Double Down (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #11 First Book Edition)

This latest installment in the wildly popular illustrated journal series delivers exactly what fans have come to expect: Greg Heffley's signature blend of misguided ambition and hilarious misfortune. When Greg's mom suggests he spend less time on video games and more on developing his "creative side," he and his best friend Rowley decide to make a scary movie, convinced it will be their ticket to fame and fortune. The plan, of course, goes spectacularly and comically off the rails, proving that Greg's schemes are as doomed—and as entertaining—as ever.

Kinney's genius lies in his ability to perfectly capture the cringe-worthy, relatable anxieties of middle school life through simple but expressive cartoons and Greg's deadpan narration. The formula of low-stakes domestic drama mixed with schoolyard politics remains as fresh and funny as in the first book, offering a reliable comfort read for both devoted followers and newcomers. Young readers navigating their own social minefields will find a kindred spirit in Greg, whose failures are always more triumphant than any success could be.