Wimpy Kid Pick: The Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck (book 8)
by Jeff Kinney
Amulet
2013
217 pages

Official Wimpy Kid page

Endearing, innovative and downright laugh out loud funny, the latest book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series is a riot! Jeff Kinney keeps getting it right, and Greg Heffley is entertaining and unflappable as the ultimate Wimpy Kid.

Greg is going through a rough time. Best friend Rowley has a new girlfriend and has changed completely. He no longer sits at the "boys' table" but with girlfriend Abigail. Greg feels at loose ends and can't decide what group to join. He realizes he's grasping at straws when he even considers weird kid Fregley as his new BFF. Greg is down on his luck but willing to try anything.

When he finds an old Magic 8 ball under his brother's bed, Greg begins to depend on the 8 ball to make decisions for him. He decides the 8 ball is really good at decision making and even tries to use it to finish his math homework. That's when Greg realizes the 8 ball is limited on giving answers to all questions.

There's so much to love about this book! There's family drama when the extended family comes for a visit for Easter. Greg's mom's cousin Gerald creeps Greg out when he declares, "I used to change your diapers." The ick factor alone would creep out any kid. More family drama is centered around Meemaw's missing wedding ring. Everyone is looking for the missing ring, and soon accusations fly.

One laugh out loud moment comes when Greg refuses to taste  his mother's potato salad. He won't try it because she makes it in the bowl she gives to  them when they have the flu. His mother tells them, "If you have to throw up, do it in here." No potato salad, thanks anyway!

Greg will go to any lengths to pass his classes so he doesn't have to attend summer school. The way he hears it, they turn off the air conditioning in the summer and they don't even use real teachers. Last summer, Greg heard that the janitor was a teacher.

This little gem of a book is sure to appeal to any reluctant reader and to readers of all ages. I found it charming. Readers will laugh out loud at Greg's antics and woes. Thank goodness for Jeff Kinney who speaks to  the wimpy kid in all of us.

Highly, highly recommended for all ages!

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

This review has been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)