Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Gr 4–7—Greg Heffley is back in his latest diary in which he's stressing over the whole holiday season—the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Add to that the school focus on bullies, a family that means well, and a Net Kritterz virtual pet that requires time, skill, and money to keep happy. When Greg and his friend Rowley try to have their own holiday bazaar, they are accused of vandalizing the school. When a surprise blizzard hits, they are snowed in, minus Dad who's stuck at the office. They make it through a flooded basement and freezing temperatures inside, and Greg braves the blizzard to deliver items to the Toy Drive and ends up becoming a hero. Ramon de Ocampo narrates Jeff Kinney's latest entry (Amulet, 2011) in the series, bringing Greg to life with a boyish whine and interjecting the angst of the seventh grader. Listeners will relate to Greg's predicaments.—Melanie S. Wible, Gwinnett Co. Public Schools, Lawrenceville, GA