Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life

Often described as the girls' answer to Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dork Diaries has a charm of its own. Nikki's voice is dramatic, funny and very honest about the small humiliations of middle school, from embarrassing parents to the cool kids' table. Her sketches, which fill almost every page, are lively and expressive, and many of the funniest moments are told through the pictures rather than the text.

The story builds around a schoolwide art competition, where Nikki finally has a chance to show her real talent, and around her slow discovery of two true friends, Chloe and Zoey, who are just as awkward as she is. There is a crush on a sweet boy named Brandon, a younger sister who is both annoying and adorable, and a rivalry with MacKenzie that never becomes truly cruel. The message about being yourself is clear but not heavy.

It is a quick, cheerful read that turns many reluctant readers into fans of the long series. Parents will appreciate that the humour stays kind, and that Nikki's mistakes are the kind every child recognizes. About 282 pages in the Aladdin hardcover.