BIBLIOGRAPHY
Kinney, Jeff. 2007. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Greg Heffley’s Journal. NY: Amulet Books. ISBN -- 9780810993136.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Jeff Kinney writes just what the title implies -- the diary of a kid, complete with illustrations. Greg Heffley is a completely believable character for anyone who has been or is currently enrolled in middle school. Greg has huge plans for his life (growing up to be rich and famous) which have little or nothing to do with his present reality (a short kid who does not like to do his homework or sports).
From bittersweet memories of head lice and the stinky-cheese touch (or dork touch, or whatever-touch) adults reading the book can remember and commiserate with middle school students and the misery that one school day can hold. The humorous illustrations add to the plot with dialogue in this otherwise monologue, which is a JOURNAL NOT A DIARY which was Greg’s Mom’s idea, anyway. Late elementary and all middle school students will definitely relate to Greg.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
From Publishers Weekly --Starred Review. Kinney has a gift for believable preteen dialogue and narration (e.g., "Don't expect me to be all 'Dear Diary' this and 'Dear Diary' that"), and the illustrations serve as a hilarious counterpoint to Greg's often deadpan voice...Kinney ably skewers familiar aspects of junior high life, from dealing with the mysteries of what makes someone popular to the trauma of a "wrestling unit" in gym class.
From School Library Journal -- Kinney does a masterful job of making the mundane life of boys on the brink of adolescence hilarious... it is an excellent choice for reluctant readers, but more experienced readers will also find much to enjoy and relate to in one seventh grader's view of the everyday trials and tribulations of middle school.
From Booklist -- ...laugh-out-loud novel ...short, episodic chapters...revolve around the adolescent male curse: the need to do incredibly dumb things because they seem to be a good idea at the time. Yet, unlike some other books about kids of this age, there's no sense of a slightly condescending adult writer behind the main character. At every moment, Greg seems real, and the engrossed reader will even occasionally see the logic in some of his choices. Greatly adding to the humor are Kinney's cartoons, which appear on every page. The simple line drawings perfectly capture archetypes of growing up, such as a preschool-age little brother, out-of-touch teachers, and an assortment of class nerds. Lots of fun throughout.
CONNECTIONS
*See this complete booklet of connections by an LSU LS student available at http://www.state.lib.la.us/empowerlibrary/Diary_of_a_Wimpy_Kid.doc
*Have students keep a diary for a set amount of time and have them illustrate it
*TeacherVision also has a great resource for extension activities with Wimpy Kid at http://www.teachervision.fen.com/childrens-book/diaries/28677.html?detoured=1
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