All 18 ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ Books in Order
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Jeff Kinney began writing his most famous work, the series Diary of a Wimpy Kid, back in 2004 (online), before it was published in 2007. The series’ protagonist is a schoolboy named Greg Heffley, who writes about his life and daily struggles in the form of an illustrated diary or journal. The franchise has been adapted in movie form, as well as in the form of a musical, but the core of the series are the books.
In this article, we are going to give you the ultimate reading order of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. The article is going to be divided into several sections. We are going to answer some questions for you, as well as give you the ultimate chronological reading guide of Kinney’s books. Greg Heffley is one of the most popular characters of modern-day American culture, and he certainly deserves an article dedicated to his (mis)adventures.
Editor’s Note: This reading order was updated in November 2023 with the latest release, No Brainer.
How Many Diary of a Wimpy Kid Books Are There?
Diary of a Wimpy Kid was first published in 2007. Since then, a total of 18 books have been published. They are:
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2007)
- Rodrick Rules (2008)
- The Last Straw (2009)
- Dog Days (2009)
- The Ugly Truth (2010)
- Cabin Fever (2011)
- The Third Wheel (2012)
- Hard Luck (2013)
- The Long Haul (2014)
- Old School (2015)
- Double Down (2016)
- The Getaway (2017)
- The Meltdown (2018)
- Wrecking Ball (2019)
- The Deep End (2020)
- Big Shot (2021)
- Diper Överlöde (2022)
- No Brainer (2023)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Books in Order
In this section, we are going to order the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books in the way that we think they should be read. Since they’re mostly standalone episodes from Greg’s life, luckily for you, the reading order is the same as the publication order, so you won’t have too much trouble finding your way around the pages.
1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2007)
Twelve-year-old Greg faces the challenges of being an older brother, dealing with his quirky family, supporting a friend, navigating issues with girls, and feeling misunderstood by his parents. His life takes a new turn when his mother gives him a diary, which Greg humorously renames as a journal.
2. Rodrick Rules (2008)
Greg finds going back to school as almost good news after a horrible vacation, but there’s one event he wishes to forget. However, his older brother Rodrick knows all the details and plans to use it as leverage to blackmail Greg.
3. The Last Straw (2009)
Mr. Heffley is determined to toughen up his son, Greg, enrolling him in manly activities like football and scouts. Faced with the threat of being sent to a military camp for the summer, Greg realizes he must straighten up to avoid marching in step.
4. Dog Days (2009)
While everyone else enjoys summer outdoors, Greg Heffley prefers the perfect summer indoors, free of responsibilities and rules, glued to his video game console. However, his mother has different plans for the perfect summer, involving family and outdoor activities, leading to a clash of preferences.
5. The Ugly Truth (2010)
Greg navigates the challenges of adolescence, dealing with the scrutiny of girls, teasing from boys, new responsibilities, and the inevitable changes that come with growing up. Facing these issues without his best friend, Robert, Greg wonders if he can escape unscathed or if he’ll have to confront the “horrible truth” that affects boys his age.
6. Cabin Fever (2011)
Greg faces boredom and the need to improve his behavior to secure a Christmas present. As he envies friends who don’t celebrate the holiday, Susan buys a frightening toy, adding to his woes. When Greg invites his friend Robert over, they engage in a playful argument about the spelling of a sport. Despite their differences, the following day, Robert attends church with the Heffleys, creating an awkward situation for Susan and Greg.
7. The Third Wheel (2012)
Greg reflects on his childhood learning challenges and notes that his mother seems to approach parenting differently with his brother Manny. A family night is interrupted when Uncle Gary arrives. Gary’s failed T-shirt business leads him to stay with his brother Frank’s family, causing annoyance. Meanwhile, Greg learns about the upcoming school ball and manages to avoid being paired with Ruby Loiseau. When three boys, including Greg, are left without dates, they consider teaming up. Despite Greg’s suggestion, another student is elected to the board.
