Dork Diaries: Tales from a NOT-SO-Fabulous Life by Rachel Renee Russell

Penelope received this book this summer and was enthralled with it.  She read it while we were camping and then her brother Daniel may have also read it was well.  Penelope and I then read it together this fall.

Dork Diaries is a story told diary style with graphics similar to the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.  This time, the protagonist a girl named Nikki J. Maxwell.  She is dealing with moving to a new school, making new friends, and making an enemy, the mean popular girl Mackenzie.  There are plenty of embarrassing and funny stories along her journey in this book.  She competes in a major art contest against Mackenzie.  Will she win the art contest and will the cute school paper photographer, Brandon, notice her?

Penelope really liked the graphics and the story. She was particularly concerned about Nikki getting into and out of embarrassing situations and didn’t like the mean girl.  For me it was positive for Penelope to note what is mean and how not to be like a mean girl.  I didn’t like how it talked about clothing and where it is not cool to buy clothes . . . which I think include the stores I buy Penelope clothes at like Kohls.  Luckily this seemed to pass over Penelope and she didn’t get into the I need to have to buy my clothes from a certain mall store trend.

Overall, Dork Diaries:  Tales from a NOT-SO-Fabulous Life was very entertaining for Penelope and me to read together.  We have book number two now and will start reading it soon.  We are also listening to the audiobook for book number thirteen.