Dork Diaries
Dork Diaries, Rachel Renee Russell's debut, is an illustrated novel sure to appeal to tweens. When Nikki Maxwell transfers to a new school in eighth grade, her mother gives her a diary. Even though Nikki thinks it's dorky and she'd really rather have a cell phone, she starts writing in the diary. She surprises herself with how much she likes journaling. She even decorates her entries with her artwork.
Nikki's new school, Westchester Country Day, is a private school. Her first impression of her classmates are that they are all cooler and wealthier than she is, with their brand name clothing and electronics, while she's only there because her father, a bug exterminator, got a contract with the school. She feels as though she's invisible to her classmates, especially the CCPs (Cute, Cool and Popular). Then she meets Zoey and Chloe, who becomes her best friends Even better, her desires for popularity and the latest gadgets fade over the course of the book. Yes, she does complain about her life being unfair or horrible at times, but that is simply keeping in the voice of a middle school narrator. She sounds more content as the book goes on and she becomes more comfortable with herself and her new surroundings.
Nikki has her good days and bad days, that's for sure. She sometimes feels embarrassed by her parents. Other times, she embarrasses herself in front of her classmates and her crush, Brandon. She gets stung by the words of super popular MacKenzie, who unfortunately has the locker next to hers. She really wants to enter the school art contest, but her confidence in her abilities depends on her mood. While she loves hanging out with her friends, she likes being alone every now and then, to daydream or draw or sulk or shout. Readers will easily ride the waves with Nikki, because all of these happenings will be completely familiar to anyone who has ever had to endure the drama of middle school.
I was pleased by the book's inclusion of the school library. The girls do their school service there. In the beginning, Nikki thinks it's quite boring. Later on, when the librarian, Mrs. Peach, announces her plan to take six of her most committed assistants on a three-day trip to New York City to celebrate National Library Week, Chloe and Zoey freak out. Initially, Nikki doesn't share her friends' interest in this event, but once they find a way to combine Nikki's artistic talents with a book drive, she's totally on board. Soon, though, she feels like she's doing the majority of the work and gets really upset – until her friends find a way to show her their appreciation.
This book looks just like a diary, with lined pages, almost-daily entries in a font that looks like handwriting, not to mention adorable black-and-white sketches throughout.
