Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw

My 8 year old grandaughter screamed when I gave her the book. She had borrowed one from her cousin, but could hardly wait to read this one. I understand there is a movie version coming out soon. Both boys and girls identify with the character and enjoy reading this book.

Purchased this for my 8 year old grandson at his request. He loves this whole series. Now they're making a movie and he's excited to see it. Love to have him reading!

My thoughts:
Positives:

* Really quick read
* Cartoons are always comical.
* Shows Greg is really starting to grow up and get new interests.
* Is perfect for everyone, especially for a little light reading.

Negatives:

* This was not as funny as the last two
* There is no real change in any of the other characters, so the same jokes have been told before.
* There are a lot of things that happen within this novel that mean absolutely nothing.
* He is extremely self-absorbed and therefore we have a limited view of everything that happens around him, I think that the more this series continues the less connection most boys will have with him.

I give this book 3 stars because it is just like the other 3 books, if you read one no need to read them all. However some parts cracked me up. This book is by Jeff Kinny and this book is probably fiction. The main character is Greg Heffly. I think the authors propose is just entertainment. The mood is mostly funny for me. The theme I found was the author wanted to tell us how to survive middle school. I hope Jeff writes a 5th book that is a little different from the others. ~Farve

Jeff Kinney has made another great book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series guess which one it is...you guessed it, The Last Straw. In this book Greg is trying to make his family go for there New Years resolution but they are not going for it. Like Greg's mom she was going to stop chewing so loud but she didn't stop, his dad was going on a strict diet but it didn't happen, and his little brother Manny was throwing away his pacifier but it didn't last one minute. When Greg was little his dad said if you get out of bed you may run into Shel SWilverstein he still doesn't get out of bed. I have told you too much already so you have to read this book and find out the ending. ~Ray

This third book in the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series had a lot to live up to, since the first two were so clever and funny. And in truth, this one isn't quite as good. It's just a little less funny, and the main character, Greg Heffley, shows some flashes of cockiness that make him a bit less likeable ("I'm pretty much one of the best people I know").

Having said that, it's still worth reading, and you'll definitely get some laughs out of it. It got better in the second half, as Greg's clumsy infatuation with Holly Hills produces multiple embarrassing moments.

This was the funniest read that i had for a long time! All the books made me roll on the floor, and the comics are so damn funny! I <3 the wimpy kid series and I'm sure that I'll never grow tired of reading and re-reading this series! Hilarious!

My 9-year-old son is good at reading, but that doesn't necessarily translate to being an eager reader. However, he loves the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series of books. I highly recommend The Last Straw, as well as the others in the series.

I'm always happy when something gets my children to read instead of playing video games. I'm glad that this series is so successful. The books have been consistently good and stories are still very interesting (even to adults), so kudos to the author for continuing to write quality books. The "Look Inside" feature of the books on Amazon should give the person interested in checking the book out a good look at the style of the book. It will not disappoint.

My son loves to read but I have never seen him so focused reading the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. He absolutely loves the stories, the humors, and the languages. He said he will read them all over again after he finishes the five he had right now.

I would rate this a minus one star, but there is no way to do that here.

Our book club decided to read this book. OK,I am over 60 and I have never liked "humor" in which people are embarrassed or have bad things happen to them. So, to me it wasn't at all funny.

There are sooooo many really great books written for the 5th grade crowd, I'm sorry to think that this is what passes for good these days. Take the Hatchet series for example, or Animorphs. They have plenty of adventure and are not hard to read.

Does no one think that the antihero of the series might be an example to other kids - do they really see his blunders as something to learn from or do they identify with him? Reviews by kids suggest the latter.

It also bugs me that the grammar is poor, the "me and Rowley went to the movies" contruction is used throughout. I certainly think that while this might make the book more believable, it is repeated over and over as if this were correct English. Kids will copy this.

I don't mind being called a fuddy-duddy, the book I read, I consider trash.

