Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid

April 1, 2019
No fan of the Wimpy Kid series would argue that Greg Heffley’s long-suffering sidekick, Rowley Jefferson, doesn’t deserve a turn in the spotlight. And none will be surprised that as soon as Rowley claims it, Greg hijacks it for himself. What begins as Rowley’s diary—illustrated in Kinney’s familiar stick-figure style—quickly morphs into a biography of Greg, who insists that “there are gonna be a LOT of biographies about him one day,” but he’s giving Rowley the chance to write the first. What follows is a retelling of some indignities that Rowley has suffered at Greg’s hands: Greg’s manipulation of Rowley extends to every facet of their friendship, including cheating on a math test so thoroughly that he inadvertently copies Rowley’s name onto his own paper. But Rowley remains an “awesome friendly kid” through and through—when the friends create original comics, Rowley’s superhero, Amazing Guy, blocks attacks with rainbows and wears padded gloves “so he doesn’t hurt the bad guys too much.” His superpower, like Rowley’s, is kindness. This series spinoff first appeared in 2018 (at half its present length) as a promotion for Scholastic Book Clubs. The fuller version will please fans, many of whom have long maintained that Rowley deserves better. Ages 8–12.

April 1, 2019
The wimpy kid's best friend tells his side of the story. After 13 volumes documenting events from Greg Heffley's perspective, Rowley Jefferson takes a turn. The result is oddly refreshing: Greg's unreliable narration gives readers plenty to chuckle at, but Rowley's brutal honesty supplies fans of the series an unblinking look at their favorite protagonist. Greg's jerk-y behavior that always lurked beneath the surface emerges fully here, coming dangerously close to ruining the character. Kinney uses this perspective shift to explore Greg's behavior from the outside but through the eyes of his best friend, and that distinction is important. Rowley has cleareyed faith in his friend despite his father's disapproval and nudges to make a better one. This faith is tested during a difficult sleepover and an exasperating study session but rewarded in the end. The Wimpy Kid books have never been heavy on plot, instead emphasizing character and gags. The gags in this volume are serviceable, but the character work is terrific. The fact that Kinney can expose new facets of his characters this deep into the series is a credit to the property. Underneath the marketing, the movies, the bookmarks, and the merchandise, the Wimpy Kid books are about a couple of pals figuring themselves out. A pleasant twist on a sturdy franchise. (Graphic/fiction hybrid. 7-10)

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April 15, 2019
Grades 2-5 Greg Heffley has spent plenty of time in the spotlight, wouldn't you say? His best friend, Rowley, certainly thinks so, and this spin-off of the wildly popular Wimpy Kid series gives the beleaguered sidekick a chance to shine (sort of). It starts out well enough, with Rowley narrating his exploits in classic Kinney style, but soon Greg catches on and mayhem ensues. First, Greg insists Rowley write an official biography of Greg, but Rowley's anecdotes aren't particularly laudatory?in fact, Greg comes off as a pretty big jerk. Naturally, this only leads to more hilarity, particularly around Rowley and Greg's odd-couple friendship. As you'd probably expect, Kinney perfectly captures middle-school logic and relationships, especially the manic escalation of fights. Rowley emerges as a sweet if gullible kid, whose desire to be a good friend leads him down some questionable paths. Laughs abound, of course, and a roundup of lies Greg told Rowley is particularly hilarious. Kinney has mastered this format, and fans of the beloved series will be delighted by this fresh perspective.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: This is certainly one of the biggest books to come out this year. Kinney's fans already know all about it, so plan accordingly!(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)