The Last Straw

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a series of diary-style children’s novels written and illustrated by Jeff Kinney. The series originated online as a daily comic on Funbrain, an educational game platform. Kinney, a cartoonist and game developer, began publishing diary entries written and illustrated by Greg Heffley, a fictional middle schooler. The entries chronicle Greg’s daily activities as he tries to become popular, talk to girls, escape bullies, and generally deal with coming-of-age themes like friendship, family, and identity. Kinney illustrates the entries with stylized, humorous cartoon drawings that complement Greg’s irreverent voice.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid has grown into a global media franchise with more than 20 published books, selling over 250 million copies. The series has been a permanent fixture on the New York Times Bestseller list since it began in 2007. The books have been adapted into a live-action film series and an on-gong animated film franchise. Kinney has written activity books to accompany the movies and a spin-off diary from Greg’s best friend Rowley’s point of view.

Much has been written about the cultural impact of the Wimpy Kid series. Many librarians and educators praise the books for their accessible format, which combines humorous illustrations with relatable storytelling. This blend has made the series particularly effective in encouraging reluctant readers to pick up books, fostering a love for reading among children who might otherwise be disinterested. The success of the series has also inspired many other book series with similar formats, like Dork Diaries and Emmie and Friends, further shaping the landscape of modern children’s literature.

However, the series has not been without controversy. A central point of debate is whether Greg, the protagonist of the series, is a good role model for young readers. Greg’s selfishness, lack of responsibility, and frequent moral ambiguity have sparked concern among some parents and educators, leading to discussions about the values that the books promote (Norris, Michele, and Tanya Turek. “Some Parents Wary Of ‘Wimpy Kid’ Series.” NPR, 22 Oct. 2009). In some cases, these concerns have escalated to calls for banning the Wimpy Kid books, as critics argue that Greg’s behavior may set a poor example for children. Despite this, the books’ widespread appeal and undeniable role in getting kids to read have solidified their place in contemporary culture.

The Last Straw is the third installation in the main Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. The first installation introduces Greg and describes his efforts to become more popular at school, often at the expense of his best friend, Rowley. The second book, Rodrick Rules, focuses on Greg’s relationship with his older brother, Rodrick, as he torments Greg. The third book follows Greg’s attempts to take on more masculine hobbies so that his dad won’t sent him to military school. The Last Straw involves many of the same characters and relationships from the first two books; Greg continues to both value and take advantage of Rowley, Rodrick continues bullying Greg, and Greg continues trying to impress girls at school, with little success. Future books introduce more members of Greg’s extended family and provide more context on some of Greg’s classmates at school.