This series of books are one of the best I've ever read in children books....My kids love them also

I bought this book for my 10 year old niece, who loved the book and is anxiously awaiting mor wimpy kid stories to follow.

The author Jeff Kinney hits on the REAL feelings of boys! And every reader will remember many of these normal and awkward situations and laugh.
This series is hysterical and satirical but in no way mean spirited.
It's a great way to get boys to love reading!
P.J. Duval
Author of the Novels
The Adventures of Nicki in Wolf Creek &
The Secret Clubhouse (Adventures of Nicki)
[...]
The Secret Clubhouse: The Adventures of Nicki

After reading about the Wimpy Kid series in an article on NPR's website, I decided to pick up a copy to see what it was all about. The story follows the adventures of Greg and his thoughts on day to day middle school life. His two brothers primarily offer annoyance to his daily existence. He and his main man Rolley stick together through various trials and experiences. A running theme once Greg's mother passes laundry responsibilities to him is his refusal to wash laundry and instead increasingly wear the least dirty cloths and least undesirable clothing options. Each adventure leads the reader want to find out what the next will be. The illustrations add humor and context as well. The book is entertaining, humorous, and a quick read.

I picked up the first book just after the fourth had been released and I was pleasantly surprised! I went back and purchased the second, then the third...and each time the book has been funnier than the last!

I would recommend these books to anyone who remembers middle school.

My son (8) LOVES this series and we read it all the time. It is funny and has some real life issues that is totally right on and great fun. I would so buy this book for a cousin or nephew.

My students love the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books and sometimes argue about who gets the book next!
It was delivered promptly in great condition.

Greg Heffley is back and as wimpy as ever. His father refuses to accept this and is on a quest to toughen up Greg by signing him up for "manly' sports and threatening to send him to military school. This third installment in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series continues to keep even the reluctant reader enthralled with its comic strip style and witty journal text. --Reviewed by Jodi Wayne

Kinney, J. (2009). Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw. New York: Amulet Books.

9780810970687

Okay, so here's my deal. Everyone around me has been in love with this series. They love how fast of a read it is, how the text and pictures lean upon each other to help the books redefine what a picturebook is, how some of the characters are drawn, how funny some of the situations are. And on and on.

I have to admit, much of this passion was lost on me for one simple reason. I don't think Greg is a wimpy kid. Yes, he is very skinny. And yes, he is very concerned with the way the other students perceive him. Yes, he often does worry about being bullied. But it seems to me, Greg does a lot of the bullying presented in the series. And by "a lot" I mean most.

Now, having said that, with each book the series has been growing on me more and more. The high point so far being The Last Straw with Greg describing how Shel Silverstein used to be the monster he feared at night.



The reality is even scarier than Kinney's drawing. I wish I was there when photographer Jerry Yulsman took the photo. "Now smile, Shel. Now--wait, don't smile. Ummm. How would you feel about a wig? Makeup? Please don't eat me." A good time, I'm sure.

Again, this book picks up soon after Rodrick Rules ends, but could still manage as a stand-alone read. Picking up on New Year's Day, Greg has no problem keeping to his resolution of improving other people, but everyone else seems to be falling short of his expectations and their own.

Over the semester that this book covers, Greg must deal with a Valentine dance, soccer practice, joining the boy scouts and the threat of military school.


Activities to Do with the Book:

Since Greg describes the way that children's books are often constructed, readers could also write their own stories in response.

I feel that given an opportunity, a teacher should address the way Greg treats his best friend Rowley. How would students feel to have a friend treat them the way Rowley gets treated? Would they still be friends with Greg? Why? Why not?

And as with the rest of the series, if the book won't get kids writing in journals or diaries, I don't know what will.



Favorite Quotes:

"You know how you're supposed to come up with a list of "resolutions" at the beginning of the year to try to make yourself a better person?
Well, the problem is, it's not easy for me to think of ways to improve myself, because I'm already pretty much one of the best people I know.
So this year my resolution is to try to help OTHER people improve" (p. 1).

