Sunday 26 December 2021

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Big Shot

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Big Shot by Jeff Kinney (Puffin Books) PB RRP $14.99 ISBN9780143796114

Reviewed by Kathleen Grace

Which child aged from 8 years and older hasn’t heard of the Wimpy Kid series? There have been fifteen books published so far (over 25 million copies) and every one of them one has been acclaimed. 

Greg Heffley, the protagonist, is not a fan of sports. So, after a disastrous field day competition at school, Greg decides when it comes to his athletic career, he’s officially retired. However, after his mum urges him to give sports one more chance, he reluctantly agrees to sign up for basketball.

Tryouts are a mess, and Greg is sure he won’t make the team. But he unexpectedly lands a spot in one of the town’s teams. As he and his teammates start the season, their chances of winning even a single game look slim. But in sports, anything can happen, can’t it?

Like all the other books in the Wimpy Kid series, this latest book is visually interesting with lined pages and hand-printing and quirky black and white illustrations. Greg’s voice is colloquial and engaging. He ‘speaks’ about things which typical middle-graders (especially boys) are interested in – teamwork, food, ambition, games and more. Mum sounds like a keeper, dedicated to her child as is Dad who ‘always comes home with a stack of sports books’ to help Greg take an interest in sports. The illustrations are peppered with speech balloons and there are frequent words in capital letters. When Coach Patel works with Greg’s basketball team, there is even a how-to-play-the ball diagram.

This latest Wimpy Kid book is sure to be a winner with readers, especially any who are keen on playing basketball.

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