Dork Diaries 1: Tales from a NOT-SO-Fabulous Life

Book review by Kristen Breck, Common Sense Media
Dork Diaries 1: Tales from a NOT-SO-Fabulous Life Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 9+

First in diary series thick with materialism, thin on plot.

Rachel Renee Russell Contemporary Fiction 2009
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Parents say

age 12+

Based on 48 reviews

Kids say

age 10+

Based on 204 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this Wimpy Kid-like book is filled with references to pop culture, including fashion labels and designers, celebrities, TV shows, food products, makeup, and magazines. While some side characters prove to be good friends, the main character, Nikki, is fairly shallow, dramatic, and self-centered. The blend of short text with illustrations may make this book appealing to reluctant readers. Parents could use it to talk about popularity and materialism with their kids.

Community Reviews

Jennifer H.
Jennifer H. Adult
January 31, 2021
age 9+

this series set our whole family back

My 8 year old discovered this series through a library recommendation bundle, probably because I mentioned she likes graphic novels and Babysitters Club. My daughter LOVED these books and gobbled them up over a couple of months, reading and re-reading them. I wasn't paying close enough attention to the content but I didn't have a good feeling about them. Then I noticed my daughter and her younger brother using so much more rude language, talking back, and then my daughter got in trouble at school for name-calling with friends. Finally one day she got mad at me and told me I was BRAIN DEAD. I stopped her in her tracks and asked her why she thought it was ok to talk to me like that. She went to her bookcase and grabbed the first Dork Diaries book and that was literally the first line in the book, the narrator calling her mother brain dead. Then I looked deeper and no more of those books are coming into our house. I know the purpose of a diary can be to vent and express negative emotions with words you would not necessarily use out loud. I don't think 3rd, 4th graders are sophisticated enough to tell the difference. Now I have to back track with my kids about respect, materialism, kindness, and appropriate language and fight against the image of cool tweeny Nikki that my daughter latched on to. I have learned my lesson about not previewing a series like this for my kids.

This title has:

Too much consumerism
2 people found this helpful.
BriaWatson96
BriaWatson96 Adult
June 28, 2022
age 10+

Y'all forgotten your youth. X'D

All the parents that are saying that this book series is "bad" or "detrimental to a girls' self esteem" clearly has forgotten their youth. I'm 26 years old and I literally adore this book series. I enjoy this series because I can relate more to the main character, Nikki. I've never had healthy relationships growing up so I saw myself in Nikki. And she is actively trying to be "popular" while navigating her life as a teenage girl. For me, I think this book is absolutely PERFECT for those "dorky girls" in life and need to just be themselves. That's the message in all these books. She is just going through everything a teen does.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 48 parent reviews

What's the Story?

When Nikki Maxwell starts eighth grade at a new school, her mother gives her a diary, Nikki would rather have a new iPhone so she can impress her schoolmates, but instead, she begins to chronicle her life through words and drawings. Readers learn about Nikki's irritating little sister, her crush on Brandon, her friends Chloe and Zoey, the popular mean girl, MacKenzie, and her tattoo art project for the art competition. The book does not follow one particular plotline, but instead, meanders through the daily life dramas of angst-ridden Nikki. It does culminate with some exciting developments -- both at the art show and with her heartthrob science lab partner.

Is It Any Good?

This book and its sequels may draw in fans of Wimpy Kid books, but while the formula is similar, the protagonist here is not as appealing. While some kids may find Nikki's daily dramas humorous, her obsession with fashion, tech gadgets, pop stars, TV, and makeup make her come across as shallow. Even at the book's end, it is hard to know what is actually likable about Nikki. Other characters remain stereotypes: the jocks, the mean, popular blond girls, the irritating little sister, the embarrassing parents, the dorky good friends, the one honest guy. Reluctant readers may appreciate the relatively short chapters interspersed with drawings -- and the book may provide short-term light enjoyment for some tweens. But is not likely to leave a meaningful or lasting impression.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about popularity. What makes a person popular? How do material things -- like the iPhone Nikki wants -- impact status?

  • What do you think about the book's title? Why do we often hear stories told by outsiders, like dorks and wimpy kids? What can their stories teach us?

Book Details

Our Editors Recommend

For kids who love coming-of-age stories

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