by Jeff Kinney
Part of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, book 1
First published 2007
Greg Heffley enters middle school where small kids like him dodge bigger, meaner students who tower over them in the hallways. He keeps a diary to record the daily disasters of growing up too fast. Greg relies on his best friend Rowley Jefferson to navigate these treacherous waters together. When Rowley suddenly becomes popular, Greg sees a chance to boost his own social status by riding his friend's coattails. This scheming backfires spectacularly and puts their friendship on the line. Greg insists his journal is not a typical "Dear Diary" confession book, but his actual behavior tells a different story. Through his honest drawings and words, Greg captures the awkward reality of being stuck between childhood and adolescence when you are not ready for either.
Genres: fiction, coming-of-age, contemporary, adolescence, comedy
Vibes: emotional, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of-water, found-family
Period: 21st-century
226 pages · Hardcover · Amulet Books