This is a book that many of us are familiar with, especially those of us who grew up in the early 2000s and 2010s. A book that one would see their peers carrying with them on the daily. You could not resist the intrigue. Your first time reading it leaves you in a state of pure awe and marvel. You have never seen someone combine both the art of cartooning and prose in such a masterful way. The characters’ designs are all timeless; simple but impactful. They lure you into the chaotic world of Greg Heffley, a boy who seems to be normal, average even, but as you read on you notice various unsettling truths. I won’t spoil it too much, but let me tell you that he is a beautifully written character. Kinney masterfully depicts morality, humanity, and psychopathy simply through the eyes of this one character. We get to see a multi faceted human being, with feelings and strife only comparable to the best of the best. Heffley over the course of the book makes mistakes, many of them especially when interacting with his schoolmates and friends. His actions create chaos—unadulterated and fully realistic—which we are able to view under a different lens with the wonderful side characters. His friend Rowley Jefferson is frequently a victim to Heffley’s actions, and we are able to see a wholly different side of humanity through him. Heffley undergoes a beautiful, albeit tragic arc in which he comes to terms with his own inadequacy and failure. In conclusion, it is a harrowing tale about a troubled young man trying to pave a path for himself in this unforgiving society. If you enjoy books that go deep into the psychology and mind of characters, or ones that explore the darker side of humanity I would definitely recommend this one. This is definitely up there with the likes of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan.
