By Nazifa Khan
Puffin Books, the children’s imprint of British publishers Penguin Books, have disclosed the title and cover for the upcoming instalment of bestselling author Jeff Kinney's popular children's novel, Diary of a Wimpy Kid. This is to be book eighteen of the satirical realistic fiction comedy, titled Diary of a Wimpy Kid: No Brainer.
The Diary of a Wimpy Kid book series is a collection of comedic stories that follow the life of middle school student Greg Heffley. The books are written in a diary format, with each entry detailing Greg’s experiences as he navigates the ups and downs of adolescence. Along the way, he deals with everything from school bullies to family drama, all while trying to maintain his status as one of the ‘cool kids.’ The books are filled with humorous illustrations that help bring Greg’s world to life and they have become widely popular with kids and teens around the world.
Author Jeff Kinney's first instalment of the book series, which he started writing in 2004, was released in 2007. Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid books quickly became well liked by both children and adults because of his amusing and current storylines, thereby giving him recognition as a bestselling children's author. The books have been translated into more than sixty languages and have sold over 275 million copies worldwide. In addition, the series has consistently topped bestseller lists and has won numerous awards, including the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award for Favourite Book. "Jeff Kinney remains the most popular author with both Primary and Secondary aged students in the UK for the third year in a row," stated Francesca Dow, managing director of Penguin Random House Children's. Kinney’s relatable characters and humorous writing style have made him one of the most beloved and inspiring children’s authors of our time.
In the forthcoming Wimpy Kid adventure No Brainer, Greg Heffley must undertake the mission of saving his school from closure. As the synopsis states, “up until now, middle school hasn’t exactly been a joyride for Greg Heffley. So, when the town threatens to close the crumbling building, he’s not too broken up about it. But when Greg realises this means he’s going to be sent to a different school than his best friend, Rowley Jefferson, he changes his tune. Can Greg and his classmates save their school before it’s shuttered for good? Or is this the start of a whole new chapter for Greg?”
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: No Brainer will be published worldwide on 24 October 2023, following the order of previous volumes. It is set to release in hardback, audio and eBook editions.