"That's when Mom spoke up. She told Uncle Charlie she thought the Laundry Hoop was a GREAT idea.
Then she said that from now on I'd be doing my OWN laundry. So basically, it ends up that Uncle Charlie got me a chore for Christmas" (pp. 11-12).

"You know, if the school is going to take away our bus ride home, the least they can do is install a ski lift on our hill.
I've e-mailed the principal about five times with my suggestion, but I haven't heard anything back yet" (p. 46).

"Me and Rowley are both bachelors at the moment, but that's not gonna stop us from arriving in style.
I figured if me and Rowley scraped together some money in the next few days, we could rent a limo for the night. But when I called the limo company, the guy who answered the phone called me "Ma'am." So that pretty much blew any chance he had of getting MY business" (p. 87).

I have purchased several copies of all of the Wimpie Diaries for my grandchildren, little friends, library fundraisers, etc. These books are GREAT, children WANT to READ them. As a read-aholic I firmly believe that children should own their favorite books for a lifetime. The Wimpie Diaries are imaginative, entertaining, and kids love to read them. What a great idea, kids reading.

Parent Review:


Diary of a Wimpy kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney is the 3rd book in the series Diary of a Wimpy Kid. I've read all of the books in the series now. To be honest, I understand why kids are drawn to them but as an adult reading them all back to back they got a bit old. As I've shared in my reviews of the other books in the series, this is one of my son's favorite book series. My son who is 10, was so happy that I read the first book and when I finished it, he lined up book 2 and 3 in the series on my nightstand. It was nice to know what he was reading and talk about the books with him.

This book, continues the story of Gregory, a middle schooler who started writing a diary one summer when his mother bought him one. He's continued writing his stories and complementing them with comics. The comics definitely add a lighter, fun feel to the book and kids seem to love this part. Gregory continues to get himself into embarrassing situations and learns lessons the hard way. This book starts off on New Year's Day where he tries to help other people improve and then it ends at the start of summer vacation. His father seems to be a bit disappointed in his son's and the antics they get into. He decides that they need to learn how to be "men" and threatens to send Gregory to military school. Gregory ends up doing all he can to "bond" with his father and of course, ends up in many precarious situations and not at all what he intended in the first place. The book also details ways that Greg tries to get along with his brothers, his attempts to impress a girl named Holly in his class, and how Greg attempts to get through being placed on a soccer team he doesn't like. It's obvious in the book that Greg is doing all he can as a kid to get through life. He tends to be self centered and socially awkward and kids can definitely relate to that as well as the theme that grown ups really don't get it. I think that is a universal rule in childhood...Kids don't think that their parents or any grown ups "get it"!

Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw (Amulet, 2009)

We pick up pretty much where we left off after the second book, with Greg Heffley as the quintessential slacker, resolving on New Year's Day to help other people improve. (If you've been reading along with the series, you'll know how well this idea turns out.) We go through the second half of the school year, with brand-new silly ideas from pretty much every member of the cast, plus, believe it or not, a romantic subplot. (Greg Heffley with a girlfriend? Say it ain't so! Well, okay, it ain't so, but...) Sharp and funny, as the rest of the series so far, and from my perspective, just as funny for those who only have dim memories of childhood as it is for the kids it's so wildly popular with. *** ½

If your kids know and love Jeff Kinney's bestselling `Wimpy Kid' books, this latest installment will not disappoint. If you and your family haven't yet read these hilarious cartoon novels, let this green-bound book be your delicious introduction.

