Book review: Diper Overlode

 

Rodrick wanted to get a few photos that would really tell people what Loded Diper was all about, which is how we ended up in the bathroom.

This review was written June 8, 2023. My opinions and format have changed drastically.

Release date: October 25, 2022

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Diper Overlode was released by Penguin Books Australia on October 25, 2022. The book was highly normal, but the Wimpy Kid community has mixed thoughts. Here, I’m telling you my (kinda) fully honest thoughts.

SWEET, SHORT, AND WIMPY

So here is a short summary of Jeff Kinney’s latest (published, not announced) Wimpy Kid book.

The book takes place in December 2007, and Jan-Feb 2008.

Like in previous books (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book, etc), Greg always talks about how wants to be famous. However in this book, he says he wants to have a close relationship with someone famous so he doesn’t deal with the down-sides. His brother’s band, Loded Diper plans on getting famous, and he wants in on it. So he joins in on what they’re doing and it’s a loaded ride (Get it?).

 

Characters

Let’s talk about something the book needs and has - characters. Greg being in the book is actually pointless, because he isn’t even the main character. It’s 85% Loded Diper and 15% Greg. This book was so focused on Rodrick, that Kinney is looking on starting a Rodrick spinoff. I kinda wanna stick to Greg. Anyways, the main “supposed-to-be” antagonist is Bill. He isn’t over the top a moron, but a pretty unlikable, stupid character. He’s very immature for his age, if ya ask me. He’s the only Loded Diper member NOT in high school, but still lives with his parents. The last time he said that was in 2004, 4 years ago in “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules”. So, Bill just isn’t likeable to me.

Susan, Frank and Manny don’t have a role in this book (they’re in it, but for 6 pages or something).

Story

Okay, the story.

One thing I really don’t get is how Greg is literally either with Loded Diper for every single second, or how Rodrick tells him what happens. The story is good and simple but it wasn’t good enough for me to LOVE it, like “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever”. That one was good. So good, that despite being the 6th book, is going to be the 3rd animated Wimpy Kid adaptation. (Kinney, you’ve waited for this nine years long. You finally got it!)

One thing I actually liked about the story was something most people complained about, how much Rodrick it has in it.

Rodrick’s the best character to me. He’s funny, a jerk, and older but not wiser. It’s kind of a good thing there was more Rodrick.

My last thoughts

So to sum it up, the book was good. It wasn’t “HOLY CRAP! THIS IS A MASTERPIECE!” and it definitely wasn’t “Gosh, that was terrible.” It was “That’s awesome, but it could be WAY better.” Like most/some Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, my cheese rating is 3/5.

Rating: 3/5