The Long Haul

Goodreads Says:    Greg Heffley and his family hit the road in author-illustrator Jeff Kinney's latest installment of the phenomenally bestselling Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.













My Thoughts:

-    I thought this series was done, but I guess not. Will this series ever end? Don't get me wrong, I enjoy these books. I think they are hilarious, but I don't like it when series don't end.

-    Worst family trip EVER! Wow! Anything that could go wrong, does go wrong. 

-    The book was really funny. I read parts of it to my daughter and she loved it. I might start reading these to her.

-    The illustrations really make these books better. I love them, and they are hilarious!

-    I feel like Manny is the smartest one in the family. 

-    I loved the little piggy!

Previous Wimpy Kid Books

(click on the cover to see my thoughts)

  
  
 

Hard Luck

From Goodreads:    Greg Heffley and his family and friends are back in Diary of a Wimpy KidBook 8, the latest installment in the #1 bestselling series by Jeff Kinney and one of the most anticipated books of 2013. A global phenomenon, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series has more than 85 million books in print around the world.

Greg Heffley's on a losing streak. His best friend, Rowley Jefferson, has ditched him, and finding new friends in middle school is proving to be a tough task. To change his fortunes, Greg decides to take a leap of faith and turn his decisions over to chance. Will a roll of the dice turn things around, or is Greg's life destined to be just another hard-luck story?

My Thoughts:

-    I used to hate it when my mom would tell me that friends come and go but family lasts forever! Bleh! Now that I'm older, I can kinda see what she means, but friends come and go, and I can just make new friends when the old ones go. 

-    Fregley freaks me out.

-    Dating in middle school is awkward and lame. I figured Rowley would hook up with someone sooner or later though.

-    The magic eight ball stuff cracked me up! I love that Greg used it for everything. It reminded me the Simpsons episode when Bart and Millhouse had a magic eight ball. I think their friendship was torn because Millhouse got a girlfriend in that same episode too!

-    I like how many holidays were featured in this series. The family drama during holidays is awful, and I sympathize with Greg.

-    Greg's mom is smarter than I thought. Her closet is brilliant! 

-    The body blanket thing was awesome! 

-    I had fun with these books, but I'm glad they ended. You can have too much of a good thing. 

Previous Wimpy Kid Books

(click on the cover to see my thoughts)

  
  

The Third Wheel

Goodreads Synopsis:    Love is in the air - but what does that mean for Greg Heffley?

A Valentine's Day dance at Greg's middle school has turned his world upside down. As Greg scrambles to find a date, he's worried he'll be left out in the cold on the big night. His best friend, Rowley, doesn't have any prospects either, but that's a small consolation.

An unexpected twist gives Greg a partner for the dance and leaves Rowley the odd man out. But a lot can happen in one night, and in the end, you never know who's going to be lucky in love.

READERS LOVE THE DIARY OF A WIMPY KID SERIES - the USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal, and #1 New York Timesbestsellers:

"In the publishing world, Kinney is a rock star." --NPR'S "Backseat Book Club"

"Diary of a Wimpy Kid is bent on world domination." --Time magazine

"One of the most successful children's series ever published." --The Washington Post

"A big hit with reluctant readers and anyone looking for a funny book." --School Library Journal

My Thoughts:

-    The beginning of this one is weird!

-    Having the right kind of toilet paper is important. I laughed all the the toilet paper hoarding and stuff.

-    I figured dating and girls would come into the picture sometime. That stage is so weird and awkward. There should be classes. 

-    Greg is a jerk! I can't say it enough. He is a horrible friend, and an even worse date.

Previous Wimpy Kid Books

(click on the cover to see my thoughts)

  
  

Cabin Fever

From Goodreads:    Greg Heffley is in big trouble. School property has been damaged, and Greg is the prime suspect. But the crazy thing is, he’s innocent. Or at least sort of.

