Author: Jeff Kinney
Year of Publication: 2003
Official Site: Wimpy Kid
Read it here: Funbrain
Synopsis: Greg Heffley is thrust into middle school, where undersized
weaklings share the hallways with kids who are taller, meaner, and already
shaving.
STEPH SAID
Rating: 
Review:
Ever since the first movie came out I have been intrigued by
this series. I didn’t actually put it in my to-read list, because I thought it
was going to be a book for kids, since it says “wimpy kid” on its cover. Then, I read somewhere that the books were based on the online story and, since
it is free on the internet, I decided to give it a try. If I liked it I would
read the books, if I didn’t, I would’ve just read one story instead of seven (of
course, at that time I didn’t knew the online story has more than one thousand
pages!).
I was hooked from the beginning. This story has that "je ne sais quoi" that just makes you want to read more and more. It definitely reads like a
12 years old’s journal. He complains about his mother being unfair, about his
parents preferring his baby brother, his punishments, his deals with bullies,
the girls he likes, and much more. It is so real; it is a story most people will
relate too, it will definitely make you re-live your younger years, especially
if you have siblings. But, what makes it so irresistible is actually the wimpy
tone in which is written. It is such light reading that I couldn’t get tired of
reading about a boy complaining about his big brother, even when it was for the
hundredth time; besides most of the anecdotes are hilarious. Also, the cartoons
improved my enjoinment of the story. Sometimes he’d tell a story and I would
giggle because I could see it in my mind, but then I’d see the doddle and I
would definitely laugh out loud. For example, once he’s telling the story of the
first time he wanted to call the girl of his dreams: Piper. To avoid his big
brother Rodrick’s mockery, he went to his parents’ room, took the phone and hid
under a blanket on the floor. He was about to dial when his father entered the
room.
At this point I was already laughing, but when I saw the
doodle that followed it, I couldn’t contain myself. I threw the laptop aside
and laugh out loud until I didn’t had any air left in my lungs.
One thing I didn’t liked about the story is how Greg
manipulates, uses and takes advantage of his “best friend” Rowley. Of course,
Rowley is dumb enough to fall for it almost every time. Also, Greg is
doing what he is used to, because he is with Rowley the way Rodrick is with him.
I already noted that it has more than one thousand pages but
don’t get scared. First, there are few lines in each page, and the letters are
big because it’s shaped to look like hadwriting. Second, it has many many
doodles. And thirdly the story is so easy to read, the pages will fly by. At the
end you’ll keep wanting more. I know I still do. So now I will read the books and
hope Kenney write a hundred more.
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