This Do-It-Yourself Book features art throughout, along with ruled and blank pages for readers to create their own stories, keep their own diaries, and record their favorites and least faves. Includes a bonus full-color comics section featuring the collected cartoons of Greg Heffley and his best friend, Rowley.   posted Aug 6, 2008 at 1:46PM

This book is a story that someone’s grandma or grandpa would tell them about their family. It feels "oral" like that. The telling and the characters are straightforward and presented by their actions and their speech. They are real even though the book is fiction. Alejandro’s sister, Virginia, and her Pedro and their correspondence - and the end of it - are heartbreaking. Thank you Hennepin County for putting this independent press title in your collection. I hope other readers will give it a try - they will meet people in this story that will stay with them.   posted May 30, 2008 at 12:56PM

A solid 5 stars. A rich and layered story with every nuance and turn true. This is Newbery quality - again - and unforgettable.   posted Mar 22, 2008 at 2:40PM