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Top Pick
The hilarious third installment in the Wimpy Kid
series again finds reluctant diarist (“It’s a JOURNAL, not a diary”)
Greg Heffley struggling to survive middle school and his wacky
family. Big brother Rodrick is still a pest, spoiled baby brother
Manny continues to get away with everything, and his parents remain
clueless.
At least Greg still has his video games.
But after bad grades, detention, and embarrassing the family in
front of his boss one too many times, Greg’s father thinks it’s time
for his son to grow up. When sports don’t quite work out (Greg blows
dandelions instead of guarding the soccer goal), Mr. Heffley finds
his answer in a nearby military academy that turned the neighborhood
troublemaker into a model citizen. With precious weeks of his
carefree life remaining, Greg will try anything to avoid being
shipped off and also make a final move for in the quest for his
crush, Holly Hills.
Returning with the quirky humor that has made his books
best-sellers, Kinney absolutely nails what it’s like to be a
preteen. Greg’s world is full of the innocent daydreams and rampant
unfairness that fill middle schoolers’ lives, but there’s usually
enough candy and reversals of fortune to make each day not so bad.
As with the prior installments, Kinney’s simple, humorous
illustrations between the text are the book’s defining element,
augmenting the story and giving the series its comic mystique.
Events seem deliciously random, but they play off of each other and
wrap together as in a Seinfeld episode to form a surprising yet
wholly believable ending.
The Last Straw is a wonderful continuation of Greg’s story
and also great as a standalone read. It’s ideal for reluctant
readers and bibliophiles alike, providing clean entertainment that’s
hard to beat. The next chapter can’t come soon enough.
Our Rating:
A
more information:
For more information, user reviews, or to buy:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
Reviewed: June 2009
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