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Old School

Book Resume

for Old School by Jeff Kinney

Professional book information and credentials for Old School.

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  • Publisher's Weekly:
  • Ages 8 - 12
  • Kirkus:
  • Ages 8 - 12
  • TeachingBooks:*
  • Grades 3-8
  • Word Count:
  • 18,179
  • Lexile Level:
  • 1020L
  • ATOS Reading Level:
  • 5.6
  • Genre:
  • Humor
  • Realistic Fiction
  • Year Published:
  • 2015

The following unabridged reviews are made available under license from their respective rights holders and publishers. Reviews may be used for educational purposes consistent with the fair use doctrine in your jurisdiction, and may not be reproduced or repurposed without permission from the rights holders.

Note: This section may include reviews for related titles (e.g., same author, series, or related edition).

From Publisher's Weekly

November 9, 2015
"Mom says the problem with society these days is everybody's got their nose in a screen, and nobody takes the time to get to know the people who live around them," laments Greg Heffley, who reluctantly kicks it old school in this 10th installment of the über-popular Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. When Mrs. Heffley gets the town to unplug for 48 hours, Greg tries (but naturally fails) to cash in on neighborhood foot traffic with a lemonade stand ("One guy had a problem with the fact that we were using the same glass for every customer"). Grandpa, who has moved in with the Heffleys to save money, is also full of "back in the day" stories; Greg and Rowley finally try playing kick-the-can, but quit of boredom after 30 seconds. A weeklong trip to "Hardscrabble Farm," where Greg and his classmates sleep in primitive cabins and do chores, is the final affront, though it reveals that Greg may come by his artful dodging honestly. Kinney's fans will find the same winning formula: at least one joke every two pages. Expect readers to line up for Greg's latest. Ages 8â€Â"12. Agent: Sylvie Rabineau, RWSG Literary Agency.

From Kirkus

The Wimpy Kid series marches on.Greg Heffley's diary continues with the 10th entry in the popular franchise. This volume revolves around several loosely connected plot threads, the most prominent of which is Greg's grandfather's coming to live with the Heffley clan and the hilarity that ensues. Other plots involve Rodrick's first job, Mrs. Heffley's determination to turn the town into an electronics-free zone, and a trip to Hardscrabble Farms, the traditional field trip location for the seventh-grade class. The novel definitely lacks focus, but how many seventh-grader's diaries come with a complex narrative arc? Greg's rambling, irreverent musings coupled with his doodles maintain their charm even after so many years, and at this point fans of the series know what they're getting. The novel delivers the series' trademark family dynamics and absurdist comic stylings. Fans will chortle at the Heffley's pet pig, which wears pants, and smile as Greg and his dad come to an understanding over the pitfalls of camp life. By novel's end the characters have returned to their status quo and are ready for further comic mishaps. These diaries continue to be solid steppingstones into the literary world for any reluctant reader.Harmless fun that neither rocks the boat nor swings for the fences. (Graphic/fiction hybrid. 8-12) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Old School was selected by educational and library professionals to be included on the following state/provincial reading lists.

United States Lists (7)

New Jersey

  • Garden State Children's Book Awards, 2018 -- Fiction Series

New York

Wisconsin

  • Battle of the Books, 2016-2017 -- Elementary Division for Grades 4-6
  • Golden Archer Award, 2017 -- Intermediate Category, for Grades 3-5
  • Golden Archer Award, 2020 -- Middle Category, for Grades 6-9

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This Book Resume for Old School is compiled from TeachingBooks, a library of professional resources about children's and young adult books. This page may be shared for educational purposes and must include copyright information. Reviews are made available under license from their respective rights holders and publishers.

*Grade levels are determined by certified librarians utilizing editorial reviews and additional materials. Relevant age ranges vary depending on the learner, the setting, and the intended purpose of a book.

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