FINISHED:

Kinney, Jeff. (2007). Diary of a wimpy kid: Greg Heffley's journal. New York: Amulet.

[ZOO-WEE MAMA! So darned funny (the CHEESE TOUCH!!). Sure, there's not much of a "plot" here, it's more episodic, relating a few different events in Greg's life, but it works nonetheless. The lesson learned at the end seems a bit forced - like, it was put in so that the book would have "a point" - but the fact that Greg is one of the low ones on the popularity totem, and that his best friend is a complete goof, make this appropriate and immediate for a large number of young people. A GREAT one to recommend to boys - who are always spoken of as reluctant readers - and entirely approachable what with it being littered liberally with fun and surprisingly expressive stick figure drawings. Highly recommended - I've already put a hold on the sequel...]

STARTED:
Birdsall, Jeanne. (2005). The Penderwicks. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

[Award winner that has long been on my radar.]

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