Monday, November 21, 2011

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday -- I have CABIN FEVER!



Diary of a Wimpy Kid #6: Cabin Fever, by Jeff Kinney (Amulet Books, November 15, 2011, Hardcover, 9781419702235, $13.95, ages 8 to 14).

Source: book purchased from store where I work (I own all of these books, believe it or not!)

Synopsis (from Indiebound):

Greg Heffley is in big trouble. School property has been damaged, and Greg is the prime suspect. But the crazy thing is, he’s innocent. Or at least sort of.

The authorities are closing in, but when a surprise blizzard hits, the Heffley family is trapped indoors. Greg knows that when the snow melts he’s going to have to face the music, but could any punishment be worse than being stuck inside with your family for the holidays?

Why I liked it:  Okay, okay, I'll admit it!  These books are even funnier than the Origami Yoda books that I raved about last week.  There, I said it.   But tell Yoda, you must not.

Please.

Nothing makes me giggle out loud the way Wimpy Kid books do.  Here's my review from 2009 of the first four books in the series.  In this latest installment, which is more like a series of vignettes than a novel, Greg inexplicably seems as if he's about 9 years old (and I believe he's supposed to be in 8th grade!), because he's still worried about Santa!  But the Santa Scout made me snicker because it's such a great parody of Elf on the Shelf.   My apologies to anyone who loves Elf on the Shelf, but I find it creepy! Creepy, I tell you!  And I'm sure the Santa stuff in Cabin Fever has a great deal to do with the target audience for these books, which apparently is getting younger and younger.  I do have customers buying these for 7 or 8 year olds now.  But it didn't start out that way.

What's making you giggle these days?

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday is the brainchild of Shannon Whitney Messenger. Other regulars include (but are not limited to):

Shannon O'Donnell at Book Dreaming
Myrna Foster at The Night Writer
Sherrie Petersen at Write About Now 
Natalie Aguirre at Literary Rambles
Brooke Favero at Somewhere in the Middle
Deb Marshall at Just Deb
Barbara Watson at her blog
Anita Laydon Miller at her middle grade blog
Michael G-G at Middle Grade Mafioso
Pam Torres at So I'm Fifty
Ms. Yingling at Ms. Yingling Reads
Danika Dinsmore at The Accidental Novelist
Jennifer Rumberger at her blog
Akoss at Nye Louwon--My Spirit  
Gabrielle Prendergast at angelhorn



Don't forget my latest YA giveaway!  Go to this post for more information and to enter.

11 comments:

  1. Sounds like a fun read. My daughter used to love this series.

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  2. My 11 yo finished the book and loved it. :D

    Of course now he won't let my 9 yo read it, even though my 9 yo loves the series too. #kidsdrivemecrazysometimes

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  3. YAY for Cabin Fever~! Love these books, too!

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  4. My son adores these and can't wait to read this one!

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  5. Hi Natalie and thanks. Hope you received Secrets at Sea by now.

    Welcome, Gregory.

    Ahaha, Stina! Yes, they drive you crazy until all of a sudden they're in their 20s and you never see them.

    Yay, Deb!

    Hi, Barbara! Glad to hear your son loves these books.

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  6. These series are so popular... and yet I haven't read a single book. *guilty*
    The recent giggle I can remember was last night when I watched a Christmas Story. The recent one with Jim C. I was surprised I found it quite enjoyable. :)

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  7. I haven't read any of this series either. I better get to it! :)

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  8. I really liked the first couple of these, but I haven't gotten around to the last ones. Thanks for the review!

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  9. Aw, don't feel guilty, Akoss. There are too many books and there's never enough time! I haven't seen the Jim Carrey version of A Christmas Carol. Is that the one you meant? I love Christmas movies!

    Hi Jennifer! Hope you do read one of them eventually.

    Hi Myrna! Glad to hear you liked the first few books.

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  10. These are a perennial favorite in our house. The 15-year-old may claim he's too old, but can be caught sneaking a peek. The 8-year-old thinks they're awesome, and even the 5-year-old has some idea about what they're about, the little eavesdropper!

    Happy Thanksgiving, Joanne. I'm grateful this year for finding your blog and getting to know you.

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  11. Thanks, Michael! I enjoy your blog too. And I hope you had a great Thanksgiving.

    I love hearing that Wimpy Kid is a favorite for all your boys.

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