New Releases by Jeff Kinney

Follows an American boy through another school year of activities, friendships and family life.

Greg Heffley has always been in a hurry to grow up. But is getting older really all it''s cracked up to be? Greg suddenly finds himself dealing with the pressures of boy-girl parties, increased responsibilities, and even the awkward changes that come with getting older--all without his best friend, Rowley, at his side. Can Greg make it through on his own? Or will he have to face the "ugly truth"?

In the latest diary of middle-schooler Greg Heffley, he records his attempts to spend his summer vacation sensibly indoors playing video games and watching television, despite his mother''s other ideas.

The highly anticipated third book in the critically acclaimed and bestselling series takes the art of being wimpy to a whole new level. Let''s face it: Greg Heffley will never change his wimpy ways. Somebody just needs to explain that to Greg''s father. You see, Frank Heffley actually thinks he can get his son to toughen up, and he enlists Greg in organized sports and other "manly" endeavors. Of course, Greg is able to easily sidestep his father''s efforts to change him. But when Greg''s dad threatens to send him to military academy, Greg realizes he has to shape up . . . or get shipped out. Greg and his family and friends, who make the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books a must-read for middle school readers, are back and at their best in this hilarious new installment of the series, which is sure to please current fans while attracting new ones. Publishers Weekly-1/19/2009: The third book in this genre-busting series is certain to enlarge Kinney''s presence on the bestseller lists, where the previous titles have taken up residence for the past two years. Kinney''s spot-on humor and winning formula of deadpan text set against cartoons are back in full force. This time, Greg starts off on New Year''s Day (he resolves to "help other people improve," telling his mother, "I think you should work on chewing your potato chips more quietly") and ends with summer vacation. As he fends off his father''s attempts to make him more of a man (the threat of military school looms), Greg''s hapless adventures include handing out anonymous valentines expressing his true feelings ("Dear James, You smell"), attempting to impress his classmate Holly and single-handedly wrecking his soccer team''s perfect season. Kinney allows himself some insider humor as well, with Greg noting the "racket" children''s book authors have going. "All you have to do is make up a character with a snappy name, and then make sure the character learns a lesson at the end of the book." Greg, self-centered as ever, may be the exception proving that rule. Ages 8-12. (Jan.) F&P level: T

Grey''s father enlists him in organized sports and other endeavors in order to get him to toughen up.

"Wimpy kid" Greg Heffley provides instructions for other kids to create their own journals.