details are glossed over except a few mentions (and pictures) of body hair growth and body odor. There's one pretty tame cartoon of a boy who stands at the urinal with his pants all the way down and another of a bare butt getting a spanking. And there's one close-up picture of someone's elbow that teachers misconstrue as a "posterior." Greg hopes to play spin the bottle with girls at a party that he never gets to go to.