Hard Luck by Jeff Kinney-OPTIONAL

Kinney, Jeff, Hard Luck. Pgs. 217. Scholastic Press, 2013. $8.99. Content: Language: G, Mature Content: G, Violence: G

Greg Heffley has had a string of bad luck. His best friend, Rowley has been completely ignoring him and spending too much time with his girlfriend. Make new friends is hard, especially when there’s slim pickings. Things have gotten so hard even his mom has noticed and keeps trying to set up new friends for him. Can Greg find a way to get Rowley’s attention back? Will he make new friends?

This book isn’t quite up to the par of the other books in the series. The characters are funny, but don’t seem to have their usual flair, especially Manny and Roderick. The plot is fairly well-developed, but seems to lack the same engaging effect of the others in the series. Still, readers who have enjoyed the others in the series will jump at the chance to revisit Greg’s world.

EL, MS - OPTIONAL.  Reviewer: Kira M, Youth Services Librarian, WHI Public Library.