The authorities are closing in, but when a surprise blizzard hits, the Heffley family is trapped indoors. Greg knows that when the snow melts he’s going to have to face the music, but could any punishment be worse than being stuck inside with your family for the holidays?

My Thoughts:

-    That "Santa's Scout" thing is super creepy. I would have nightmares if that thing was in my house moving around.

-    The Net Kritterz cracked me up! I used to play Neopets, which is an online pet thing. I spent a lot of time on that website taking care of my pets. Good times! I wonder if my pets are still alive. I don't know if I could even log in anymore. 

-    Greg likes to take shortcuts for a lot of things. Hopefully he is learning from his mistakes, but I really doubt it. 

-    I keep thinking we are going to discover that Rowley is a bit slow, and he'll be sent to special ed or something.

-    Another creepy thing in the book is Greg's Alfrendo doll. When he finds it towards the end, wow! That doll is messed up!

Previous Wimpy Kid Books

(click on the cover to see my thoughts)

  
 

The Ugly Truth

Goodreads Says:    Greg Heffley has always been in a hurry to grow up. But is getting older really all it’s cracked up to be?

Greg suddenly finds himself dealing with the pressures of boy-girl parties, increased responsibilities, and even the awkward changes that come with getting older—all without his best friend, Rowley, at his side. Can Greg make it through on his own? Or will he have to face the “ugly truth”?

My Thoughts:

-    I remember seeing students doing the egg thing in Junior High and High School. We also had one teacher who gave out a bag of flour wrapped in duck tape. Apparently babies weigh as much as a bag of flour. 

-    Isabella is the worst maid ever! Why would you clean your house right before the maid comes? Doesn't that defeat the purpose? Why even need a maid? The notes were funny though. Greg met his match.

-    Thank goodness my school never did a lock in. That sounds awful! 

-    The elbow thing cracked me up! It was my favorite thing in the book!! ha ha!

-    I still love the illustrations and Greg's shenanigans. This is one of my favorites in the series. 

-    I love the way Greg describes things. The author really captured the life and attitude of a boy. 

Previous Wimpy Kid Books

(click on the cover to see my thoughts)

  

Dog Days

Goodreads Synopsis:    It’s summer vacation, the weather’s great, and all the kids are having fun outside. So where’s Greg Heffley? Inside his house, playing video games with the shades drawn.
 
Greg, a self-confessed "indoor person,” is living out his ultimate summer fantasy: no responsibilities and no rules. But Greg’s mom has a different vision for an ideal summer . . . one packed with outdoor activities and "family togetherness.”
 
Whose vision will win out? Or will a new addition to the Heffley family change everything?

My Thoughts:

-    This book makes me never want to go to a public pool.

-    Greg is SO mean to Rowley. Why are they even friends? 

-    I love how Greg thinks he is going to be rich and famous some day. He is so stinking lazy. I don't see his dreams becoming reality.

-    I'm a bit of a home body myself, so I don't blame Greg for wanting to stay inside and play video games. He's gotta live it up while he is still young.

-    The illustrations were funny. I loved the book covers. 

Previous Wimpy Kid Books

(click on the cover to see my thoughts)

  

The Last Straw

Goodreads Synopsis:    Let’s face it: Greg Heffley will never change his wimpy ways. Somebody just needs to explain that to Greg’s father. You see, Frank Heffley actually thinks he can get his son to toughen up, and he enlists Greg in organized sports and other "manly” endeavors. Of course, Greg is able to easily sidestep his father’s efforts to change him. But when Greg’s dad threatens to send him to military academy, Greg realizes he has to shape up . . . or get shipped out.








My Thoughts:

-    I feel like I shouldn't relate to Greg as much as I do, but it is one of the reasons I like him so much.

-    The whole blanket/robe over a heat vent was awesome! I love to do that too.

-    I like that the book showed how awkward it is to start liking people in middle school. It really is that weird.