In "The Last Straw" we rejoin middle school student Greg Heffley journaling his frank opinions about school, suburbia and his own zany family. But unlike Harriet the Spy, another intrepid chronicler of everyday American life, Greg's greatest ripostes are at his own expense. He cheerfully confesses to an attempt to make change from the church collection plate and also describes digging up a time capsule and pocketing the contents. (There's an especially funny reflection about the dilemma of a young man with no clean underwear except a worn Speedo and a pair of Wonder Woman Underoos.) Happily unethical, young Greg is always searching for the shortcuts in life. For example, after he signs up with Boy Scout Troop 133, he is dismayed to learn he must earn a `whittling badge.' Greg determines he can squeeze the soap into shapes instead of carving it. After turning in a soap with four protuberances as a "sheep" Greg then turns it upside down and resubmits it as "the Titanic." While Greg will never make Eagle Scout, he does remains true to himself and his fear of sharp objects.

One of the best things about this best-selling series is how addictive the books are to young people, even the reluctant reader. If your child enjoys this book, he or she will happily move on to the original, red-bound "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," ($[...]) and the second in the series, "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules"($[...]) There's also the fun "Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself" book ($[...]) This orange-bound book will get your child to journal and answer some rather tough questions. A sample: True or False: Have you ever peed a swimming pool?

It's interesting to note that Kinney, a former college cartoonist, worked on his Wimpy Kid concepts for six years before publishing in installments on [...] To date, the online version has had more than 70 million visits. Having won a vast online and print audience, `Wimpy Kid' is expected to move to the big-screen, with a casting call now underway for the film version of Greg Heffley's adventures. [...]

As with Charlie Brown creator Charles Schultz, Kinney's work revolves around childhood events like the school Valentine party, sibling rivalry, or warming the bench during the big game. But unlike Schultz, Kinney suggests that being the underdog is not so bad. In fact, the underdog may even get the last laugh in the end--or at least avoid military school.
Time will tell if Kinney's works deserve to be ranked with Schultz' Peanuts gang, or with Bill Watterson's Calvin & Hobbes series, for that matter. In the short term, these books will be a rollicking, well-read addition to your family bookshelf.

My son reads this book out loud to me and we both enjoy it so much. He loves these books because they are so different and the graphics are hilarious! Greg, keep up the good work and anyone who can entertain my son as you have is a genius!

My 10 year old daughter reads this series every night. I always ask her "Don't you ever get tired of reading the same books over and over again?!", but she always says no. I didn't understand her until I read the books. They were great! I totally recommend this series and I believe that if you're looking for something to make you explode with laughter, this is the book for you!

My son, age 9, loves these books. He reads them and then reads them again. He even has me read sections to him at bedtime. The books are fun! Irony and sarcasm appear, and I appreciate that since it's my favorite form of humor. If your child is a reluctant reader, the large font and frequent graphics may make the text less intimidating. There is also plenty of material to talk about with your kids. Just this evening, we talked about what a New Years' Resolution was and what some common resolutions are. There are lots of these discussions waiting for you and your kids if you read this book together.

I found the whole series of "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" to be a fantastic inducement for getting children 7 to 12 to read. In fact reading it myself has given me an insight into these sweet little minds. Lots of laughs and jogging of long ago memories.

My Nephew is 9 and had borrowed the first book from the library at school and loved it, so I bought him the others. He read these books fast, it wasn't an effort to get him to read after school, cause he looked forward to reading these books. Too bad there is only 3 of these books.

My kids laughed and chuckled all the way through this story. Writen from a perspective of a child, it is full of great adventures and funny jokes. It will entertain the fussiest of readers and bring lots of funny conversation as they try to share.

I've not read this series, however, my "just turned" 9yr old son absolutely loves it. I'm very glad this is out there and helps him to enjoy reading. Slowly we are moving him to the classics. These type of books help! Thank you.

I bought all 4 books from the WImpy Kid series for my soon to be 8 yr old! He loves them. Already read one whole book. And I got them just in time for him to read over the summer. I looked everywhere for these books and this was the best price....and they are hard cover, which are way more durable for the younger readers!
Very cute cartoons, and it makes the little guys think they are reading huge chapter books, the point is to get them to read, and enjoy it. These books do just that.

