First published 2021
Greg Heffley records his middle school experiences in what he insists is not a diary. The hallways swarm with older kids who tower over weaklings like Greg. They're already shaving while he's still figuring out how to survive each day. His best friend Rowley Jefferson provides companionship through the chaos. When Rowley suddenly becomes popular, Greg sees an opportunity. He decides to ride his friend's rising star for his own benefit. This scheme backfires spectacularly. A series of mishaps follows that puts their friendship on the line. Greg documents everything through words and drawings, capturing the awkward reality of growing up too fast. He may claim he won't write typical diary entries, but his actual behavior tells a different story. The gap between what Greg says he'll do and what he actually does drives the comedy forward.
Genres: fiction, contemporary, adolescence, comedy, diary
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, intimate
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, unreliable-narrator
217 pages · Hardcover · Harry N. Abrams