What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that main character Greg is a kid who
usually doesn't do the right thing the first time around. His
cluelessness about what would keep him out of trouble and why
parents, teachers, and friends are upset with him is part of
the book's humor, which leads the reader to any lesson Greg
should be learning. Parents will appreciate that
Rowley's dad looks up video games on a parent Web site to see
if they have too much violence. Also, you can tell that Greg's
mom is working hard to raise respectful sons. When a bikini
picture from her oldest son Rodrick's heavy metal magazine ends
up in her youngest son's hands for show-and-tell, she makes
Rodrick apologize to all women on paper. Parents will also be
thrilled to know that despite the fact that the book is written
in less-formal journal style with fun cartoons, everything is
spelled correctly (i.e., no texting slang in sight!).
Families can talk about Greg's journal. Would you or have you ever kept a journal? Would you include art and humor in your journal? How would yours be unique? Also, what do you think of Greg's friendship with Rowley? Is he a good friend to him? Have you had friendships like that? What would make Greg a better friend?
Common Sense Media Review
Begun in 2004 by a game developer as comics on the site
www.funbrain.com, this "novel in cartoons" translates really
well to book form. It reads like little episodes in clueless
middle schooler Greg Heffley's life, with a great sense of
humor throughout. Many kids have been there before, so they'll
laugh heartily at Greg's mishaps.
Greg's grand schemes -- to become popular (running for treasurer, writing the comic for the school newspaper), get the most candy on Halloween, make the biggest snowman on record, or build a robot in Independent Study that won't repeat swear words -- are all destined for failure. The reader knows where the flaws are in Greg's half-baked plans, as well as the lesson he doesn't quite get in the end.
And with a contagious "cheese touch" that terrorizes the student body -- sounds worse than your average cooties -- how could this book not draw in even the most reluctant of kid readers? It's easy to see why DIARY OF A WIMPY KID is a bestseller. Maybe it's also encouraging kids to start their own journals and diaries. Writing down your thoughts on actual paper may be old-school in the Facebook age, sure, but it still has many benefits -- including privacy.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
