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Cover of Double Down
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4.0

Based on 4 Google Books ratings

Double Down

by Jeff Kinney

Book Details

Publisher:Viking
Published:2016-11
Pages:224
Format:BOOK
Language:en

Reading Info

Age Range:6-10

About This Book

The pressure's really piling up on Greg Heffley. His mom thinks video games are turning his brain to mush, so she wants her son to put down the controller and explore his 'creative side'. As if that's not scary enough, Halloween's just around the corner and the frights are coming at Greg from every angle. When Greg discovers a bag of gummy worms, it sparks an idea. Can he get his mom off his back by making a movie ...And will he become rich and famous in the process? Or will doubling down on thi

Our Review

This middle grade novel tackles the universal struggle between screen time and creative pursuits with Kinney's signature humor. When Greg's mother bans video games to encourage artistic exploration, our hero devises a cinematic scheme involving gummy worms and Halloween hijinks. The diary-style format blends text with cartoon illustrations that perfectly capture Greg's melodramatic perspective on parental expectations. Young readers will immediately recognize the tension between digital entertainment and well-meaning grown-ups pushing alternative activities.

What makes this story particularly engaging is how it validates children's frustrations while gently showing the value of creative experimentation. Greg's disastrous filmmaking attempts provide genuine laugh-out-loud moments while demonstrating that artistic endeavors require more than just ambition. The Halloween subplot adds spooky fun and additional comedic opportunities. Kinney masterfully balances relatable family dynamics with over-the-top humor that keeps pages turning, making this an excellent choice for reluctant readers who appreciate visual storytelling and exaggerated childhood dilemmas.

Themes

Children's stories

Subjects

Children's stories