Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School by Jeff Kinney

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Puffin Books, 2015. ISBN 9780143309000
(Age: 7-12) The Diary of a Wimpy Kid books are still as popular as ever and the new title (number 10 in the series), Old School will please DOWK fans.
As usual Greg has many misadventures and mishaps. His Mum has convinced the town to unplug and be electronics free, his granddad has moved into Greg's bedroom and Greg has to share with his little brother Manny, his lemonade stall has problems and volunteering in the community has it's drawbacks.
Despite his original misgivings, Greg ends up going on camp to Hardscrabble Farm. Life at the camp involves a variety of unpleasant activities and experiences but the biggest issue is the camp story of Silas Scratch, an undead farmer who couldn't be killed. The constant fear of his appearance impacts on all the campers, but Greg is determined to discover more about this scary character.
I laughed out loud at several parts of this story, the little brother Manny with his 'no pants' antics, the not to be crossed girl scouts and the grandfather driving the car were very funny.
The amusing storyline and simple cartoon illustrations are still a hit and the book appeals to confident and less independent readers alike.
I recommend this book to the many old and new fans of DOWK and suggest that readers from 7 to 12 years will enjoy this novel.
You can hear Jeff Kinney talk about his book here.
Jane Moore

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