My teenage grandsons love this and the others in the series, and have read them over and over.

My son really loves this whole series, so I picked the latest up for his B-day. He couldn't put it down and finished it in a few hours.

This is the third book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. It is done in the style of a 12 year old boy's diary. Greg Heffley, the boy in question, is wimp and a lot of the humor comes from his dad's efforts to make him more "manly". Greg describes himself as "pretty much one of the best people I know", but in reality he is a self-centered underachiever. This book is quite funny, for kids and adults alike.

I bought this series for my grandson who is eight. He told me he couldn't stop reading and read it in two days.Loved it!!

This order came very fast, in excellent condition. Can't beat the service and quality and price!! This is the third in the series, so it is again, funny, and my daughter and son enjoy reading it very much.

OMG. My seven year old loves this book. It has helped get him more interested in reading and he can't put the book down now. It is wonderful to see him pouring over a book and laughing as he reads. Excellent.

The book I read was Diary of a Whimpy Kid The Last Straw.The author was Jeff Kinney. First, the book was awesome because he's in 6th grade and his life is just like ours he acts like a normal kid but his famliy act really like kids expect for there Mom and Dad. Second, this book was great to read. You'll will laugh and you will never will not want to drop a book like this one.Thired, there are a lot of these kind of books there are #5 of them to read There Great,The Charater is Greg he has a best named Rowely he just like he never grows up he hangs out with 5yrs.olds.To end this review remenber read the book it's Aosome so go get you a pair and read threw it!!!!!!!!!!.

I purchased the whole series for both my 13 yr. old & 10 yr. old. They loved the books, couldn't put them down. Even had discussions about them. It was great to see that enthusiam in both of my children. GREAT STORY TELLING!!! Hope more are made.

these books are a great series for the younger generation, cute story line and they make them think about making their own diary.

I purchased the book for my son, (he's 11 and is ADHD) who has all the other Wimpy Kids books, he read it in a day. For him to read something this quick was awesome. I was surprised too, my husband picked it up one night and read it out of curiosity and the two of them got to talking about it. Definitely a good read for him.

I got this book for my son we had read the other ones in this series and they are great books. He was quite happy when he got this in his easter basket.

My eleven-year-old son is not one to sit around and read a book, but with Diary of a Wimpy Kid, he read straight through with hardly a break. He engulfed the entire series in little over a week and laughed the whole way through. I only wish there were more books of this nature. Thank you, Jeff Kinney, for a book great for preadolescent boys.

These graphic novels by Kinney are so much fun to read. They're quick and easy, but help to remind us all about the perils of middle school and growing up. They put "picture books" in an entirely different kind of category, walking the line between the often dark and ornate worlds of the comic books or graphic novels, and the simplistic messages conveyed by illustrated books for children. It feels very much like you're reading the journal/diary of a tween.

Lindsey Miller, www.lindseylibrary.com

Good storyline and characters, Greg got involved in a variety of different activies that he didn't like and we see how he copes. Content should keep boys and girls interested alike. Worth buying and as good a read as the others in the series.

My son was so excited to have the latest book in this series! It is so nice to see him reading and enjoying it! He is 12 years old... He talked me into reading them also, and I have to say that I laughed a lot! There are so many things that remind us of our family! We love Rowley, and my 6 year old loves Manny!
We still haven't figured out what exactly a "ploopy" is though!

I really should have my son write this review but I can tell you that he finished the entire book in one night. He's 9 and I had to threaten to throw the book away if he didn't come to dinner. He really loves this entire series and now he's got his 7 year old brother reading them too. They can't wait for the next one.

This sequel to Roderick Rules and the Do-It-Yourself Book tells of the rewards and perils of being a wimpy kid. Greg's father threatens to involve him in more 'manly' endeavors, but Greg refuses to be anything more than what he is in this joke-packed story accompanied by cartoon line drawings and fun moments. Perfect for grades 5 and up.