I do not know exactly what to call this style of book, but I know it when I read it. Lately, I have been reading a lot of them. This new book trend is a hybrid of the diary book format and a graphic novel, and they are all over the place. It is an updated version of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and I find the newer versions a little more clever. I do not anticipate any of these books winning a Newbery, but I do catch myself laughing aloud now and then.
How do I know I am reading a journal voice book?
The book is written in 1st person, and the speaker has a conversational “kid-speak” voice (very casual).
The main character is usually not a popular kid at school and has social dilemmas.
Most books have a graphic element to them. They include doodles and cartoon drawings in the margins and/or images that make the page look like a piece of notebook paper. They often have fun fonts.
The main character is often a reluctant reader or a struggling student in some way.
There is a lot of white space on the page, and it is easy to finish the book quickly.
And here is my final little observation. Almost all of the books have a male main character– especially the ones targeted at 3rd+ grade levels.
The Strange Case of the Origami Yoda (and sequels) by Tom Angleberger
The Great Hamster Massacre series by Katie Davies
Ten Good and Bad Things About My Life (so far) by Ann M. Martin
Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made by Stephan Pastis
I Funny: a Middle School Story by James Patterson
Other Middle School stories by James Patterson
What the Dog Said by Randi Reisfeld
Wonkenstein, The Creature From My Closet by Obert Skye**
Potterwookie,The Creature From My Closet by Obert Skye **
My Life as a Book by Janet Tashjian
My Life as a Stunt Boy by Janet Tashjian
Justin Case School, Drool, and Other Daily Disasters by Rachel Vail
