Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life Book

You will love Nikki Maxwell! Cute, cool & captivating!

The heroine of this YA story is eighth-grader Nikki Maxwell, a cute, cool and captivating girl you will fall in love with. Although the word cute is not a cool vocabulary choice for today's kids, I use it here because I love that word; it means much more than cool. To me it encompasses looks, personality and sincerity, while cool is...well "cool"...it can be a pose with some kids. So our NIkki is not only cool to her friends, she's also cute to us parents: the kind of girl every decent kid wants for a friend, every parent wants for a daughter. And I predict she will captivate everyone who reads this book, young and old alike.

But Nikki thinks of herself as a dork because rich, snooty MacKenzie Hollister and her wannabe followers go out of their way to make her appear that way. After one too many "klutzy" accidents--caused by the despicable MacKenzie, of course--Nikki starts writing the "Dork Diaries."

And what fun diaries they are! This honest, precocious girl writes EVERYTHING in those pages, illustrating her tales with humorous drawings. These drawings by the author enhance this book, making it an unforgettable reading pleasure.

I admire the way Nikki handles all the set-backs in her life; she never loses her temper, attacking MacKenzie as many girls would. Instead she remains calm and works things out in her own way. That girl has more self-confidence than she knows.

While Nikki doesn't follow the dictates of the "Fashionista Police," she dresses cute and flattering. Enough so to attract the attention of Brandon, a school photographer that MacKenzie has set her cap for.

So what does MacKenzie do when Brandon repeatedly helps Nikki? And what do tattoos have to do with Nikki suddenly becoming so popular that even MacKenzie pretends to be her friend? Does Nikki fall for it? Do her best friends, Zoey and Chloe desert her for MacKenzie? And what does Nikki do when MacKenzie finally learns that her father is the local bug exterminator, driving around with a huge roach atop his truck? How embarrassing is that to our heroine?

And does she ever get the coveted iPhone that she thinks she needs to be cool?

The final showdown between Nikki and MacKenzie is a big school project. Nikki has much more talent (skills, as they call it), but will MacKenzie win through trickery? But to learn more about our Nikki, you will have to read for yourself, and follow along with the illustrations.

Even though author Rachel Renee Russell's writing flows easily, I had a hard time reading this book--through no fault of hers. Each time I put it down, my granddaughter grabbed it and when I wanted to read a chapter, I had to search for it. I told that girl I would pass it on to her. Can't she wait? (But she's a lot like NIkki, so I can see the appeal.)

A side note about this author: As I was reading this story, it was obvious the writer knew and understood the teens' mind, so I felt as though I were actually reading a diary written by a teen. I was surprised to learn that Russell is an attorney who "prefers writing children's books to legal briefs." After reading "Dork Diaries" I can see why. I look forward to many more books by her.

This review is from an ARC sent to me by the author.

Reviewed by Betty Dravis, May, 2009
Author of "The Toonies Invade Silicon Valley"

COMING IN MAY: "DREAM REACHERS," a compilation of inspiring celebrity interviews including Clint Eastwood, Jane Russell, Ted Kennedy, Shawn Richardz, Dozie, Darcy Donavan, Jenny McShane, Kiara Hunter, Jennifer Wilkinson, Barbara Evans, Jason Seitz... and more. INSPIRING! INTERESTING!