book report for diary of a wimpy kid

Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney | Book Review

Book Review of  Diary of a Wimpy Kid The Children’s Book Review

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Written and Illustrated by Jeff Kinney

Ages 7+ | 224 Pages

Publisher: Amulet Books (2007) | ISBN-13: 9781419741852

What to Expect: Graphic Novel, Middle School, Diary Entries, and Humor

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is an exceptionally captivating tale of a young protagonist’s journey that began with tiny daily entries on a website and later expanded into the renowned book series we know and love. It’s a storytelling saga that gave rise to a do-it-yourself book and a film feature.

The main character, Greg Heffley, speaks to all ages, delivering a witty reading experience. Readers accompany the young character as he traverses the highs and lows of his first year in middle school, and the manner in which author-illustrator Jeff Kinney captures his adventures in a comic book style with humor and wit is impressive. The book is full of funny scenes, antics, mistakes, and missteps that are sure to make readers burst out laughing. 

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is not solely focused on Greg’s quest for popularity but also touches on a wide variety of experiences—providing valuable lessons on the complexities of school life that many young readers can relate to. It is a complete package that combines relatable humor with insightful lessons, making it an easy-to-read yet thoroughly enjoyable book—perfect for any graphic novel lover!

Buy the Book

About the author-illustrator.

Jeff Kinney  is an author of children’s books including  Diary of a Wimpy Kid  book series. Jeff was born in College Park, Maryland, in 1971 where he created a comic strip called “Igdoof.”He also created the children’s website ‘Poptropica’.

What to Read Next if You Love Diary of a Wimpy Kid

• The Strange Case of Origami Yoda , by Tom Angleberger 
• Captain Underpants , by Dav Pilkey
• Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute , by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
• Knuckle Head , by  Jon Scieszka

Bianca Schulze reviewed  Diary of a Wimpy Kid . Discover more books like  Diary of a Wimpy Kid  by reading our reviews and articles tagged with Graphic Novel , Middle School , Diary of a Wimpy Kid , and Humor .

• X (Twitter)

Bianca Schulze is the founder of The Children’s Book Review. She is a reader, reviewer, mother and children’s book lover. She also has a decade’s worth of experience working with children in the great outdoors. Combined with her love of books and experience as a children’s specialist bookseller, the goal is to share her passion for children’s literature to grow readers. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, she now lives with her husband and three children near Boulder, Colorado.

I love this book and have seen the movie as well. I liked how funny this book was and the comic book vibes it sent out.

I love this book and have seen and read all of them . It is very funny and a similar to my kindergarten story of my life

Wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

amazing best book in the world

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

36 pages • 1 hour read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-2

Chapters 3-4

Chapters 5-6

Chapters 7-8

Chapters 9-10

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Summary and Study Guide

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is the first graphic novel in the titular series by Jeff Kinney. Since its initial publication in 2007, Diary of a Wimpy Kid has become a New York Times bestseller and 16 sequels have followed in the series. Diary of a Wimpy Kid is written in a diary format and documents the misadventures of middle school student Greg Heffley , who longs for popularity and hatches dozens of schemes to achieve his goals. The series is known for its humorous cartoons, relatable characters, and for exploring themes of popularity, acceptance, family, responsibility, friendship, adolescence, and learning to do the right thing. Over 250 million copies have been sold, making it one of the most successful book series of all time. The series includes several film adaptations, including an original 2010 film of the same name, and the series won an ALA Notable Book Award as well as the 2010 award for Most Favorite Book Around the World. The version used for this guide is the hardback of the Amulet Books imprint of ABRAMS.

Plot Summary

Get access to this full Study Guide and much more!

• 7,900+ In-Depth Study Guides
• 4,800+ Quick-Read Plot Summaries
• Downloadable PDFs

At the beginning of the school year, middle school student Greg Heffley begins writing in a journal to document his daily life. Greg complains that he is stuck in middle school with a bunch of “morons” and that he’s only writing in this journal because he’s sure he’ll be rich and famous one day and he doesn’t want to have to answer stupid questions. Greg thinks he is better than his classmates, but he also acknowledges that he isn’t the most popular student. Greg decides to focus on gaining popularity, and as the school year progresses, Greg rolls out one scheme after another in hopes of finally earning a name for himself as a popular kid.

At home, Greg has to deal with his very traditional dad, his protective mom, his obnoxious older brother Rodrick, and his baby brother, Manny. Amid the chaos of his home, Greg often leaves his house to find peace, and he spends a lot of time with his best friend Rowley Jefferson . Greg complains that Rowley is uncool and doesn’t seem to care about popularity the same way Greg does, and Greg often blames Rowley for getting in the way of Greg achieving popularity. Still, Greg is perfectly content to use Rowley to get what he wants, and he enjoys playing jokes on Rowley.

The SuperSummary difference

• 8x more resources than SparkNotes and CliffsNotes combined
• Study Guides you won ' t find anywhere else
• 175 + new titles every month

As the school year goes on, Greg finds himself in a series of unusual situations. He and Rowley are chased by teenagers on Halloween night, Greg has to wrestle a strange student named Fregley in Physical Education, and his mom forces him to sign up for the school play. Each step of the way, Greg actively tries to avoid being embarrassed, but he often ends up causing his own humiliation in the process. He soon finds that popularity in middle school is much harder to figure out than he originally thought, and before long Greg’s quest for popularity starts to drive a wedge between him and Rowley.

