Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Title: Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Author: Jeff Kinney

ISBN:  978-0810993136

Publisher:  Amulet Books

Copyright: 2007

 Plot Summary: This book follows Greg through school and family life. He and his friend Rowley play a game where Rowley rides a big wheel and Greg throws a football at him to knock him off over and over again until Rowley breaks his hand. Greg also decides he is going to become a weightlifter to bulk up for wrestling in gym. Another fun adventure Greg goes on is he and Rowley go trick or treating and taunt some older kids and hide in Greg's grandmother's house, the next morning he discovers that his grandmother's house has been toliet papered. This book is full of slightly random stories that sometimes tie together accompanied by funny cartoons. It is written as Greg's diary. 

Critical Evaluation:  The cartoons accompanied with how well Kinney writes Greg as a adolescent male looking for some kind of status symbol make this book funny to read. Young boys especially will be able to relate to the characters and situations that Kinney writes for Greg.

 Reader's Annotation:  Will Greg ever get rid of "the cheese touch"?

Genre: Humor, Realistic Fiction, Young Adult

 Author Information:  Jeff Kinney started these comics and stories online, he then compiled them and published them where they became a hit, and the basis for a book series on Greg and his misadventures.  For more information visit www.wimpykid.com

Book talks: bullying, friendship, family, love, apologizing

Reading Level/Interest Age: Elementary School/ Middle School. 7-14.

Challenge: I did not see any challenging issues.

Why was this book chosen?: This book is funny but honest about Greg's relationships, makes it fun to read. 

Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging

Title: Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging

Author: Louise Rennison

ISBN: 978-0064472272

Publisher: HarperTeen

Copyright: 1999

 Plot Summary:  This books is written as the diary of Georgia Nicolson. She lives with her parents, her little sister Libby, and her wild cat Angus. Her best friend is named Jas. Georgia is dealing with all kinds of teenage girl issues, like breast size, and kissing. During this book Georgia and her friend Jas a working on a plan to get Jas together with a boy named Tom. In the process, Georgia falls in love with his brother Rob, but he is dating a girl named Lindsay.  Georgia's outlook in her diary is many times hilarious but many times she feels like her world is ending in traditional teenage girl fashion. 

Critical Evaluation:  Georgia's diary entries go through an entire school year. Her character is well written and while she is very funny, the reader completely understand the drama that is her life.  The way the diary entries are written the reader feels a little like an intruder in someone else's personal thoughts, which is exactly the way someone should feel reading diary entries. 

 Reader's Annotation: A look into Georgia Nicolson's diary, complete with discussion of the "shelf boob" and snogging classes. 

Genre: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Romance

Author Information: Louise Rennison has written a series of books about Georgia including books like, On the Bright Side, I'm Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God  and Knocked Out by My Nunga-Nungas.  Lear more about the author and Georgia by visiting http://www.georgianicolson.com/

Book talks: First kiss, love, crushes

Reading Level/Interest Age: Middle School/Early High School.

Challenge:  Some would find some of the topics that Georgia talks about like kissing or getting kissing lessons from a boy inappropriate topics for young girls but this book is nothing teenage girls haven't read about, heard about, or experienced already.

Why was this book chosen?: This well-written book was chosen due to the quality of writing and the humor this book has within it. 

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Title: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Author: Douglas Adams

ISBN: 978-0345453747

Publisher: Pan books

Copyright: 1979

 Plot Summary:  This book starts as Arthur Dent is saved from the destruction of Earth by his friend Ford Perfect. They hitch a ride on the aliens destroying the Earth's ship, which is against alien policy, so they hitch a ride upon another space ship. They discover the purpose that Earth served, what's in the universe out there but not exactly what 42 is the answer to. 

Critical Evaluation:   Adams does something in this book that is hard to do and amazing to read, combines science fiction and humor. This is an amazing read and hilariously written. 

 Reader's Annotation:  Earth's about to be destroyed by aliens, what's your escape route?

Genre:  Science Fiction, Humor

 Author Information: Douglas Adams is most widely known for writing The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and the four books that follow it. For more information go to Douglasadams.com.

Book talks: Aliens, earth, destroyed, universe, life outside universe

Reading Level/Interest Age: Middle School/High School/ Adults. 13-100+

Challenge: I don't see any challenging issues with this book.

Why was this book chosen?: This is a hilarious, fun, scientific novel.