The Week's Most Talked About Book: Diary of A Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney
Fiction
Abrams/Amulet
January 2009
Greg Heffley is at it again! He’s annoying, selfish and careless, but he’s also one of the most popular kids in print as hero of “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw” and previous “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series.
There’s no disputing the positive impact author and illustrator Jeff Kinney has on young readers and literature. The brain behind Funbrain.com, Kinney has been cranking out bestseller after bestseller; and rumor has it that a movie deal is in the works for Series
But parents aren’t faring so well. They are practically snatching Kinney’s latest book out of their kids’ hands, just to get them to do their homework. And with youth’s access to every kind of electronic gadget on the market, their enthusiasm for reading is impressive!
The antics of Greg, central character and middle-grade student, are amusing and sometimes downright gross. Isaac Carbajal, a fifth-grader at Leesville Road Elementary School in Raleigh, North Carolina, agrees that Greg isn’t the nicest kid in literature.
Carbajal is an avid reader of the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series. And even though he admits that he doesn’t know of anyone who has a life like Greg’s, his enthusiasm for the latest Jeff Kinney sensation is obvious.
Q: Can you summarize “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw”
in about 20 words or less?
Isaac: Greg is being threatened by his dad to be sent to military school, but Greg
has a few ideas to change his dad’s mind.
Q: Describe the one incident that makes you laugh the most?
Isaac: The part that makes me laugh the most is when Greg is sitting in the car on a chocolate bunny ear. Greg’s family is on their way to church for Easter. When they get out of the car, Greg notices and he doesn’t want to walk into church looking like he pooped his pants. So, Rodrick takes off his pants and says that Greg can wear them. But at that moment, their dad’s boss drives by and embarrasses him (the Dad) in front of his boss.
Q: Which appeals to you most: The characters, the storyline
or the drawings?
Isaac: The drawings are most appealing to me because it really
makes the story a whole lot more funny.
Q: What was your opinion of Greg? What is your opinion of
him now after reading “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw”?
Isaac: He’s pretty lazy most of the time; but he’s
also very serious on certain subjects, like looking nice in front of
people, not making himself look dumb and winning arguments over his brother
Rodrick.
Q: Greg is pretty self-absorbed. Could you be friends
with him?
Isaac: Probably not, because of the way he treats Rowley. If I
were Rowley, I would have stopped coming over a long time ago. Greg makes
Rowley take extra long turns in working on stuff like digging holes in freezing
weather.
Q: How does Greg really feel about his parents, siblings
and friend, Rowley?
Isaac: Greg thinks his mother knows nothing about children
today. He thinks his father is a totally addicted to junk food and that he
doesn’t think twice about anything. Greg is one of the best sleepers there is;
but he thinks his brother Rodrick is better at sleeping … Rodrick can
sleep through just about anything. Once, Rodrick even slept from Sunday to
Tuesday. And Rowley - Greg isn’t too sure about him, he feels that Rowley
isn’t the brightest person.
Q: Any ideas for the next installment of “Diary of a Wimpy
Kid? What title would you give it?
Isaac: The next book should show what happens between Greg;
Rowley; and Trista, the new girl. The storyline should mention how Greg will
get his plan to work to get Rowley to bring him and Trista to Rowley’s family
club. I would name this book: “Greg Has a Crush on Trista.”
Q: Why will the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series appeal to
girls?
Isaac: I think anybody who likes comedy will love to read
these books.
Isaac Carbajal is a participant in The Duke TIP 4th/5th Grade Talent search for academically talented students. He resides in Raleigh, North Carolina, with his mother Rosa and brother Xavier.
MORE BOOKS PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
by Jeff Kinney
Fiction
Abrams/Amulet
February 2008
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series 1
by Jeff Kinney
Fiction
Abrams/Amulet
April 2007
