Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Oh, middle school... 

A time of insecurity masked by unearned self-confidence. That is what Greg Heffley exemplifies as the main character of Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney. As the title illustrates, Greg is not exactly the type of person that we want our students be - he is self-absorbed and rude as he tries to find his place in a crazy ecosystem composed of rotting cheese, quests for popularity, old friends that don't fit in a new self-image, bullies, school plays, and evolving family dynamics. 

Personally, I loved middle school. Then again, I fit the mold of teacher's pet and didn't develop socially until much later. I was more concerned with being liked by adults than by my peers so I had a hard time relating with Greg in that regard. 

I know these books are very popular with younger readers, and I can see why. I mostly listened to the book on audio tape, which really let Kinney's voice shine through as a writer. It also helped me place myself, as a future teacher, back into the mindset of a younger person. I found myself chuckling at some parts, like when Greg states: "The only reason I get out of bed at all on weekends is because eventually, I can’t stand the taste of my own breath anymore" (Kinney, 2008, p. 16). I completely understand, Greg. 

There are some issues in the book that I would use as bridges into deeper conversations with my students. For example, Greg talks about boys and girls as being segregated in both their physical activities and their ways of thinking. Is it such a bad thing that Greg wanted a Barbie Dream House for Christmas? Or that he still played with the Beach Fun Barbie that his uncle got him? Kinney vaguely touches on the idea that gender roles are not set in stone, but he does more to enforce them by talking about the separate PE activities and that the girls had "the stupidest idea we ever heard" (Kinney, 2008, p. 148) for inventing a robot. Kinney has done a great job of setting up the common biases that a middle school boy might have. It's now my job as a teacher to extend the conversation. 

Overall, I wouldn't put a heavy emphasis on this book in my classroom. I can't deny the positive impacts of having students excited about a book series, though. It reminds me of waiting in line for the new Harry Potter books as a child. With anything, it requires deeper conversation. The task of teaching my students to be productive members of society will not come from a book; it will come from the meaningful interactions they have with adults and peers. I would encourage students to talk about what they like/dislike about Greg and to imagine themselves as his friend. That way, they could still enjoy Greg's funny antics but recognize that his is not a person by which to model themselves.

Source
Kinney, J. (2008). Diary of a wimpy kid. London: Puffin.