Dork Diaries: Pop Star by Rachel Renee Russell
| Dork Diaries: Pop Star by Rachel Renee Russell | |
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| Category: Confident Readers | |
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Reviewer: John Lloyd
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| Summary: The third in this series sees the school talent show the main focus of both Nikki's life, and her enemy's latest plans... | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 320 | Date: June 2011 |
| Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Books | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 978-0857071187 | |
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When I saw that both the first and second books in this series had already been put into one compendium, I wondered quite why. Were they not selling quite as I expected they would, despite their breeziness and simple charms for the beginner reader? Would the third book prove to be a major change in format, hence an early wrapping-up? Well, the answers are in here - as are all those assets, and no real surprises or alterations.
Nikki is still here, all large-as-life, writing about her embarrassing parents and baby sister, and illustrating her diary with cartoonish illustrations (as opposed to the more cut-away joke formats Jeff Kinney uses for the Wimpy Kid). This time we start with her going a bit gooey about the boy she fancies, and has actually at last spoken to, and getting rather eager to take part in the school talent contest - especially as one of the prizes would allow her to cover up for a major mistake she's made in her life... But how can she manage to get a band together to compete, when the school bitch - all make-up and spangles - is even more evil than ever?
There are far too many instances of tears and tantrums along the way, and the ending will hardly hold that much of a surprise (if it does, you're reading outside your age bracket, and should pick up Louise Rennison instead). The irony and sarcasm as our heroine feels herself unworthy of her loving BFFs drip from the page, but beyond the unsubtlety is an engaging little story. Some beats don't quite work, but on the whole this serves its purpose, and looks like being successful enough to be the first half of another anthology somewhen quite soon.
Finally, I can only assume the fact these books are in 2-in-1s and the Wimpy Kid isn't, is further evidence of the research recently revealed which said girls are much more willing to pick up a longer book than boys. So don't worry about any changes or loss in form, and point the nearest reluctant reader towards these covers.
I must thank the publishers for sending me a review copy.
A musical ambition also features in Six Words and a Wish by Karen McCombie.
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Dork Diaries by Rachel Renee Russell in Chronological Order
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