In January, Greg breaks Rowley’s hand in a freak Big Wheel accident, but he takes no personal responsibility for his actions. When Rowley has to start wearing a cast, Greg grows jealous of the attention Rowley is getting at school. In February, Greg and Rowley try to become cartoonists for the school newspaper, but Greg is so obsessed with controlling the project that he drives Rowley away. In March, while serving on the school’s Safety Patrol, Greg abuses his power and terrorizes a bunch of kindergarteners. Instead of owning up to his mistake, however, Greg lets Rowley take the fall for his actions, and Rowley decides to stop speaking to Greg. As the school year draws to a close, Greg realizes that Rowley is becoming far more popular than him, and all of Greg’s attempts to get attention at school have backfired.

One day, Greg and Rowley are cornered by the same teenagers that attacked them on Halloween night, and Rowley is forced to eat a moldy piece of cheese that has been sitting on the school’s blacktop for over a year. Greg knows that Rowley’s reputation will be ruined if anyone finds out what happened, so he takes the fall for Rowley and tells everyone in school that he threw the Cheese away. Greg becomes a social outcast because everyone believes he has the “Cheese Touch,” but Greg doesn’t mind. In the end, Greg and Rowley become friends again, and Greg realizes that being popular isn’t worth the hassle. He decides he would rather have Rowley’s friendship, and he can always remind Rowley of what really happened to the Cheese.

Related Titles

By Jeff Kinney

Double Down

Rodrick Rules

The Deep End

Featured Collections

Brothers & Sisters

View Collection

Childhood & Youth

Laugh-out-Loud Books

Loyalty & Betrayal

New York Times Best Sellers

Pride & Shame

Truth & Lies

YA & Middle-Grade Books on Bullying

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Jeff kinney, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Greg Heffley begins the Diary of a Wimpy Kid by stipulating that it is definitely not a “diary,” because he is afraid that other kids would make fun of him if they knew he was writing about his feelings.

At the beginning of the new school year, Greg laments that “this whole popularity” thing has become so much more complicated, now that he’s in middle school. Greg knows that he is only “around 52nd or 53rd” most popular in his school, but he wants to move up in the school hierarchy. At the moment, however, Greg’s best (and only) friend is Rowley , who doesn’t care what people think of him. In the first few months of school, Greg engages in various schemes to try to become more popular and raise his social status. He runs for treasurer in student government, but loses, as his campaign centered exclusively on making fun of his opponent. He tries to open a haunted house in Rowley’s basement, but gets in trouble with Rowley’s dad . He is horrified to be partnered with the “weird kid” Fregley in physical education class—the only boy lightweight enough to wrestle with Greg—but his attempts to build muscle by weightlifting don’t go as planned because he hates exercise.

There are other problems in Greg’s life too. He lives in terror of “the Cheese,” a moldy bit of cheese left out on the basketball court that will condemn anyone who touches it to the “ Cheese Touch ” and a life of social ostracization. He is frequently bullied by older and more physically intimidating kids, like the teenagers who spray him and Rowley with water on Halloween. Greg loves playing video games, but his dad is always telling him to go outside and enjoy the sunshine or punishing him by taking away his video gaming time. And perhaps worst of all, Greg’s mom makes him audition for the school play. Greg is cast as a tree in The Wizard of Oz , but he manages to sabotage and shut down the entire performance after he pelts the lead actress with apples, breaking her glasses.

At Christmas, Greg is dissatisfied with his gifts and jealous of his younger brother, Manny , who he thinks gets an unfair amount of attention from their parents. In his ongoing quest to gain a position of authority in the middle school social hierarchy, Greg and Rowley volunteer for the Safety Patrol, a group of students who walk the kindergarteners home from school. Greg also makes a bid for the role of the school newspaper cartoonist and gets the job—but this backfires when the math teacher in charge of the newspaper, Mr. Ira , re-writes Greg’s comic strip so that it contains a message about how to properly add fractions.

Meanwhile, Rowley gets in trouble for reportedly “terrorizing” the kindergarteners during Safety Patrol, although it was actually Greg who terrified the children with a worm—he was misrecognized by a neighbor because he was wearing Rowley’s hat. Greg lets Rowley take the blame, so Rowley stops speaking to him and instead begins having sleepovers and hanging out with another friend, Collin Lee . Greg tries to get back at Rowley by hanging out with Fregley, but admits that he misses Rowley. To make matters worse, Rowley suddenly becomes popular. He breaks his hand and has to wear a cast, which garners sympathy from girls. He also writes a comic strip called “Zoo-Wee-Mama,” that all the students and teachers seem to find hilarious. This makes Greg jealous, since he had hoped to be elected “Class Clown” in the school yearbook, and “Zoo-Wee-Mama” was originally his idea.

The conflict between Greg and Rowley comes to an end, however, when both are bullied by the same teenagers who chased them on Halloween. To get back at Greg and Rowley for running away that night, one of the teenagers drags Rowley over to the Cheese and makes him eat it. The next day, all the students wonder where the Cheese went, and Greg knows it’s only a matter of time before someone figures out that he and Rowley were involved. If people found out that Rowley ate the Cheese, Greg knows that they would bully and ostracize him. To protect Rowley, Greg tells everyone that he was the one who threw away the Cheese—meaning that it is Greg, not Rowley, who now supposedly has the “Cheese Touch.” Greg and Rowley become friends again, and Rowley is voted “Class Clown” in the yearbook. Greg decides that he’ll only tell people about what really happened to The Cheese if Rowley gets a big head about being the class clown.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Summary and Key Themes

“Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” the inaugural graphic novel in Jeff Kinney’s acclaimed series, has etched its name as a cultural icon since its 2007 debut. 

