Diary of a Wimpy Kid Hard Luck HC Jeff Kinney Amulet Books 1st printing

Description

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck, Book 8 Hardcover
by Jeff Kinney (Author)

In Hard Luck, book 8 of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series from #1 bestselling author Jeff Kinney, Greg Heffley’s on a losing streak.

His best friend, Rowley Jefferson, has ditched him, and finding new friends in middle school is proving to be a tough task. To change his fortunes, Greg decides to take a leap of faith and turn his decisions over to chance.

Will a roll of the dice turn things around, or is Greg’s life destined to be just another hard-luck story?

Publisher Amulet Books (2013)
Hardcover 224 pages
ISBN-13 978-1419711329
Age 8 – 11 years
Weight 13.6 ounces
Dimensions 5.5 x 0.95 x 8 inches

Greg Heffley’s eighth adventure (but who’s counting?) centers on his relationship with his best friend, Rowley—more specifically, the demise of that relationship when Rowley gets a girlfriend. At first, Greg tries to insert himself into the mix, but he soon tires of Abigail’s pathological control (she changes Rowley’s hairstyle) and fussy propriety (she won’t let him eat off of the cafeteria floor). And so Greg must navigate the minefield of middle school, with its hero points, dollar-store sneakers, and the looming shadow of summer school, all by himself.

Without a sidekick, Greg spends more time at home, suffering the attentions of his “colorful” extended family, like Aunt Audra, who drags him along to a psychic visit. Greg begins consulting Rodrick’s forgotten Magic 8 Ball and thinks maybe that will turn his luck around. As ever, Kinney strikes his comic target in the bull’s-eye, exaggerating the trials of adolescence just enough to make them real while deftly exposing the insecurities behind Greg’s bravado with his super, simple drawings. Will Greg and Rowley make up? Either way, devotees need not worry; there is plenty more angst in store.

There’s something quite extraordinary about the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series of books. I tutor a lot of kids, ranging from grades K-12, and so many of these kids, especially the ones in Grades 2-8 love this series, and that is special indeed. My 8.5-year-old daughter is a great fan too, and after reading several of the books including this latest in the series, I can see what all the fuss is about.

The stories of Greg Heffley and his misadventures with his friends as they go through their school years make for fun and engaging reading, and the author’s blend of satire and cartoon drawings makes this something that can be enjoyed by both younger children, adolescents, and even adults. True, Greg Heffley is not always the most sympathetic of characters, but even with all his flaws, there’s an undefinable quality about this kid that just sucks you right into whatever drama he’s experiencing. In “Hard Luck”, Greg is placed in a quandary when his best friend Rowley ditches him. Who is to be Greg’s new best friend? Finding a best friend in middle school is not going to be easy and when Greg decides to leave it to luck, well, things start happening Wimpy Kid style! A fun and entertaining read!

978-1419711329

Near mint condition. 1st printing.