DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES by Jeff Kinney
In his latest book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Jeff Kinney nearly put me into the hospital. That man is going to have serious medical bills to pay if this keeps up. I almost busted a gut laughing out loud and almost aspirated my Diet Dr Pepper on a few occasions. And, yes, I hold him completely responsible.
If not for Kinney’s dry wit, keen insight into the lives of elementary school boys (especially their rationalization for EVERYTHING), and fantastic line drawing on nearly every page, I wouldn’t have had so many close brushes with death in his latest book. But he put me there time and time again. Even when I thought I had things figured out (because I was once an elementary school boy with a wild imagination without a governor), Jeff would throw a wrinkle at me that I didn’t see coming. He ambushed me with regularity throughout the pages.
But it’s not just me that Jeff has his merciless sights on. He’s taking out EVERYBODY. My wife teaches elementary school and Jeff’s books are all the rage among the students. I have to admit to adding to that bonfire because I talk about his books all the time (and I have to admit that I haven’t quite become the responsible adult either, because I’ll rile my wife’s fourth grade class up and take my leave—taking her out to dinner usually gets me off the hook and my cool points go up with the kids).
Parents have become interested in the books and I’ve told them they need to keep up with what their kids are reading. After all, they’re supposed to be responsible parents. (I, myself, have been known to buy extra copies of Jeff’s books and give out as gifts – some parents have accused me of inciting subversion, but I point out that Jeff’s first book was a New York Times bestseller and that is a far better recommendation than I could ever make. Except the Times doesn’t give away Jeff’s books as gifts that I know of. That’s why they hold me more accountable.)
But when I recommend the books to parents, I issue a stern warning. I call it the PYP warning. I especially give it to pregnant mothers and people with weak bladders who read in public places. PYP is Pee Your Pants. The books are just that funny. You’re reading along, and the next thing you know, WHAM! — you’re laughing so hard you’re peeing your pants.
The funniest thing about Jeff’s humor, and the life of his main character, Greg Heffley, is that everything in the book COULD BE COMPLETELY TRUE. Speaking from experience, a lot of what’s between those pages has been true. But I’m not going to incriminate myself now when I got away with those things all those years ago. And there should be some kind of time statute on most of them. I still don’t want my mom to know, however.
Greg is THE man when it comes to taking a boring day and turning it upside down. People who underestimate the creativity of a bored child are simply asking for trouble. Nuclear war pales by comparison.
And Greg has an excuse – or a rationalization – for everything he does. Worse than that, half the time I get sucked in and totally buy into his point of view. Because, upon occasion, that point of view has been mine as well (or at least my defense). That’s where Jeff’s magic truly lies: he’s never lost touch with his inner child. And boy, his wife must be mad and his kids must be terrified!
In this second book, I was totally blown away yet again. Greg is a middle kid, which means that his life is made miserable from both ends of the spectrum – from his older brother Rodrick and his younger brother Manny. Rodrick is the sulky teen with a band called Loded Diper. And their music stinks, so they’re appropriately named. Manny is three and gets into all of Greg’s stuff.
I love how Jeff sets something up in the books and continues to play off of it at appropriate times. His sense of pacing is fantastic. The work of “art” Manny creates out of toothpicks and aluminum foil is great, and I’ve seen that done, actually. Greg’s mom tells Greg he should keep it around and he does – until it impales Greg’s semi-best friend Rowley.
Another sequence in the book focuses on Greg’s ringleader abilities. Kids will follow anyone with a semi-great idea. Or at least one that will bring pain or embarrassment to another kid. See, Greg is NOT hero material. At least, not yet. He does show some potential, but it’s really far into the future.
One of those ideas involved making believe one of the other kids didn’t exist. Following Greg’s lead, the rest of the class pretends the kid doesn’t exist so much that Greg gets called into the principal’s office, then gets read the riot act by his parents.
I loved when Greg gets involved in the role-playing game Magic and Monsters and his mom becomes concerned. She decides to show up and play with them. And her rules don’t involve all the violence and bloodshed all the kids are used to enjoying. Worst of all, some of Greg’s friends start liking the way his mom plays!
Another instance is when the parents leave for a weekend trip and put Rodrick in charge. They’re no sooner gone than Rodrick is on the phone calling people over for a party. Madness ensues. A door gets painted with permanent marker. Rodrick gets Greg to help him change out doors so the parents don’t find out. Later, when they’re punished, Rodrick says he’s going to study the effects of decompression of the spine suffered by astronauts during prolonged weightlessness. He does this by sacking out on the couch and sleeping all the time while he’s grounded.
If you want, you can even read the books for free on the internet. Just go to Funbrain-dot-com to read them. One of the most interesting things about Jeff’s books is that they’re given away for free and STILL sold enough to make it to the top of the New York Times bestseller list.
You see, Jeff wants everyone to read his books that wants to. However, kids want books they can hold in their hands, share with friends, and put on a shelf. Plus, it’s kind of hard to take your computer and internet along when you’re stuck in the car on a family trip or out with a parent at a doctor’s appointment or a shopping spree.