Full Summary

Set in the relatable chaos of middle school, we meet Greg Heffley, our unconventional hero. 

Greg’s world is one where the quest for popularity reigns supreme, and he’s determined to climb the social ladder. 

His tool? 

A journal, a candid repository of his daily life, aspirations, and numerous misadventures. 

Greg’s wit and schemes are as grandiose as his dreams of fame, yet he’s painfully aware of his social standing – not quite an outcast, yet far from the apex of middle school popularity.

Greg’s home life is a lively tableau: a traditional father, a protective mother, Rodrick the bothersome older brother, and Manny, the baby of the family. Seeking solace, Greg often ventures out with Rowley Jefferson, his best friend, who seems blissfully indifferent to the popularity race. 

Greg’s feelings towards Rowley oscillate between camaraderie and frustration, often using Rowley as a stepping stone in his schemes for social ascent.

The story unfolds through a series of comical yet poignant episodes. 

From a harrowing Halloween chase by menacing teenagers to an awkward wrestling match with the eccentric Fregley, and an enforced participation in a school play – Greg’s life is a rollercoaster of efforts to dodge embarrassment, which ironically often lead him straight into it.

His journey is a testament to the bewildering landscape of middle school social dynamics.

A pivotal moment arrives with the Big Wheel incident, where Greg inadvertently breaks Rowley’s hand. 

As Rowley garners sympathy and attention, Greg’s envy simmers. 

Their friendship frays further as Greg’s domineering nature surfaces in their attempt to become school newspaper cartoonists, and his misuse of power in the Safety Patrol leads to a fallout, leaving Rowley to bear the consequences of Greg’s actions.

The climax is as unexpected as it is profound. Greg and Rowley, cornered again by the same Halloween bullies, face the notorious Cheese Touch challenge. 

In a twist, Greg shields Rowley’s reputation, claiming responsibility for the Cheese incident. This act of self-sacrifice renders Greg a social pariah but mends the rift with Rowley. 

In this moment, Greg’s epiphany is clear: the pursuit of popularity pales in comparison to the value of true friendship.

1. The Value of True Friendship Over Popularity

One of the most poignant lessons from the book is the understanding that genuine friendship is far more valuable than fleeting popularity. 

Throughout the story, Greg Heffley is fixated on becoming popular and is often willing to compromise his friendship with Rowley Jefferson for this aim. However, by the end of the book, Greg learns that the superficial allure of popularity cannot compare to the deep, reliable bond of friendship. 

This lesson is vividly illustrated when Greg takes the blame for the Cheese Touch to protect Rowley, showcasing that true friendship involves selflessness and loyalty, qualities that are more fulfilling and lasting than being popular.

2. The Importance of Personal Responsibility and Honesty

The story teaches the importance of owning up to one’s actions and being honest. 

Throughout the novel, Greg often finds himself in troublesome situations due to his own decisions but tries to avoid taking responsibility. This avoidance leads to various complications, particularly straining his relationship with Rowley. 

The Big Wheel accident, where Greg causes Rowley’s hand to break and refuses to acknowledge his role in it, is a significant example. 

Eventually, Greg learns that taking responsibility for his actions, as seen in the Cheese Touch incident, not only resolves conflicts but also helps in personal growth. 

This lesson emphasizes that accepting our mistakes and being honest about them is crucial for building trust and integrity in relationships.

3. Understanding and Accepting Oneself

Greg’s journey in the book is also a lesson in self-acceptance. Initially, Greg is overly concerned with how others perceive him, leading him to act in ways that don’t always align with his true self. 

His constant comparison with others, especially in the context of social status in middle school, creates a lot of internal and external conflict. 

However, as the story progresses, Greg begins to realize that chasing an idealized version of popularity is less important than being true to oneself. 

This realization is particularly evident when Greg decides to sacrifice his social standing to save Rowley from humiliation, indicating his growth in understanding and accepting his own values and priorities. 

The book subtly teaches that embracing one’s true self is more fulfilling than trying to fit into a perceived social mold.

Final Thoughts

“Diary of a Wimpy Kid” is much more than a simple tale of a boy trying to navigate middle school. It’s a reflection on the trials and tribulations of growing up, underscored by a genuine exploration of friendship, family, and the often confusing journey of self-discovery during adolescence. 

Jeff Kinney masterfully combines humor with poignant moments, making the story relatable to not just its intended young audience but to anyone who remembers the bittersweet days of their youth.

A team of Editors at Books That Slay.

Passionate | Curious | Permanent Bibliophiles

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Books

Table of Contents

• Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid Series 3 books
• In-Universe Books 1 book

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Primary tags, diary of a wimpy kid series.

Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid Series

In-universe Books

The Creative Behind the Books

Jeff Kinney is the #1 USA Today, New York Times, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series and a six-time Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award winner for Favorite Book. The Meltdown, book 13, was published in October 2018, and was a #1 bestselling book. Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid: Rowley Jefferson’s Journal, was published in April 2019. Jeff has been named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. He is also the creator of Poptropica, which was named one of Time‘s 50 Best Websites. He spent his childhood in the Washington, D.C., area and moved to New England in 1995. Jeff lives with his wife and two sons in Massachusetts, where they own a bookstore, An Unlikely Story.

