Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw (Book 3) - Hardcover

Kinney, Jeff

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0810970686 ISBN 13: 9780810970687

Publisher: Harry N. Abrams, 2009

Synopsis

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.

This highly anticipated third book in the critically acclaimed and bestselling series takes the art of being wimpy to a whole new level.

 

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.

About this title

About the Author:

Jeff Kinney is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and five-time Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award winner for Favorite Book. Jeff has been named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. He is also the creator of Poptropica, which was named one of Time magazine’s 50 Best Websites. He spent his childhood in the Washington, D.C., area and moved to New England in 1995. Jeff lives with his wife and two sons in Plainville, Massachusetts, where he owns a bookstore, An Unlikely Story.

From AudioFile:

The third book in Kinney's popular series opens with Greg's New Year's resolution: Since he's already perfect, he'll focus on helping other people address their character flaws. (And he's surprised by their negative reactions to his helpful suggestions.) Though some older listeners may tire of the smart-aleck boy humor evident here, narrator Ramon de Ocampo does not: He brings as much energy to his lively characterization of Greg as he did in the first book. De Ocampo's tone (smart-alecky yet clueless) and his depictions of Greg fumbling his way through playing soccer badly, getting a merit badge in Boy Scouts, and having a first crush are sure to delight the boys who are so clearly Kinney's audience. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

About this edition

• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0810970686
• ISBN 13: 9780810970687
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224