The last straw (diary of a wimpy kid #3) - jeff kinney

The highly anticipated third book in the critically acclaimed and bestselling series takes the art of being wimpy to a whole new level.

Lets face it: Greg Heffley will never change his wimpy ways.

Somebody just needs to explain that to Gregs 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 fathers efforts to change him.

But when Gregs 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 Kinneys presence on the bestseller lists, where the previous titles have taken up residence for the past two years.

Kinneys spot-on humor and winning formula of deadpan text set against cartoons are back in full force.

This time, Greg starts off on New Years 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 fathers attempts to make him more of a man (the threat of military school looms), Gregs 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 teams perfect season.

Kinney allows himself some insider humor as well, with Greg noting the racket childrens 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.

) F&P level: T.