Similar Series

• Help Center
• Gift a Book Club
• Beautiful Collections
• Schedule Demo

Book Platform

• Find a Book
• Reading App
• Community Editors

Authors & Illustrators

• Get Your Book Reviewed
• Submit Original Work

Follow Bookroo

Common Sense Media

Movie & TV reviews for parents

• For Parents
• For Educators
• Our Work and Impact

Or browse by category:

• Get the app
• Movie Reviews
• Best Movie Lists
• Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More

Common Sense Selections for Movies

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

• Best TV Lists
• Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More
• Common Sense Selections for TV
• Video Reviews of TV Shows

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

• Book Reviews
• Best Book Lists
• Common Sense Selections for Books

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

• Game Reviews
• Best Game Lists

Common Sense Selections for Games

• Video Reviews of Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

• Podcast Reviews
• Best Podcast Lists

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

• App Reviews
• Best App Lists

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

Reviews for AI Apps and Tools

• YouTube Channel Reviews
• YouTube Kids Channels by Topic

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids Channels for Gamers

• Preschoolers (2-4)
• Little Kids (5-7)
• Big Kids (8-9)
• Pre-Teens (10-12)
• Teens (13+)
• Screen Time
• Social Media
• Online Safety
• Identity and Community

How to Help Kids Spot Misinformation and Disinformation

• Family Tech Planners
• Digital Skills
• All Articles
• Latino Culture
• Black Voices
• Asian Stories
• Native Narratives
• LGBTQ+ Pride
• Best of Diverse Representation List

Multicultural Books

YouTube Channels with Diverse Representations

Podcasts with Diverse Characters and Stories

Diary of a wimpy kid: the meltdown, common sense media reviewers.

Epic neighborhood snowball fight perks up 13th installment.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Some facts about climate change, how the dinosaurs

Greg's mom is full of wisdom as always: Learning t

Greg often makes wrong decisions -- it's his hallm

One very long snowball fight. One kid gets two tee

Greg calls his friend an idiot.

Parents need to know that Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Meltdown is the 13th book in the best-selling Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney. Like Book 6, Cabin Fever, there's a big snow storm, but in The Meltdown, Greg's mom forces him outside to play in it. The finale is an epic neighborhood snowball…

Educational Value

Some facts about climate change, how the dinosaurs went extinct, medieval castle warfare.

Positive Messages

Greg's mom is full of wisdom as always: Learning to deal with "conflict" is part of growing up, and kids who spend too much time with video games forget how to interact. In this installment, kids are outside most of the time engaged in exciting, creative play that involves lots of problem-solving, strategy, and cooperation with other kids. Also, Greg reminds us to cover our mouths when we cough and sneeze. Less potty humor in this installment: Greg's friend goes to the bathroom behind a rock and almost gets caught.

Positive Role Models

Greg often makes wrong decisions -- it's his hallmark and what makes his antics really funny to kids. In this installment, he tries to get out of chores, breaks into his vacationing grandma's house without permission, leaves his baby brother unsupervised. His mom often keeps him on the right path, making him go outside, calling for screen-free weekends, telling Greg he needs to deal with his own conflicts. This all brings out the best in Greg. He proves to be a strategic and creative thinker when forced. A lot of his wild plans fail (pizza boxes on his feet when he has no boots), but he's always full of ideas.

Violence & Scariness

One very long snowball fight. One kid gets two teeth knocked out by an ice ball (banned by the kids after that), many kids get pushed out of the way by a snowplow. Kids lost in woods almost hit by father's car. Dogs attack and go for leftover pizza, not kids. Fight in cafeteria. Pictures of kids pushed over or being hit on the head by bullies. Kid tells tall tales about dead pets in the school cafeteria freezer and a man whose head exploded when he sneezed. Last illustration shows an atom bomb going off out the window while cyborg Greg plays cards with a robot. Talk of castle warfare with boiling oil poured on invaders.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Meltdown is the 13th book in the best-selling Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney . Like Book 6, Cabin Fever, there's a big snow storm, but in The Meltdown, Greg's mom forces him outside to play in it. The finale is an epic neighborhood snowball fight with snow forts and flags where kids have to strategize, problem-solve, and cooperate -- a great reminder of how important interactive play is for kids to build these vital skills. One kid loses two teeth in the melee when an ice ball is thrown -- kids get together to ban ice balls after that. The only other hazard is a snowplow that almost runs down the kids. In other parts of the book, kids get lost and almost get hit by a car, and dogs attack and go for leftover pizza, not kids. The last illustration shows an atom bomb going off out the window while cyborg Greg plays cards with a robot. Kids will learn a bit about climate change and the extinction of the dinosaurs, as well as medieval castle warfare. There's not as much potty humor in this book to watch out for, but Greg often makes bad decisions, usually out of forgetfulness or laziness. He also shows himself to be a strategic thinker with lots of big ideas -- that often fail miserably.

Where to Read

Community reviews.

• Parents say (2)
• Kids say (24)

Based on 2 parent reviews

Great Depth

What's the story.

In DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: THE MELTDOWN, it's winter and Greg is impatiently waiting for the cold weather. His school heater is on too high, making his brain foggy. Perhaps that's why he forgot to do his country report -- he'll just have to fake it. When the weather finally turns, the school heater breaks and it's freezing in school. It's also so snowy on his walks to and from school that one day he straps pizza boxes to his feet. He's making excellent time until the boxes get soggy and the neighbor dogs smell the leftover pizza. As the snow continues to fall, neighborhood tensions rise. The safety patrol girls won't allow snowball fights after school. The kids that live up the hill won't let the kids that live down the hill sled on THEIR hill. Throw in a snow day, snow forts, and an enterprising kid selling specialty snowballs, and Greg and his friends better be ready to rumble.

Is It Any Good?

In this 13th Wimpy Kid, Greg's up to his usual bad ideas until he lands on a stellar one: an epic neighborhood snowball fight, the kind kids dream of as soon as the first flurries fly. Well, he doesn't come up with the whole idea, but his snow fort gets things rolling. At the height of the battle, there are multiple forts, team flags, shaky alliances, and a guy selling specialized snowballs. There's even a spy. And -- many parents will love this -- it all comes together because Greg's mom forces him outside, telling him that video games don't teach kids how to interact. In just one afternoon of snow-covered mayhem, kids have to plan, negotiate, strategize, and cooperate. This part of The Meltdown is such a great reminder of how amazing getting outside and looking for the good kind of trouble can be.

The rest of The Meltdown is less cohesive and engaging. There's a school report Greg forgot about, a hot school, and then a freezing-cold school, smelly socks, kids spreading germs, breaking into Grandma's house, and so on. Mixed in, you'll find an introduction to the neighbor kids who'll stage the fight later, but it's not done smoothly. Perhaps this hodgepodge fits in with the diary premise, but luckily it doesn't last the whole book. For the finale, author-illustrator Jeff Kinney includes a full-page spread of the snowball melee. That's how you know he's having a ball as well.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the snowball fight in The Meltdown. Have you ever had a snowball fight like that? What strategies did the neighborhood kids use to win? How did they come up with rules to keep things safe?

Do you think it's cruel for Greg's mom to have screen-free weekends? Do you think he would have been outside if his mom didn't force him out?

Which is your favorite Wimpy Kid book so far? Do you read other graphic novel series? Which ones?

Book Details

• Author : Jeff Kinney
• Illustrator : Jeff Kinney
• Genre : Humor
• Topics : Adventures , Brothers and Sisters , Friendship , Middle School
• Book type : Fiction
• Publisher : Amulet Books
• Publication date : October 30, 2018
• Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
• Number of pages : 224
• Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
• Last updated : March 21, 2019

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

Our editors recommend.

Dork Diaries 1: Tales from a NOT-SO-Fabulous Life

Big Nate: In a Class by Himself: Big Nate, Book 1

Dog Man: Dog Man, Book 1

Funny books for kids, graphic novels and memoirs, related topics.

• Brothers and Sisters
• Middle School

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

By jeff kinney, diary of a wimpy kid literary elements.

Graphic Novel; Young Adult Fiction

Setting and Context

The events of the story take place in Chicago, Illinois. Greg starts middle school and sets off on a long journey to popularity.

Narrator and Point of View

The story is written in a form of a diary, so it is told from the first point of view. The narrator is Gregory.

Tone and Mood

The story is hilariously funny and—consequently—the mood is light and optimistic. Tone depends on Gregory’s mood. It can be arrogant, boastful, happy, frustrated, disappointed and so on.

Protagonist and Antagonist

Any popular kid from Gregory’s class is the antagonist, at least according to him, for they prevent him from being the most well-liked guy in school.

Major Conflict

The major conflict is person vs person, for Gregory has to compete with other kids for a certain position, popularity, girls’ attention, and respect from friends and adults.

Gregory and Rowley’s final conflict is the climax of the story.

Foreshadowing

"So, don’t expect me to be all “Dear Diary” this and “Dear Diary” that."

This sentence, which comes in the first few pages, shows Greg’s fear of being not cool. As it is revealed later, this fear is one of his biggest problems, for it makes him make really strange decisions.

Understatement

"Remember in second grade how Marty Porter had head lice? Do you really want him touching YOUR money?"

Gregory doesn’t understand why it is really not very nice to spread rumors about his classmate. This boy thinks only of himself sometimes.

The novel alludes to the Guinness Book of World Record, the Wizard of Oz, and Broadway.

We get many images of things Greg imagines throughout the book, including the Giving Tree Guy getting the sweater and scenes of girls giving him attention.

When Rowley gets in trouble for something Greg did during Safety Patrol, Greg's mom tells him to do the right thing. But Greg thinks the right thing is avoiding getting himself in trouble, so he lets Rowley take the fall.

Parallelism

While Greg is feeling soured on Rowley and everyone in his grade, he finds Rodrik's old middle school yearbook and sees a parallel between how Rodrik viewed kids his age and how Greg himself views kids his age.

Metonymy and Synecdoche

"So I went into the fridge and emptied out the milk and orange juice and filled the jugs with sand." (The milk and orange juice are synecdoches, for it refers to a container by the name of the contents.)

"You can kind of tell because that’s when they start coming to the door in their pajamas and giving you the evil eye." (The evil eye is metonymy that denotes an angry look.)

Personification

Mrs. Norton performs personification by giving various non-human objects in the Wizard of Oz — such as a shrub and a dog — as roles to kids in the school.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Greg hoped to change his situation at school by

Greg hoped to change his situation at school by joining the wrestling team.