-    Greg's parents are kind of lame. They don't know how to handle their own kids. I can't believe the dad does Rodrick's homework. 

-    I understand making a high school student do his own laundry, but I wouldn't make a kid in middle school do it. Greg probably stank so bad!

-    What happened to Greg at the end of this book is WAY worse and more embarrassing that when happened in the last book over the summer.

-    I loved Gred's report! The content was BS, and I loved how he used a giant font and huge margins. I can't say I haven't tried that trick before.

Previous Wimpy Kid Books

(click on the cover to see my thoughts)

 

Rodrick Rules

Goodreads Synopsis:    The highly anticipated sequel to the #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling book! 

Secrets have a way of getting out, especially when a diary is involved. 

Whatever you do, don’t ask Greg Heffley how he spent his summer vacation, because he definitely doesn’t want to talk about it. 

As Greg enters the new school year, he’s eager to put the past three months behind him . . . and one event in particular. 

Unfortunately for Greg, his older brother, Rodrick, knows all about the incident Greg wants to keep under wraps. But secrets have a way of getting out . . . especially when a diary is involved. 

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules chronicles Greg’s attempts to navigate the hazards of middle school, impress the girls, steer clear of the school talent show, and most important, keep his secret safe.

My Thoughts:

-    Another hilarious book about Greg and his life in middle school.

-    I was really curious about what happened to Greg over the summer that was so embarrassing, so I'm glad the book delivers at the end.

-    I thought Greg was a jerk, but it is probably because Rodrick is an even bigger jerk!

-    The Dungeons and Dragons knock off game made me laugh. I got a kick out of Greg's mom playing the game too.

-    I think it is ironic that Greg is so embarrassed by some things, but other stuff doesn't bother him. For instance, he thought it would be fun to join the old lady water aerobics class.

-    Again the illustrations were funny and fun! I love them! 

Previous Wimpy Kid Books

(click on the cover to see my thoughts)

 

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

From Goodreads:    Boys don’t keep diaries—or do they?

The launch of an exciting and innovatively illustrated new series narrated by an unforgettable kid every family can relate to

It’s a new school year, and Greg Heffley finds himself thrust into middle school, where undersized weaklings share the hallways with kids who are taller, meaner, and already shaving. The hazards of growing up before you’re ready are uniquely revealed through words and drawings as Greg records them in his diary.

In book one of this debut series, Greg is happy to have Rowley, his sidekick, along for the ride. But when Rowley’s star starts to rise, Greg tries to use his best friend’s newfound popularity to his own advantage, kicking off a chain of events that will test their friendship in hilarious fashion.

Author/illustrator Jeff Kinney recalls the growing pains of school life and introduces a new kind of hero who epitomizes the challenges of being a kid. As Greg says in his diary, “Just don’t expect me to be all ‘Dear Diary’ this and ‘Dear Diary’ that.” Luckily for us, what Greg Heffley says he won’t do and what he actually does are two very different things.

Since its launch in May 2004 on Funbrain.com, the Web version of Diary of a Wimpy Kid has been viewed by 20 million unique online readers. This year, it is averaging 70,000 readers a day.

My Thoughts:

-    Very funny and unique book. It isn't quite a graphic novel, but it isn't a regular book either. 

-    I really like how visual this book is. I like the fun font on lined paper, so it actually looks like Greg's journal. 

-    The whole cheese touch thing cracked me up. I was pretty grossed out about what happened to Rowley and the cheese. 

-    The illustrations really add to the story. They are funny yet simple. I can believe a 12 year old boy drew all those funny pictures. 

-    Greg is such a typical adolescent boy trying to look cool in school. I like his childlike logic. it is so simple and it makes sense, but I know it isn't right.

-    I love how Greg ruined the school play! So funny! 

-    Greg is a bit of jerk. He pulls all sorts of stuff on his friend Rowley and his little brother. His mean shenanigans are hilarious though.