One of the best features about Jeff’s books after you put them in your kids’ hands is that you don’t have to worry about batteries going dead. They’re kid powered: fueled by imagination and driven by humor. They’re good for the environment. Except for that whole PYP warning.
Jeff’s books are hilarious. I just can’t recommend them enough. Call me subversive if you want.
awsome!
alex - May 8, 2008 at 12:10 am |
idunno.com
Person - May 24, 2009 at 9:14 pm |
it wAS WACK lol this book’s suck!!!!
tita - July 16, 2010 at 1:04 pm |
can u read the second on here if so i cant figure out how
Annagayle - June 2, 2008 at 12:49 am |
yah how can u read it online?
et6 - July 13, 2008 at 7:08 pm |
I can’t wait to read that book! Is there a way I can read it online instead?
Jocelyn - July 28, 2008 at 9:39 pm |
funniest bokk ever read yet
abel - August 29, 2008 at 12:33 am |
ive read diary of wimpy kid and found great and i wana read this one rodrick rules but i cant figure how to do that online
jake - January 4, 2009 at 7:12 pm |
Doeo Doeo Where can i read rodrick rules online????????????!!!!!!!!!!
Veggie79 - February 5, 2009 at 9:09 pm |
CAN U FIGUR OUT HOW TO READ IT???? IT ONLY SHOWS THE FRONT COVER WHAT DO I DO NOW????!!!!!
PLEASE ANSWER ME,
JESS
JOOP - February 22, 2009 at 11:37 pm |
diary of a wimpy kid rocks
Eli - April 18, 2009 at 12:27 am |
this book rulls I think this is the best book out of all of them
Alli - June 19, 2009 at 11:48 pm |
i dont think soo the 4th one is better
Ahmed - October 18, 2009 at 2:18 pm |
borring
taylor - August 4, 2009 at 12:24 am |
this sux i want to read the REAL BOOK not a stupid biography crap thingy now if u want to actully GET VIEWS then put up the real thing not wat a three year old wrote K!!!!!!!!!!!!
jack - September 19, 2009 at 10:15 pm |
listen i think ur rite to jack cuz this is crap noone wants to read a biography whos with me!!!!!?!?!
catty - September 19, 2009 at 10:18 pm |
awsome and i agree with u catty
Jennifer - September 20, 2009 at 1:58 pm |
this one looks great!!
julia - September 27, 2009 at 10:26 pm |
This book looks great!!
julia - September 27, 2009 at 10:27 pm |
i hate it just kidding ilove it! its so funny
julia - September 27, 2009 at 10:28 pm |
ur stuped u shoudent play like that these are awesome k k ok ttyl
jed - November 15, 2009 at 1:06 am |
can i talk?
julia - September 27, 2009 at 10:30 pm |
omg i wish i could read it online these are wikeed iam on the second one cant wate to read the 4 one i have bought all of them it they look awesome
jed - November 15, 2009 at 1:03 am |
I want the book Rodrick Rules I only have Number 1,3,and4
First Wimpy Kid.Last Straw.and Dog Days.
Tinker28660 - December 6, 2009 at 5:06 pm |
this book is awsome
Sele - January 21, 2010 at 12:59 am |
i have all the books
Sele - January 21, 2010 at 12:59 am |
omg i lvvvvvv these b00ks!!!!!!!!!!:D
momo - May 17, 2010 at 5:44 pm |
this book’s suck it is wack lol i dont kno why i wasted my time reading it!!!! shame on the ppl that b reading this corny book!!!! 😦
tita - July 16, 2010 at 1:05 pm |
HOW TO READ IT ONLINE? WE CANT DO ANYTHING WITH ITS BIOGRAPHY….
J0aN - August 28, 2010 at 10:51 am |
this is a nice book and i lik it and i lik the diary of a wimpy kid movie peace dudes
sumaya - September 13, 2010 at 9:10 pm |
I love diary of a wimpy kid and think you should write more!
Rachael - October 15, 2010 at 5:02 pm |
I love the 2 book of diray of wimpy kid
Jallisa - December 23, 2010 at 3:37 pm |
I like diary of a wimpy kid 2 Rodrick rules.
Jallisa - December 23, 2010 at 3:38 pm |
Tumblr article…
I saw someone writing about this on Tumblr and it linked to…
opinion and facts about graphic novels - December 19, 2011 at 10:24 am |
How do i read this book online???? I only read diary of a wimpy kid first one, last straw and the ugly turth i want to read # 4,2 and 6. gosh! there is no way we can read this books online gosh yu guys suck… Jeff kinney keep it up with yoiur books and keep on publishing wimpiy kid series up to diary of a wimpy kid #100. oh gosh post it online too i love wimpy kid series.
Tanjess - February 25, 2012 at 7:59 am |
This book is funny
Jing ting - April 5, 2012 at 6:53 pm |
Cool book
Simran - May 28, 2013 at 5:14 am |
Awesome book
C - May 28, 2013 at 5:15 am |
Amazing
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