Why is Greg keeping a journal?

Greg is keeping a journal because of a deal he made with his mother. If Greg writes in his journal a little each day, he will get out of one of his chores on Saturday.

When Greg played soccer, the team had told them they?

Chapter please?

Study Guide for Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Diary of a Wimpy Kid study guide contains a biography of Jeff Kinney, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Diary of a Wimpy Kid
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid Summary
• Character List

Lesson Plan for Diary of a Wimpy Kid

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Diary of a Wimpy Kid
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for Diary of a Wimpy Kid

• Introduction
• Achievements

• study guides
• lesson plans
• homework help

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck Summary & Study Guide

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck Summary & Study Guide Description

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck tells the story of Greg Heffley, a middle school boy who can't seem to catch a break. Greg's luck begins to go downhill when his best friend, Rowley Jefferson, starts spending all his time with his new girlfriend, Abigail Brown. From there, Greg sees everything else as spiraling downward and it isn't until he starts making decisions for himself that Greg begins to see his luck change.

The main reason for this series of diary entries is because Greg's best friend Rowley has a girlfriend and is spending all his time with her. Aside from being a tad bit jealous and confused that Rowley has the girlfriend and not him, Greg is frustrated that he is left alone to face his walk to and from school by himself, carry his books by himself, blow chocolate milk bubbles by himself, and play with the snowballs he and Rowley froze for a later date, also by himself. The frustration Greg expresses is not only with not being able to spend time with Rowley playing and having fun, but also at being left to do things like look out for dog poop. Greg doesn't consider any of the boys at his lunch table his friend, so when Rowley and Abigail leave the table for the Couples Table, while Greg might still put up with the table's games such as French Fry Friday and Five-Second Rule, he doesn't have anyone to talk to, play with, or walk home with.

Greg decides to take on a boy named Fregley to see if he can mold Fregley into the kind of friend he wants. Greg teaches Fregley how to do what Rowley used to do: scout for dog poop so Greg doesn't step in it, carry his books, and play Five-Second Rule at the lunch table. Greg tries to turn Fregley into his funny sidekick, but his plan backfires when Fregley becomes so popular that Greg is crowded out.

With everything going on at school, Greg was looking forward to Spring break so that he could relax at home. However, his mom drops a bomb on the entire family: her family - Greg's aunts and cousins - are coming into town for Easter. Greg goes into great detail about his family, naming and describing many members of the family and the different reasons why they all drive him crazy. When Easter does finally come, there is even more family than he expected, since many of the extended family members came into town for the holiday. The family starts off getting along but ends up in a big to-do over Meemaw's missing diamond ring. Greg is relieved when his dad asks Aunt Gretchen and her twin boys to leave after only two days, since one of the boys called the cops when there was no more ketchup in the refrigerator. The shining moment during Greg's extended family's visit is when Greg finds a Magic 8 Ball under Rodrick's bed. He begins using the Magic 8 Ball to make all of his decisions that can be answered with a yes/no answer.

At school, Greg continues to use his Magic 8 Ball, though it is to his detriment. Greg uses the Magic 8 Ball to answer questions on a Social Studies test and is accused of cheating. When he lands in the Vice Principal's office, Vice Principal Roy lets Greg know that if he doesn't pull up his grades in the next couple weeks, he will have to attend summer school. Greg is willing to do anything he can to avoid that situation, so he buckles down and works hard to finish all of his missing homework assignments. The biggest task Greg has to complete in order to ensure he doesn't go to summer school is the Science Fair project. Greg considers purchasing an old project from kids who are wrongfully selling them, but decides against it. Greg stays late at school and stays up until 11:30 p.m. the night before the project is due in order to complete it.

A further development at school is that Greg gets the job as Yearbook photographer. He enjoys the position since it pays $5 for every photo used in the Yearbook, though he struggles to juggle his regular school work with the demand of taking candid photographs of his classmates. Greg has fun editing photos, however the way he edits them makes others look silly or even stupid. Ultimately, Greg resigns from the position after having to take a Cutest Couple photo of Rowley and Abigail.

One week after the photo shoot involving Rowley and Abigail, the two split up because Abigail decides to go back to her ex-boyfriend. Though it takes him a couple days, Greg reaches out to Rowley and the two become friends again. Though Greg began to take responsibility for his actions and see his luck change as soon as he started trying harder at school, it's after he regains his friendship with Rowley that Greg is once again a truly happy middle school boy.

Read more from the Study Guide

FOLLOW BOOKRAGS:

We’re fighting to restore access to 500,000+ books in court this week. Join us!

