Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Author: Kinney, Jeff

Illustrator: Kinney, Jeff

Publisher: harry n. abrams, inc.
ISBN (library bind): 0-8109-9313-9
Price: $12.95
#pages: 217
Call number: 741.5 KIN

Annotation:
This book is a must have for all middle schoolers. Greh Heffley is a 6th grader who wants to make his mark in the school. In his attempts of making his mark his has tried weightlifting, creating the ultimate haunted house, trying for class treasurer, and trying to bet the World Record for the biggest snowman. However his attempts never work because he is always caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Middle school readers can relate to the typical teenage problems. The author is clever is using cartoons to play up the humor of the book.

Recommended grade levels: 4 grade – 7 grade

Curriculum


Character Education: Middle School, Friendship, Diaries, Humor

Other: graphic novel/comic

Middle School is Worse Than Meatloaf : A Year Told Through Stuff by Jennifer Holm

An inventive twist on the notebook style novel. Ginny's 7th grade school year is shown to the reader through a collection of stuff including To-Do lists, bank statements (despide several babysitting job deposits, it seems to always remain at $5 ), doctor's notes, store receipts (bad idea to dye your hair the day before picture day), principals notes to her mom, and some amusing poems.

Ginny deals with some difficult subjects during the course of the year; new stepfather, brother getting sent to military school because of his dangerous behaviour, ex-best friend getting the lead in HER ballet AND never returning her favorite sweater. She handles them with the awkward grace of a 7th grader but also with humor and a very appealing style.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick.

After the death of his father, young Hugo continues to tend to the clocks in a large Paris train station so seamlessly that no one notices the absence of his father. Using a notebook left by his father he also works on restoring a mysterious automaton. The most amazing feature of this story is the telling alternating between pages of detailed black and white illustrations and text. Reading the text one makes the pictures in one's head and reading pictures, one adds the words. All in all a satisfying and innovative experience.

I'm not doing this book justice because it has been a while since I read it. I hope others will read and continue to comment. This is one of the most intriquing books of the year.