The Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

A Graphic Novel reviewed by Karen Payne

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a must-read for all kids entering middle school. It is written for a target audience of 7 – 12 year olds and focuses on the trials and tribulations of just being a kid! My son read, and enjoyed, this book when he was in elementary school almost ten years ago, but it's main themes, about friends, relationships and the daily challenges of school life, are timeless. The author, Jeff Kinney, writes this graphic novel from the perspective of one particularly 'wimpy kid' – Greg Heffley. As the reader, we quickly gain an appreciation of the daily challenges faced by Greg and his unlikely counterpart, Rowley. As Greg states: “Just for the record, I think middle school is the dumbest idea ever invented. You got kids like me who haven't hit their growth spurt yet mixed in with these gorillas who need to shave twice a day. And then they wonder why bullying is such a big problem in middle school” (p.3).

With text interspersed with cartoon-like drawings to illustrate and emphasize Greg's philosophical whinings, the reader is taken on a journey through middle school – beginning in early September and ending, not soon enough for Greg, in June. For any child struggling with the emotional turmoil of middle school, the social conflicts and challenges, and the daunting task of finding where they belong among their peers, The Diary of a Wimpy Kid offers laughs and light relief in a frequently lonely and confusing world.

First published in 2007, The Diary of a Wimpy Kid has been accepted worldwide as a must-read for all pre-teens, and it is now part of a series of graphic novels written by highly acclaimed author, Jeff Kinney.