Tales from a not-so-fabulous life
Fourteen-year-old Nikki Maxwell writes in her diary of her struggle to be popular at her exclusive new private school, then of finding her place after she gives up on being part of the elite group.
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Subject |
Popularity > Juvenile fiction. Friendship > Juvenile fiction. Artists > Juvenile fiction. Schools > Juvenile fiction. Diaries > Juvenile fiction. |
Genre |
Fiction. |
- ISBN: 9781416980063
- Physical Description 282 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm.
- Publisher [Place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified], 2009.
Content descriptions
Target Audience Note: | Ages 9-13. |
Series
Additional Information
Kirkus Review
Dork Diaries 1 : Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life
Kirkus Reviews
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
When her father barters enrollment in a prestigious private school in exchange for his bug-extermination services, Nikki suddenly finds her life in turmoil. At Westchester Country Day, Nikki encounters ber-snobbish MacKenzie, the archetypal mean girl and her pack of "CCP"Nikki's acronym for the cute, cool and popularfriends. Nikki chronicles all of her new-girl angst and trepidations as well as her fledgling crush in her diary. Russell's narrative deftly captures the winsome vulnerability of a girl perched on the cusp of teenhood. The comical sketches, executed la Diary of a Wimpy Kid, add an element of self-deprecating humor to the tale. An abundance of up-to-the-minute pop-cultural references threatens to date this novel quickly. Nikki's ultimate realization that she needs to be true to herself comes across as genuine rather than contrived, however, so despite its modern trappings, Nikki's journey of self-discovery will appeal to preadolescent readers struggling to find their places in the world. (Fiction. 9-13) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
The Horn Book Review
Dork Diaries 1 : Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life
The Horn Book
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Self-professed dork Nikki Maxwell chronicles her life as the new girl at Westchester Country Day School. Most of Nikki's diary entries focus on her embarrassing family trials and run-ins with exaggeratedly mean queen bee MacKenzie. The writing delivers fluffy sitcom-style humor for tweens. Font that resembles handwriting, humorous manga-like doodles, and comic sketches add authenticity to the format. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
School Library Journal Review
Dork Diaries 1 : Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life
School Library Journal
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Gr 5-8-Nikki Maxwell, self-professed dork and aspiring artist, has plenty of problems starting at a brand new private middle school in this tale (Aladdin, 2009) by Rachel Renee Russell. Her locker is right next to MacKenzie, the queen of mean girls; she can hardly speak around her crush Brandon; and she is desperate to hide the fact that she is attending on scholarship because her father is the school's exterminator. Chronicling her middle school highs and lows in a diary, Nikki includes all the humorous as well as embarrassing details. Lana Quintal is well-cast to voice the first title in this popular series. Her youthful voice is a match for Nikki's personality, providing authenticity for her observations and emotions. Her tone is appropriately cliched for MacKenzie, Nikki's nemesis and the most popular girl in school. Listeners will laugh even as they identify with Nikki's insecurities and her struggles to fit. The CD also includes a video interview with the author.-Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, IL (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.