Diary of a Wimpy Kid

By Jeff Kinney

Rating: 3 3/4 stars

Told in a handwritten script and cartoons in his journal (not a diary, says Gregory), Gregory writes of his daily life at home and school. As a pretty wimpy kid, Greg is often picked on, so he spends his time trying to find ways to get attention or better his life situation at home or school. Unfortunately, his one good friend Rowley is often the one bearing the brunt of Greg's faulty ideas. Like when he thinks it'll be a good idea to start weight-lifting...but makes Rowley try it first. Guess who gets stuck under the homemade dumbell? Or the time Rowley breaks his hand after playing the Big Wheel and football game. Although Greg is not the type of kid you can say is particularly nice, a lot of the situations he gets himself (and Rowley) into are pretty funny. It would have been too much to ask to have any real character growth in this type of story which is just out for cheap laughs, but the kids who read it won't care. They'll just laugh and ask for more! So if you like a funny read, pick this one up. A sequel, Rodrick Rules, will also be on the funny story reading list.