Review by New York Times Review
This sequel to the best-selling middle-school phenom "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" continues the hapless adventures of the stick figure Greg. Kinney's witty drawings still find Greg on the wrong side of everyone, from the swim team (he's afraid of the starter pistol) to his older brother, Rodrick - "the only one who knows about this REALLY embarrassing thing that happened to me over the summer." The voice is pitch-perfect and the action recognizably elementary, and not too mean.
Copyright (c) The New York Times Company [October 27, 2009]
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 5-8-Greg Heffly has started seventh grade with an albatross around his neck. His mother insists that he keep a diary and record his thoughts and feelings during this pivotal year. What follows is an account of the ups and downs of middle school life through Greg's eyes: bullying, popularity, the discovery of the opposite sex, unreasonable teachers, sports, and more. This novel (Amulet Books, 2007) by Jeff Kinney has been available online (funbrain.com) as a Web comic for several years. The print version includes additional episodes. Actor Ramon de Ocampo does a fine job interpreting Greg's voice, but the print version must be paired with the audiobook because the hilarious cartoon illustrations and handwritten text are integral to the telling and add sparkle to the narration. This will be an incredibly popular choice, especially with boys and reluctant readers.-Tricia Melgaard, Centennial Middle School, Broken Arrow, OK (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
