"Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul" by Jeff Kinney

I must say, before I began this book, I wondered if Jeff Kinney might be running out of steam after so many Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. Thankfully, the answer to this is no, and The Long Haul is my favorite yet! I read this book in a waiting room while waiting for my boyfriend. I got some strange looks because I kept giggling out loud- but I couldn't help it. Greg and his family get into so many crazy scenarios I just could not contain the laughter.

Greg's family is hitting the road after his mom sees an article about how it can bond their family. While this may work for some families, it doesn't quite work out as planned for the Heffley's. Just a few of their encounters include: hauling a boat becuase it's more cost effective than an RV or a trailer, an empty swimming pool, and some angry seagulls. And Manny wins a pig, which ends up going along for the ride. Without a doubt, this is one trip Greg will never forget.

Those that are already a fan of the series will enjoy this book. Something I like about these books is that readers can somewhat get away with reading the books out of order or by skipping around. While there are some references that will be missed, they are structured so that each book is not entirely dependant on the others. When I was a kid, I liked when I could skip around in a series without missing out on too much. Now that I have finished this book, I am once again looking forward to the next in the series and anything else Jeff Kinney decides to write.

Happy Reading!
-Melly

"Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck" by Jeff Kinney

Well here we go again.  New Wimpy Kid book= one excited blogger.  In Hard Luck, Greg is back to his usual lazy self only this time it's without his sidekick Rowley.  Rowley has a girlfriend now and doesn't have nearly as much time for Greg- or any time for that matter.  So now it's up to Greg to either find a new friend or find some other way to fill his time.  This book includes a trip into his mom's closet, a search for a family heirloom, and the mystic power of a magic 8 ball.  And of course, lots of laughs.

Something that I really liked about this book is that it was good.  I have found that many series like this one reach a point where the author seems to only be writing for the paycheck.  It's a bunch of boring words on a page, but the author's name on the front cover sure sells copies.  This is not the case with Jeff Kinney.  He still has the magic touch (or maybe it's the cheese touch) that keeps this series going and keeps it quality.  While the stories usually consist or Greg goofing off and getting into trouble, the way it happens is always fresh and humorous.  I am quite happy that these books are still coming out and plan on sticking with them until the end.  Fans of the series will not be disappointed and those that haven't read them yet are in for a laugh!

Happy Reading!

-Melly

It's the Wimpy Kid Hard Luck Truck!!http://beautyandthearmageddon.blogspot.com/2013/11/diary-of-wimpy-kid-hard-luck-truck.html

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Hard Luck Truck

Look what came to my town this weekend!  Pretty sure that I was one of the most excited "kids" there.

P.S. The new book comes out on Tuesday!

Happy Reading!
-Melly

"Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel" by Jeff Kinney

Why do I insist on writing reviews for books that I loved?  The review usually consists of something along the lines of this book is amazing, you should read it!.  So anyways...Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel is a hit!  Jeff Kinney has brought Greg back in all of his middle school craziness- and you won't be disappointed.  This time, Greg is getting ready for the big Valentine's Day dance.  The only problem?  His best friend Rowley is spending more time with Greg's date than Greg is!  As usual, I laughed out loud as I was reading.  Kinney's characters are hilarious and quite believable.  It's easy to dislike how self-centered Greg can be, but since this is his diary, I don't feel too bothered by it.  In that way, I feel that it is a very honest piece of writing.  I always look forward to these books, and can't wait for the next in the series to be released!

*Readers- this is the perfect gift for boys on your Christmas list!*


Happy Reading!
-Melly