The Long Haul is classic Wimpy Kid: safe, funny, and easy to read. Greg's still his self-absorbed self, the family's still chaotic, and the road trip premise delivers the expected mishaps and laughs.

But here's the thing—this is book 9. The formula is showing its wear. If your kid hasn't read the earlier books, start there; they're fresher. If they're already deep into the series, they'll probably enjoy this one fine, but don't expect anything new or particularly enriching.

It's a solid pick for getting kids to read, especially reluctant ones, but it's literary junk food. Tasty, harmless, forgettable.