Have your kids read the "Dear Dumb Diary" series?

Although they are not my favorite, Ashley has read the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series and both the Dork Diaries books. She really liked both series. She was at the library and saw the Dear Dumb Diary series and wanted to read them. They didn't have the first two books, so Ashley put in a request for them. I asked the librarian about the series and she said they should be ok, but they are geared for 6-8th graders (that was the listed reading level). So, before I let Ashley read them, I want to read them first. But just wondering if anyone here has had any experience with this series and what you think of them? If they are along the same lines as Diary of Wimpy Kid, while I am not thrilled about them, I am ok with it. But, if they have more mature themes, then I think I will have her wait to read them. Any feedback is appreciated.

Mya has read the whimpy kid stuff. I've never heard of this series but just the title alone doesn't appeal to me. It sounds very down on ones self, which i'm not sure if that is what it is implied to mean but still..

Not heard of that one. Kylie's teacher is very, um, encouraging of certain books for Kylie to read so whenever Kylie needs a book when she runs out at home, she gives Kylie ones to read. Most of them seem to be historical type reads.

Ashley seems to really like non-fiction. She also clings to a series.... I guess she really likes to get to know the characters. I think it was Aimee that suggested the Katie Kazoo books and Ashley read every single one of them. LOL. She likes stories about kids her own age. She did pick out some other books that she's reading now, but she keeps asking if the library has called to let her know that the Dumb Diary books are in. I have to remind her that I need to read them first.

Can you ask her teacher about that series?

I haven't even heard of that series, but if it recommends an 8th grade level, that's pretty old. It would probably have junior high themes to it, maybe like an older version of diary of a wimpy kid?

Corey has a few Dear Dumb Diary books, and she seems to like them. It was a lot of pandering to middle school kid concerns: bad hair, this cute boy, that embarrassing incident, nothing that seemed inappropriate for a 3rd grader who shares the halls with 6th graders all day long. Corey likes the Whimpy Kid series better. Corey also likes non-fiction--she mentioned some series of biographically themed books. She read one about Annie Oakley, I can't remember what the other one was about. I'll ask her what the name of the series is. Fwiw, she's not as advanced a reader as Kylie or Ashley--she reads exactly at grade level--but she seems to "get" the Dumb Diary books, so not sure if that grade level recommendation is completely accurate. Sometimes the marketing dept. drives the age designation, not the education "experts."

It sounds like Ashley and Corey have similar interests in books. Ashley read the Annie Oakley biography too (She became intersted in Annie Oakley because our Girl Scout troop was going to the Annie Oakley museum and she wanted to know more about her before the troop went). She also likes historical fiction too. Please do let me know the name of the series that Corey liked, I will suggest it to Ashley.

Thanks for the feedback on the Dumb Diary books. I think I'll thumb through the book and probably let Ashley read it. Probably not what I would prefer that she read, but she will be more likely to read if it is something that interests her. This might be one that we read together so that we can discuss anything that might be a red flag. Maybe the 6-8th grade recommendation was interest level and not necessarily reading level?

That is so great that your daughter loves to read. She is so smart! I would have never thought to read up on something that I was going to like a museum, etc.

My 7.5 yr old is still a little behind when it comes to reading, so we haven't really started on anything yet. It hurts me a lot .

I would say that's pretty much the case here. I always have the feeling authors/publishers are jockeying for that next big cash cow.

no, but we were told that are great. so we might be buying this stuff soon. karla