Because Greg would insist, let me start by saying that Diary of a Wimpy Kid is not a diary…no matter what you may think by reading the cover. In fact, don’t think this “diary” is going to be full of just words either because as it also states on the cover, Diary of a Wimpy Kid is “a novel in cartoons.”
Greg Heffley takes the reader on the wild ride known as middle school, showing the world how miserable being a kid can be. Not only is Greg “stuck in middle school with a bunch of morons,” but he has a super cool older brother, Rodrick, and a best friend, Rowley, who he could live with out. Rodrick never lets Greg tag along with him because Greg does not even factor in on the coolness scale, but Rodrick gives Greg plenty of pranks and practical jokes to pull on Rowley, who he has been avoiding “since the first day of school.” Greg gives the reader a play-by-play interpretation of a middle schooler’s life…if something seems exaggerated, it probably isn’t because, according to Greg, nothing is worse than being a kid in middle school.
Jeff Kinney takes a different approach to writing a novel for kids by incorporating a first-person narrator telling the reader about his daily life with comics to enhance the text. A great book for students in middle school (though older students would enjoy it too!); it is an easy and quick read, and a read that may motivate some reluctant readers to become willing readers.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid also addresses the issue of bullying, but does so in a way that is less “in your face” for students of a younger age. It could be easily used as a launching point for respect for others and in the classroom, whether in its entirety or with a teacher selecting excerpts.
Another positive, Kinney has recently published two more “diaries” of Greg’s. If a student enjoyed the first one, it would be an easy task to encourage them to continue reading about Greg and his struggles as a middle school kid…just as I plan on doing!
Greg Heffley takes the reader on the wild ride known as middle school, showing the world how miserable being a kid can be. Not only is Greg “stuck in middle school with a bunch of morons,” but he has a super cool older brother, Rodrick, and a best friend, Rowley, who he could live with out. Rodrick never lets Greg tag along with him because Greg does not even factor in on the coolness scale, but Rodrick gives Greg plenty of pranks and practical jokes to pull on Rowley, who he has been avoiding “since the first day of school.” Greg gives the reader a play-by-play interpretation of a middle schooler’s life…if something seems exaggerated, it probably isn’t because, according to Greg, nothing is worse than being a kid in middle school.
Jeff Kinney takes a different approach to writing a novel for kids by incorporating a first-person narrator telling the reader about his daily life with comics to enhance the text. A great book for students in middle school (though older students would enjoy it too!); it is an easy and quick read, and a read that may motivate some reluctant readers to become willing readers.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid also addresses the issue of bullying, but does so in a way that is less “in your face” for students of a younger age. It could be easily used as a launching point for respect for others and in the classroom, whether in its entirety or with a teacher selecting excerpts.
Another positive, Kinney has recently published two more “diaries” of Greg’s. If a student enjoyed the first one, it would be an easy task to encourage them to continue reading about Greg and his struggles as a middle school kid…just as I plan on doing!
3 comments:
My fourth graders love Diary of a Wimpy Kid and the books that follow. I am glad that I can take your advice and offer this book choice to some of my male reluctant readers.
This book does seem popular with my 5th graders. I think it gets them ready for middle school next year. I also appreciate books that are geared towards boys, since they are so few overall.
I am also curious to see how bullying is addressed in the book. Maybe I can use this book as a novel study on bullying.
This book sounds cute, and also a good way to address personal relationships between students, as mentioned. Really good review.
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