Internet Archive Audio

• This Just In
• Grateful Dead
• Old Time Radio
• 78 RPMs and Cylinder Recordings
• Audio Books & Poetry
• Computers, Technology and Science
• Music, Arts & Culture
• News & Public Affairs
• Spirituality & Religion
• Radio News Archive

• Flickr Commons
• Occupy Wall Street Flickr
• NASA Images
• Solar System Collection
• Ames Research Center

• All Software
• Old School Emulation
• MS-DOS Games
• Historical Software
• Classic PC Games
• Software Library
• Kodi Archive and Support File
• Vintage Software
• CD-ROM Software
• CD-ROM Software Library
• Software Sites
• Tucows Software Library
• Shareware CD-ROMs
• Software Capsules Compilation
• CD-ROM Images
• ZX Spectrum
• DOOM Level CD

• Smithsonian Libraries
• FEDLINK (US)
• Lincoln Collection
• American Libraries
• Canadian Libraries
• Universal Library
• Project Gutenberg
• Children's Library
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• Books by Language
• Additional Collections

• Prelinger Archives
• Democracy Now!
• Occupy Wall Street
• TV NSA Clip Library
• Animation & Cartoons
• Arts & Music
• Computers & Technology
• Cultural & Academic Films
• Ephemeral Films
• Sports Videos
• Videogame Videos
• Youth Media

Search the history of over 866 billion web pages on the Internet.

Mobile Apps

• Wayback Machine (iOS)
• Wayback Machine (Android)

Browser Extensions

Archive-it subscription.

• Explore the Collections
• Build Collections

Save Page Now

Capture a web page as it appears now for use as a trusted citation in the future.

Please enter a valid web address

• Donate Donate icon An illustration of a heart shape

Diary Of A Wimpy Kid Book Series

Bookreader item preview, share or embed this item, flag this item for.

• Graphic Violence
• Explicit Sexual Content
• Hate Speech
• Misinformation/Disinformation
• Marketing/Phishing/Advertising
• Misleading/Inaccurate/Missing Metadata

plus-circle Add Review comment Reviews

834,484 Views

154 Favorites

DOWNLOAD OPTIONS

For users with print-disabilities

IN COLLECTIONS

Uploaded by Johndoe297 on April 3, 2020

SIMILAR ITEMS (based on metadata)

Enjoy a better experience!

In order to receive the best web experience with our website, please use Microsoft Edge or another browser other than Internet Explorer.

We use website cheesiest cookies to ensure you enjoy our site.

The cheesiest website around.

• For Teachers
• Wimp Yourself
• Get in Touch

Appearances

• Get to Know Jeff

Diary of a Wimpy Kid was first published in 2007 and introduced readers around the globe to Greg Heffley, his family, his best friend, Rowley Jefferson, and the dreaded CHEESE TOUCH!

Get ready for the most hilarious Wimpy Kid book yet!

Can Greg and his classmates save their school before it’s shuttered for good?

Snowed in for the holidays.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever , an all-new adventure is streaming NOW  only on Disney+ !

Disney+ subscription required.

© 2023 20th Century Studios.

Get ready to ROCK!

Make some noise for Löded Diper!

Cabin Fever

(special disney+ cover edition).

Now a Disney+ original movie!

To celebrate the full-color, 3D animated Disney+ production of Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever, we’ve created this special edition with an exclusive cover image. So bundle up, grab a cup of hot chocolate, and shut yourself inside with the Heffleys for a holiday story you’ll never forget!

The Wimpy Kid Series.

Famed for laugh-out-loud humor through words and cartoons, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books follow Greg Heffley as he records the trials and triumphs of middle school. More than 290 million copies have been sold around the globe!

Click or scroll through the books

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Rodrick Rules

The Last Straw

The Ugly Truth

The Third Wheel

The Long Haul

Double Down

The Getaway

The Meltdown

Wrecking Ball

The Deep End

Diper Överlöde

More from the Wimpy World.

Get ready to see the Wimpy Kid world in a whole new way with the Awesome Friendly Kid series, written by Greg Heffley’s best friend, Rowley Jefferson. And don’t miss the Special Disney+ cover editions, The Do-It Yourself Book , boxed sets and more!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book Collection: Special Disney+ Cover Editions

Cabin Fever (Special Disney+ Cover Edition)

Rodrick Rules (Special Disney+ Cover Edition)

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: (Special Disney+ Cover Edition)

The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Blank Journal

The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary: The Next Chapter

The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary: How Greg Heffley went to Hollywood

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Special Cheesiest Edition

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Best Friends Box

Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Book Box

Awesome Friendly Book Bundle

Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories

Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Adventure

Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid: Rowley Jefferson’s Journal

Check out highlights from our latest tours!

COLOGNE, GERMANY

Sunday, november 19th.

Studio Dumont

MUNICH, GERMANY

Monday, november 20th.

Munich Library

MUMBAI, INDIA

Sunday, december 10th.

Sophia Auditorium

KOCHI, INDIA

Monday, december 11th.

St. Teresa's College

Saturday, May 25th

Hay Festival

Had to test it out #manny #mannyheffley #diaryofawimpykid #wimpykid #meow #cheesetouch

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C87JRfeRDNd/

July 2, 2024

Nobody matched his freak 😔💔 #fregley #wimpykid #diaryofawimpykid #gregheffley #rodrick #rowley

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C84l6xwRBfF/

July 1, 2024

Not a single crumb left 💅 #wimpykid #diaryofawimpykid #rowleyjefferson #selfie #selfiechallenge #pretty #zooweemama

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C82AOegRMGq/

June 30, 2024

Only fake fans will say no 😔 Nails by @Izzysnails 🦋 💅 #wimpykid #diaryofawimpykid #gregheffley #rodrickheffley #mannyheffley #cheese #cheesetouch #lodeddiper #matchmyfreak #nails #art #fanartfriday

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8wzX6ZxL6_/

June 28, 2024

Just a boy, his two miniature schnauzers, a book, and a dream 🥹 #wimpykid #diaryofawimpykid #jeffkinney #2024me

