Dog Days (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 4)

Today we have a guest reviewer with us! Pacey is nine years old and this is his first review for Reading Tween. We hope they'll be many more to come. If you or your son or daughter would like to see your Elementar/Middle Grade Review on Reading Tween, email us at ReadingTween(at)ReadingTeen.net

Version: paper back
Publisher: Amulet books
Pages: 224
Reading level: 8 upwards

Plot summary:

Dog Days is the 4th book in a series, about school student Greg Heffley and his life’s problems, which he brings mostly upon himself. Again, Jeff Kinney has created, in words and pictures, a highly laughable cartoon novel/diary. As in the other books in the series, the emphasis is on the general goofiness that comes with being a self-centered adolescent and the often unexpected results, at least to Greg.

Well, it all starts of with Greg playing video games during the school holidays, but his mum wants to do something a whole lot different, so she decides she wants to go to the beach for a day. Instead his friend Rowley takes Greg to the beach first and they stay in an old house, with no electricity or video games. Greg gets bored quickly and scares his friend so bad, Greg’s father has to leave work early to pick them up. Greg and Rowley end up falling out.

His mum takes him to the pool and Greg tries to impress a girl called Heather Hills, but it doesn’t work out too well. Rowley’s mum invites Greg to come along to the fair and both boys make up, so Greg’s summer gets better.

Plot high point:

When Greg and Rowley sleep in the old beach house and get scared.

Low point:

Unfortunately it’s the summer and no time is spent at school, where it may have been funnier.

Main characters:

Greg-main, Rowley-friend, Fregly-creepydude, Heather Hills-Greg’s friend, Manny-his little brother and Rodrick-his big brother.

Setting:

Old creepy beach house, in the street, car, at the fair, swimming pool and beach.

Personal opinion:

This is the first wimpy kid diary I’ve read, I thought it was funny enough and I like the way it’s set out like a sort of ‘comic’ type diary.

 PACEY