8. Hard Luck (2013)
Greg feels lonely since Robert and Abigail are in a relationship. Susan’s popularity advice doesn’t help, and a friendship scheme at school doesn’t interest him. Greg attempts to make a new friend, Freddy, but the outcome is not as expected. As Easter and Spring Break approach, Greg discusses his mother’s sisters, each with different personalities, and expresses disapproval of the party location at his grandmother’s house.
9. The Long Haul (2014)
The story unfolds in June as Greg and his brothers enjoy watching TV until their mother, Susan, surprises them with a family trip. The car ride starts off rocky with games, Spanish cassettes, and a slightly unsettling toy. They encounter challenges, including a motel dinner and water issues at a swimming pool. The journey introduces “The Hairy Family,” leading to various problems for Greg and Rodrick.
10. Old School (2015)
Greg reflects on his parents’ nostalgia for the past and Susan’s desire to start a petition for a two-day electricity blackout, which he and Rodrick try to avoid acknowledging. He shares anecdotes about his father’s childhood, emphasizing outdoor play with friends. Additionally, the family’s pig learns to walk.
11. Double Down (2016)
Greg faces the consequences for an unintentional disaster during a concert and is punished by his father, Frank. To avoid further trouble, Greg and his friend Robert decide to make a horror film, inadvertently using the tape of Manny’s first steps. Susan discovers the mishap, but Greg manages to escape major consequences by doing chores, while Robert unintentionally becomes a celebrity.
12. The Getaway (2017)
The story unfolds in December as Susan and Frank decide to take a tropical trip for the holidays, accompanied by Greg and his brothers. While Greg is less enthusiastic, the journey begins on a challenging note, with disruptions during the flight. Despite Frank’s first-class privileges due to his profession, Greg doesn’t fully enjoy the trip.
13. The Meltdown (2018)
Greg, unlike others, doesn’t appreciate the unusually warm winter weather. He attributes global warming to human actions. His poorly done geography project on Malta results in a conflict between two countries, leading him to redo the assignment. Additionally, Susan enforces a weekend screen confiscation policy.
14. Wrecking Ball (2019)
Greg and Susan host a flea market, and Greg asks Robert for a favor, leading to a misunderstanding. The family attends the wrong funeral for Greg’s great aunt Reba. During a dinner conversation about inheritance, Greg suggests everyone having their own space, but Frank has different plans and wants to empower his sons, prompting disagreements.
15. The Deep End (2020)
The Heffleys, living with Greg’s grandmother due to home damage, embark on a camping trip in Gary’s camper van. Initially, the trip is challenging, but they find a public square where Greg connects with other children, including one who seems to be the leader.
16. Big Shot (2021)
Greg aims to win his class’s sports day, so he asks his father, Frank, to let him work out at the gym. However, Greg misunderstands the gym equipment. Surprisingly, the grand prize for the sports day goes to the ladies in the canteen, leading to a day off for everyone as an act of fairness.
17. Diper Överlöde (2022)
Greg contemplates the challenges of fame and decides to befriend a potential celebrity. After unsuccessful attempts with his friend Rowley, Greg seizes the opportunity to use his brother Rodrick’s band, Löded Diper, to achieve fame through the annual Battle of the Bands, inspired by Rodrick’s admiration for Metallichihuahua, a band that won the competition in the past.
18. No Brainer (2023)
In No Brainer, the 18th book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney, Greg takes on the challenge of saving his failing school from closure. Facing the impending threat of shutdown, Greg must navigate the complexities of middle school to prevent its closure.
Do You Need to Read the Diary of a Wimpy Kid Books in Order?
You should definitely start with the first book so that you can get to know the characters and everything else, but after that, you can approach the books as you please. There is no specific reading order for the books, so you should just read them as they have been published, but if you mix it up a bit along the way, there won’t be any problems.
Will There Be More Diary of a Wimpy Kid Books?
Following the publishing of the latest book in the series No Brainer Kinney stated that he will keep writing books as long as kids love reading them, so yes, there will be more Diary of a Wimpy Kid books.
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