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8sO3VYRclm/

June 26, 2024

Someday when Greg is rich and famous you all will be GRATEFUL for the number of journals he kept 😤 #wimpykid #diaryofawimpykid #gregheffley #books #bookstagram #jeffkinney

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8pjk5Xx3nV/

June 25, 2024

Please do not tell my father -Will #diaryofawimpykid #wimpykid #gregheffley #rodrickheffley #dog

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8m-bEVRQ61/

June 24, 2024

Based on true events 🥶🧻 #wimpykid #diaryofawimpykid #gregheffley #rodrickrules #jeffkinney #truestory #irememberwhen #irememberwhenilostmymind #throwback

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8kQwSWxfrc/

June 23, 2024

Name a more iconic duo, I’ll wait. Also got a little fregley action at the end 👀 #wimpykid #diaryofawimpykid #gregheffley #rowleyjefferson #zacharygordon #robertcapron #besties #bestfriends #nowandthen #behindthescenes #fregley #graysonrussell #wecanbuildthisthingtogether

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8evzLTxorN/

June 21, 2024

Yes we are counting the DIY and movie diaries as literature dont @ us haters 📚 #wimpykid #diaryofawimpykid #gregheffley #journal #diary #bookstagram #bookseries #jeffkinney #rowleyjefferson #diaryofanawesomefriendlykid #stupidgame

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8c5UfFxbTd/

June 20, 2024

https://www.instagram.com/p/C8W7IGLxdND/

June 18, 2024

Its almost like they put the movie on on purpose….👀 Bonus points if you cant tell which movie this is 🤔 #wimpykid #diaryofawimpykid #gregheffley #rowleyjefferson #jeffkinney #bookstore #breakfast #wimpykidmovie #rodrickrules #dogdays

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8VLJGyxZJP/

June 17, 2024

S-w-e……🤔 #wimpykid #diaryofawimpykid #rodrick #rodrickheffley #dogdays

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8UYw7tR6PL/

Everything was going so well until Rowley used the p word 🫠 #wimpykid #diaryofawimpykid #gregheffley #rowleyjefferson #sabrinacarpenter #pleasepleaseplease #dontembarrassme

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8NBSfyxtBp/

June 14, 2024

Rowley's outfit is everything. Which one are you taking? Created by @kononon0818 💯 #wimpykid #diaryofawimpykid #art #fanart #plush #gregheffley #rowleyjefferson #doll #craft

https://www.instagram.com/p/C8MuETco3-6/

Photo © Filip Wolak

Diary of a Wimpy Kid author, Jeff Kinney , didn’t grow up wanting to be a children’s author. His dream was to become a newspaper cartoonist, but he wasn’t able to get his comic strip syndicated.

Check out the Awesome Friendly Classroom Kit for lots of fun in-school activities!

No Brainer: Diary of a Wimpy Kid

• December 18, 2023
• Children's Books

Buy: Amazon Kindle , Amazon Audible , Amazon Books Hardcover , Amazon Audio CD

The 18th volume in Jeff Kinney’s worldwide popular “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series, “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: No Brainer,” was released on October 24, 2023. This book continues the series’ protagonist, Greg Heffley’s, exploits and misadventures as he navigates the trials of middle school.

In “No Brainer,” Greg finds himself in a difficult situation as his school is about to close owing to its deteriorating status. Greg is first unconcerned about the possibility of the school closing. However, he quickly finds that he will be separated from his best buddy, Rowley Jefferson because they will be attending different schools. This realization changes Greg’s perspective, and the plot revolves around his attempts, along with those of his friends, to keep their school open.

The title of the book, “No Brainer,” has a comic undertone, as is typical of the Wimpy Kid series. It’s a play on the concept of something being an apparent option or decision, which fits in with the book’s major topic – the decision to rescue Greg’s school. To correspond with the title’s play on words, the book’s cover image depicts Greg with an open head, figuratively vacant.

The author, Jeff Kinney, is a well-known personality in children’s literature, having won several awards, including the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award for Favorite Book. His “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series was a huge hit, appealing to youngsters all over the world with its mix of comedy and realistic school-age struggles. Kinney’s work goes beyond writing; he is also the series’ artist and the developer of the famous online game Poptropica.

The capacity of the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series, especially “No Brainer,” to capture the spirit of middle school life through the eyes of Greg Heffley is one of its most entertaining qualities. The series is well-known for its witty humor, which is frequently shown via Greg’s eyes and appeals to both young and old readers. Each novel, including “No Brainer,” provides a unique viewpoint on the ups and downs of adolescence, friendship, and family relationships.

“No Brainer” is intended to carry on the series’ tradition of blending text and images to deliver an amusing and educational narrative. As with the preceding works, it is anticipated that it will tackle themes of friendship, family, and the intricacies of middle school life in a hilarious and entertaining manner for its readers.

In conclusion, “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: No Brainer” seems to be another entertaining installment in Jeff Kinney’s acclaimed series. It is set to bring the same combination of humor, sympathetic characters, and important storytelling that series fans have grown to love and anticipate. Readers will discover delight and fun in Greg Heffley’s newest journey as he continues to negotiate the ups and downs of middle school.

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Name  *

Email  *

Add Comment  *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

I accept the Privacy Policy

Post Comment

Related Posts

Cat Kid Comic Club 5: Influencers

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

• December 5, 2023

Trending now