The highly anticipated third book in the critically acclaimed and
bestselling series takes the art of being wimpy to a whole new level. Let’s
face it: Greg Heffley will never change his wimpy ways. Somebody just
needs to explain that to Greg’s father. You see, Frank Heffley actually
thinks he can get his son to toughen up, and he enlists Greg in
organized sports and other “manly†? endeavors. Of course, Greg is able
to easily sidestep his father’s efforts to change him. But when Greg’s
dad threatens to send him to military academy, Greg realizes he has to
shape up . . . or get shipped out. Greg and his family and friends, who make the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books
a must-read for middle school readers, are back and at their best in
this hilarious new installment of the series, which is sure to please
current fans while attracting new ones. Publishers Weekly-1/19/2009:The
third book in this genre-busting series is certain to enlarge Kinney’s
presence on the bestseller lists, where the previous titles have taken
up residence for the past two years. Kinney’s spot-on humor and winning
formula of deadpan text set against cartoons are back in full force.
This time, Greg starts off on New Year’s Day (he resolves to “help other
people improve,†? telling his mother, “I think you should work on
chewing your potato chips more quietly†?) and ends with summer vacation.
As he fends off his father’s attempts to make him more of a man (the
threat of military school looms), Greg’s hapless adventures include
handing out anonymous valentines expressing his true feelings (“Dear
James, You smell†?), attempting to impress his classmate Holly and
single-handedly wrecking his soccer team’s perfect season. Kinney allows
himself some insider humor as well, with Greg noting the “racket†?
children’s book authors have going. “All you have to do is make up a
character with a snappy name, and then make sure the character learns a
lesson at the end of the book.†? Greg, self-centered as ever, may be the
exception proving that rule. Ages 8†“12.