skip navigation links

Readers > Talk it Up! > Discussion guides > The Higher Power of Lucky

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Summary

Greg Heffley’s mom forces him to keep a diary, in which he records the trials and tribulations of sixth grade. Greg depicts his attempts to survive bullies, gym class, Halloween, the school play, and general middle school madness through his hilarious writing and drawings.

Booktalk

Greg Heffley is pretty much your average middle school kid. He loves to play video games – as much as possible – and he hates doing any kind of work, whether it’s homework or working out. He hangs out with his best friend, Rowley, though sometimes you’ve got to wonder why Rowley is friends with Greg. Like when Greg makes Rowley ride a big wheel down a hill and tries to knock him off with a football. Or there’s the time he lets Rowley get in huge trouble and take the blame for terrorizing a bunch of kindergartners, when it was really Greg who did it. Greg is pretty sure he is around the 52nd or 53rd most popular kid in school, but he wants to change all that. He’s sure he’ll move up when another kid gets braces. Or maybe after he wins the election for School Treasurer, that’s when girls will fall for him. Or if he can just get the job as the next cartoonist for the school newspaper – that will make him popular, for sure. Greg records all of his middle school adventures in a diary – but don’t expect “Dear Diary” this and “Dear Diary” that. Filled with Greg’s hysterical cartoons, and somewhere in between a novel and a graphic novel, Diary of a Wimpy Kid will have you laughing out loud.

Discussion questions

Warning! Some of the questions contain key elements of the plot. Do not read if you don't want to know what happens!

  1. This book has many humorous moments. Which part of the book did you find the funniest? Why?
  2. How do the illustrations add interest to the story?
  3. What do you think of Greg’s friendship with Rowley?
  4. If you could pick one adjective to describe Greg, what would it be?
  5. Do you think that Greg really is a wimpy kid? Why or why not?
  6. Describe Greg’s relationship with his brothers. How is your relationship with your siblings the same or different?
  7. How is popularity measured in your school? By the clothes you wear? How good you are at sports? How smart you are?
  8. How is your middle school experience similar to Greg’s? How is it different?
  9. Have you ever kept a journal? In what ways did it help you to write down events in your life?
  10. Predict Greg’s future! Imagine what Greg will be like when he’s 35. What kind of job will he have?

If you liked this book, try

Created in part with funds granted by the Oregon State Library under the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the Oregon State Library. Send feedback to Katie O'Dell, Reading Promotions Coordinator