The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #5) (Volume 5)

My son has a love/hate relationship with reading. He is required to read half an hour a day for school and some days it's like wrestling a slick pig to get him to open a book. I am always trying to find books that he will choose to read on his own. My only bad comment about this series is that they don't come out fast enough! When he opened the Amazon package (the purchase was a surprise), I was in the other room, but I could hear how excited and happy he was to get it. By the time I got from the kitchen to the living room, he was already sitting on the couch with his head buried in it, and that is where he stayed for the rest of the evening. No whining to watch tv or play video games, no complaining about doing his homework, just happy reading. I even had to take it away from him to keep him from reading it after he was supposed to have gone to bed.I've seen some complaints from parents about topic choices in this book. I know that as the series moves on there are some themes that are more adult, but I think that's pretty common with longer series that start out geared toward the 8 to 10 year old reader. As the kids who started with these books get older, the topics the books cover get more mature. The author knows he has to do that to retain his original audience, just as J.K. Rowling had Harry Potter mature for her audience. In our house it's our job to make the decision about when our kids are ready to read about certain topics, not the author's. If we had thought the parts about puberty were too mature for him, we would have waited to give him the book, not complain about the author's decision to write them. Personally I suspect that what's in the book is a lot milder than what my son hears from his 5th grade classmates.I recommend this book and this series to parents who are struggling to get their boys to read. You may find that your son can identify with these characters, and that he will stay engaged with the story more easily because he does. It's a beautiful thing to match a reluctant reader to the right book.

There was a time when my daughter loved this series. The collection was a great way to get her into reading.

My grandson loves reading these books,he could not put it down till he read the whole book and he is 7

As with all the books in the series, The Ugly Truth is told through the eyes of middle-schooler Greg Heffley. As with the previous books in the series, The Ugly Truth, does not disappoint in the laugh-out-loud, goofy antics and situations with which Greg constantly finds himself. Greg, the author of the diary (or journal as he prefers to call it), explains the frustrations of adolescence through his writings and illustrations. With the diary style of writing, Greg's stories are to the point with crisp, clear storytelling. The handwriting style font, to simulate Greg's writing in a diary, adds authenticity to the book. The cartoon illustrations not only clarify the story but add to its hilarity as well. Finally, Kinney's choice to have Greg tell his stories via diary, offers Greg with a way to cope with his awkward experiences.In The Ugly Truth, Greg doesn't disappoint his readers as he leads us through growing up - the good, the bad, and the ugly of it. Continuing from the fourth book, The Ugly Truth begins with the destroyed friendship between Greg and his best friend Rowley. Throughout the book, Greg struggles with trying to come to terms with Rowley, never wanting to swallow his pride and admit just how much Rowley means to him. As he is fretting over his doomed friendship and contemplating why Rowley won't come crawling back, he leads the reader through various life experiences. Greg's narcissistic, something for nothing attitude causes things to not quite work out the way he expects. Greg is involved in one mishap after another in this comical tale of growing up.This is a good children's literature book because the stories and illustrations are humorous, witty, simple, and interesting. Greg represents an average child facing realistic situations but with unrealistic expectations. He humorously and candidly faces topics that many adolescents deal with on a daily basis. The simplicity of the stories, the relatable storylines, and the humor with which they're told allow children to feel comfortable about growing - and lets them know they're not alone.

Quick delivery and I am pleased with my purchase.

The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 5).

Kids love

This book is about a young teenager's life whose family keeps on telling him the change in life. Rowly and Greg had a fight during summer and still aren't friends.At school, how much worse could it get? They talk about changes too. His class even gets eggs to take care of. Not your average school is it? His school sends out invitations to all the kids in the school and it's called,"Lock In". Not a whole lot of kids go and theirs only a couple girls. The next day, the most popular kid in the grade above them invites them to his party. Greg asks his mom and remembers his uncle Gary has another wedding. The worst part is that it's at his grannies house... It's his turn for the talk about you know what with his grandmother!!I would recommend this book for kids and maybe adults because this stuff can really happen to a teenage boy. It's super funny and by one of the best children authors in the universe!!!!!Buy this book and other books by Jeff Kinney to find out what the talk is about and if they become friends again. Also find out how the school lock down went, the party, uncle Gary's wedding and his grandmother's talk with him. BUY THE GOOD BOOK!!!!!!!!