Wrecking Ball is Almost Here! We’re Celebrating by Ranking Every Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Since 2007, Jeff Kinney has been chronicling the life of everyone’s favorite underdog, Greg Heffley, as he attempts to navigate middle school, home life, and avoiding the awful “cheese touch” with his trademark wit, diary entries, and entertaining cartoon drawings. In book 14, Wrecking Ball, out November 5, things get a bit shaky for the Heffleys when they unexpectedly inherit some money and decide to renovate their house. You may be surprised to learn that things do not go exactly according to plan.

13. Double Down (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series #11), by Jeff Kinney

Greg is on an epic search to find something he’s good at other than playing video games. After finding an old video camera in the basement, he thinks maybe filmmaking could be his undiscovered talent and decides to make a scary movie with his best friend, Rowley. Of course, Greg doesn’t just have his sights set on finding a new hobby—he wants to become rich and famous in the process. Is everyone’s favorite middle-school underdog destined for stardom? Find out in this awesome eleventh book in the series!

12. The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series #5), by Jeff Kinney

Greg has discovered an unfortunate fact about being a kid: Eventually, you have to grow up, and there’s a lot of discomfort that comes with the transition, including a rough patch with his best friend, his mom going back to school, more responsibilities being piled on, and the pitfalls of boy-girl parties. Maybe Greg shouldn’t have been in such a hurry to grow up. But it’s nothing this wimpy kid can’t handle, especially with the support of his friends and family—not to mention his trusty diary—in this fifth book in the series.

11. The Getaway (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series #12), by Jeff Kinney

The Heffleys are skipping town for the holidays to avoid all the associated stress. Surely some rest and relaxation is just what the Heffleys need. But what’s supposed to be a chill Christmas vacation turns into a holiday nightmare. Sun poisoning, tummy troubles, poisonous critters, and more—yikes! Will this vacation be a total bust or can Greg come to the rescue? Bonus: This Barnes & Noble–exclusive edition includes a removable, never-before-seen collectible print by Kinney.

10. The Meltdown (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series #13), by Jeff Kinney

Winter may finally be on its way out, but the snowflakes are still falling in the 13th installment of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. This time, Greg’s school is closed for a snow day, which should be a cause to celebrate but instead turns into a wintry nightmare. Kids are teaming up, forming alliances, fighting over neighborhood territory, and staging the most epic snowball fights—with Greg and his best friend, Rowley, as the primary targets. Hilarity ensues as these BFFs look for a way to ice out the competition.

9. The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series #7), by Jeff Kinney

In this seventh installment, love is in the air for our fave wimpy kid—or is that just the smell of some old cheese? It’s Valentine’s Day, and Greg is determined to find someone to take to the middle-school dance. Though he does have someone to go to the dance with him, it’s not quite what he had in mind—he’s going with his best friend, Rowley, and a girl from his class as “a group of friends.” Will Greg end up being the odd kid out in this hilarious addition to Kinney’s series?

8. Hard Luck (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series #8), by Jeff Kinney

Now that Rowley is gaga over his new girlfriend, Abigail, from book seven, Greg suddenly finds himself without his best friend. And as most people who survived middle school can attest, making new friends at this age can be a challenge at best. So Greg decides to allow fate—in the form of a Magic 8-ball—to step in and make all of his decisions for him. And while it may not result in him making all the right moves, it certainly does keep things interesting and funny for readers of the beloved series.

7. Old School (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series #10), by Jeff Kinney

Greg still keeps a pen-to-paper diary, which is still a pretty old-school concept. But when his whole town decides voluntarily to totally unplug—no electronics?!—Greg finds himself wondering if kicking it old school is really such a good idea. The 10th book in the series offers up an entertaining and hilarious look at Greg and the gang’s experience going off the grid, which even includes Greg and Rowley attempting to open a lemonade stand with some not-so-sweet results. Will they manage to survive? This wimpy kid usually finds a way.

6. Dog Days (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series #4), by Jeff Kinney

Greg is what you might describe as an indoorsy kid, so it makes sense that his big plans for summer break include playing video games in his room with the shades drawn. But his mom is not having it. After a falling out with his best friend, Rowley, over their lawn care business, Greg is faced with his mother’s ideas for what he should be doing with his summer vacation—things like getting outside and being part of a book club for boys. Kids will love this book all about Greg’s hilarious mishaps during a potentially disastrous summer.

5. Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series #1), by Jeff Kinney

“Let me just say for the record that I think middle school is the dumbest idea ever invented. You got kids like me who haven’t hit their growth spurt yet mixed in with gorillas who need to shave twice a day,” writes sixth-grader Greg in this incredible kickoff to Kinney’s bestselling series. Middle school can be traumatic, and Kinney does an amazing job capturing what it means to be a tween in a hilarious yet believable way. In this unforgettable first book, Greg takes readers through his school year in the diary his mother is forcing him to keep.

4. The Last Straw (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series #3), by Jeff Kinney

Self-centered Greg thinks he’s found the perfect New Year’s resolution in this third book in the series— “help other people improve.” But Greg’s dad has other plans. He thinks it’s time for his son to shed his wimpy ways by getting involved with sports and other such “manly” activities, and if Greg doesn’t toughen up, it’s off to military school for him. But if we know one thing about Greg, it’s that where there’s a wimp (ahem, Greg) there’s a way. Kinney’s hilarious prose and spot-on illustrations really shine in this installment.

3. The Long Haul (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series #9), by Jeff Kinney

The ninth book in the series finds the Heffleys hitting the road for a vacation inspired by his mom’s subscription to Family Frolic, which means “real food” rather than fast food and educational experiences rather than Greg’s preferred video games. While the fam may be expecting a fun-filled trip, fans of the series know that where the Heffleys go, hilarious disaster follows. This time it’s in the form of a seagull attack, a runaway pig, Greg getting medical care from a vet, and his little brother causing a fender bender with the family car.

2. Rodrick Rules (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series #2), by Jeff Kinney

The second installment in the series is also number two on our list! This time, it’s the beginning of a new school year, Greg can stop hiding out from summer swim team practice, and he has finally passed on the dreaded “cheese touch,” so everything should be looking up, right? Not if Greg’s older brother, Rodrick, has anything to say about it! Rodrick is threatening to expose an embarrassing secret about Greg to the whole school. Can this wimpy kid avoid certain doom? Find out in this amazing sequel to the original book in the series!

1. Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series #6), by Jeff Kinney

It’s almost Christmas in this sixth book in the series that tops our list of all the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. Greg is just trying to survive at school and avoid the ever-watchful eye of the creepy Santa’s Scout doll scoping his every move. But when school property gets damaged, Greg is marked as the prime suspect! But this time, he really didn’t do it—right? Then a surprise blizzard strands the Heffleys at home, and now Greg feels even more trapped than he did at school. Fans of the books and newcomers alike will go crazy for this awesome installment in the Wimpy Kid world.