The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney is an entertaining and hilarious collection of books about the adventures of Greg Heffley, a middle school student.
Greg Heffley has trouble fitting in with his peers because he is not like other kids his age. As he begins to enter puberty, he struggles with new social norms and expectations that come with entering into teenage-hood. This causes him to become awkward and shy around others, leading to embarrassing moments and bad decisions. He also often finds himself in situations where he must choose between being popular or staying true to himself, which can be difficult for someone in middle school who wants to fit in.
Greg’s parents are another major source of conflict for him as they have different expectations for his behavior than his peers do. His parents want him to focus on academics and staying out of trouble while his friends want him to participate in activities that are not necessarily approved by adults, such as playing video games or watching movies late at night. This creates tension between him and his parents, making it difficult for him to find balance between being “responsible” according to them, and being cool according to his friends.
Finally, Greg has difficulty controlling his emotions at times which can lead him into further trouble with both adults and peers alike. He gets angry easily when things don’t go as planned or when something doesn’t go right for him.
