2017
WISE Score
Amazon
The Heffleys ditch Christmas for a tropical resort, proving that you can't actually escape your family's dysfunction just by flying to an island.
4.7
4.7View →Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased, but as an Amazon Associate, Screenwise earns an affiliate fee if you buy a book or game by clicking one of our links. We don't get any credit if you just Google it instead :)
Look, Greg Heffley is kind of a brat, but Jeff Kinney knows exactly how to hook a kid who would otherwise be staring at a screen.
Book 12 doesn't reinvent the wheel, but the tropical setting gives the 'disaster' formula a fresh coat of paint. It's fast, funny, and honestly, if it gets your kid to put down the iPad for an hour, it's a massive win.
It's not 'high literature,' but it's high engagement. For a parent, that's usually the priority.
Perfect for the 7–12 crowd. Younger kids can handle the humor, while middle schoolers still find the 'diary' format relatable, though they might start aging out by 13 or 14.
Greg Heffley isn't exactly a role model—he's self-centered and cynical—but the family chaos is relatable and the tone stays light. It's more about surviving family than modeling perfect behavior.
The doodle-diary format remains a clever way to visualize a kid's internal monologue. It's not high-concept, but it's a creative take on the 'disaster vacation' trope.
Extremely safe. Beyond some slapstick mishaps, mild 'gross-out' humor (spiders, sun poisoning), and Greg's typical middle-school attitude, there is zero offensive content.
This series is the ultimate gateway drug for reluctant readers. It builds reading stamina and uses humor to help kids navigate the awkwardness of growing up.
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