Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul
Wimpy Kid #9
by Jeff Kinney
Funny
Illustrated Fiction
Realistic Fiction
* * * Stars (Pretty good)
Greg Heffley’s mom has the brilliant idea of taking an educational family road trip after she reads about it in a glossy issue of “Family Frolic” – her favorite magazine. It’s pretty much a disaster from start to finish. The Heffleys have crammed everyone and everything into their van and there’s barely room to breathe, let alone move. In fact, they’ve hitched Mr. Heffly’s boat to the van for the extra storage space it provides! Manny, the youngest, keeps falling asleep in the car and they can’t stop for any reason because he throws a tantrum if he’s awakened from his naps. This causes them to miss out on a lot of the “fun” things mom has planned (no one can decide whether this is a blessing or not). Somehow they survive the seedy motel, multiple encounters with the “Beardo family,” a prize piglet, and the waterpark, and Greg is able to breathe a sigh of relief when they finally return home. Fans of the series will also sigh – in contentment with another satisfying Wimpy Kid book, or disappointment that it’s over and now there’s the long wait until the next one!
Reviewed by YA Librarian
