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Children's book club - Dork Diaries: Holiday Heartbreak by Rachel Renee Russell

31 replies

RachelMumsnet · 02/01/2014 17:49

Dork Diaries: Holiday Heartbreak is our January Children's book club choice for older readers. Dork Diaries is about fun, friendship and embracing your inner dork. Often discussed on the Mumsnet Talk boards this series is perfect for Wimpy Kid fans. What's more this is the sixth instalment in the Dork Diaries series, so if they enjoy this book, there's plenty more to come. Find out more about the series and apply for one of fifty free copies and we'll let you know if you've been selected to review, we'll email you on Tuesday 7 Jan.

Children's book club - Dork Diaries: Holiday Heartbreak by Rachel Renee Russell
OP posts:
MNHQ
AliceMumsnet · 07/01/2014 15:26

This giveaway is now closed. We will notify those who have been selected via email and they will receive a free copy of the book.

aristocat · 08/01/2014 18:03

:) we have been chosen, my DD will be thrilled!

Dillydollydaydream · 09/01/2014 13:27

Got our copy today. Looks exactly the sort of thing dd (10) would enjoy reading. Will have to get the previous books if she enjoys this one!

aristocat · 09/01/2014 18:48

Arrived today and DD is already reading it ....

aristocat · 09/01/2014 20:08

We have our feedback, my DD (age 9) has devoured this book in under 2 hours Grin

She absolutely loved it, thank you so much. Her favourite character was Nikki because she was so quirky and nice but she also found the others interesting too. She liked the way the book was set out with its illustrations/ cartoons and diary format ... perhaps this made it quicker to read?

We have never heard of Rachel Renee Russell before and now have even been on the DorkDiaries website and have a request from DD for the other books. I personally love finding a new author for myself so I am thrilled at the impact this book has had already.
Thank you Smile

LindseyandMatthew · 10/01/2014 22:24

we received this book a few days ago and as soon as my daughter is finished reading her current book we will be reading and reviewing this one. Really looking forward to hearing her thoughts on this book.

Theimpossiblegirl · 10/01/2014 22:33

Arrived yesterday and after a brief squabble we agreed eldest DD could read it first. :)

Positive feedback so far- it's an easy read with appealing language for their ages (10 & 12).

The layout is very similar to the Wimpy Kid books, making them non-threatening to a semi-reluctant reader who is put off by full pages. She has a long train journey tomorrow so I will challenge her to finish it (so DD2 can read it next). I'll add more feedback when it's finished.

I can see this one doing the rounds with their friends- they all loved Wimpy Kid so a version for girls is a great idea. Thanks for picking us.

lettysmith21 · 13/01/2014 19:44

Recieved book and have started reading. Do far so good! I have been reading it to my 8 year old and we are really enjoying it. Thank you!

johnworf · 13/01/2014 21:31

Just received my copy. Starting it tonight in bed. Will report back when I've finished Smile

kaydeed · 14/01/2014 12:19

My book arrived last week. My daughter is eight, but a good reader. She loved this book and has finished to read it already. The illustrations were good and helped break the chapters up. This is a book that would be enjoyed by most girls its language is relevant to todays children. My daughter is now looking to spend her christmas vouchers on another book from this series.

katb1973 · 14/01/2014 12:31

Thanks Mumsnet for the free copy, made my day!! Gave this to my friend's daughter as I only have boys. She loves all the Dork Diaries and reported the following. "I read this in one go and loved it. Nikki is as dorky as ever, so are her friends and the boy of her dreams.....Brandon. The only thing that gets in the way is Mackenzie, and as always, she is super mean, perfect and sneaky. Anyway, the main part of the book is about the Valentine's dance..Nikki wants to go with Brandon but is so scared he'll go with someone else....what happens?? Read it yourself!!"

From talking to my friend's daughter (10), she thinks that you should be a little bit older to read this book as it talks about boyfriends, love, make up etc. I suppose it depends on the maturity of your child but good to know anyway.

Dillydollydaydream · 14/01/2014 20:15

My 10yo dd read this.
She really enjoyed it and read it all in an afternoon! She says it's a good book, like Diary of a Wimpy Kid but for girls. Even though it was the 6th (?) book in the series she soon got into the characters and would like to read the rest of the Dork diary books now.
Thanks for Letting us have a copy to review.

leovectorprime · 17/01/2014 10:57

Book arrived last week and made my daughters day. The book is easy and fun to read. It is similar to diary of a wimpy kid. My daughter has read the book and the enjoyed reading it very much. The ending of the story is a happy one. thank you for the book.

MrsOlf · 17/01/2014 11:56

The book arrived last week (thank you very much for including us) and DD1 started reading it immediately. She's read 3 of the Dork Diaries series before and has really enjoyed them. Normally she will read a book straight through and get annoyed if she gets interrupted (even by the need for a meal or sleep...) But this time she read it in a couple of sittings and read another book in between. She said it wasn't quite as funny as the previous ones. She might just be having an off week! As a parent, I think the books are ok and I'm always delighted to have my DDs reading but I'm not sure the main character has that much to recommend her as a role model...

Theimpossiblegirl · 17/01/2014 12:04

DD1 has finished it and said it was good. She thought it was funny and good for her age group (she's 12). DD2 (11) will read it this weekend and I'll post again.

We've also been looking at the Scholastic Dork Diaries pages- lots of related activities.

LinktoScholasticsite

lovealotbear · 17/01/2014 13:40

We were chosen and I gave to dd who is 8 years old and an avid reader. She has read all the Wimpy Kid series and said that this compared well with those in style. It is probably aimed at a slightly older age group, from 10 years as is very much styled as a pre-teen book. My dd read this in two sittings and said even though she had not read any of the earlier series that she had picked easily on the story.

Thank you for the chance to read and review the book.

cavylover · 17/01/2014 17:56

Entertaining book suited to older girls written in a modern style with plenty of tales they can relate to. It is all in all a very good read. The black and white illustrations fit in with the storylines too.

I know someone who will like this!

ktmd · 17/01/2014 19:35

My daughter swooped on this when she came home from school! She's delighted. The front cover and blurb gripped her right away. Many thanks.

Micheleboyne · 17/01/2014 20:43

Thank you for the copy of Dork Diaries. Great easy read with a fun main character and enjoyed following her dramas. Looking forward to reading more in the series.

Hopezibah · 17/01/2014 21:50

even though the book looks aimed at girls because of the cover - the actual content is the sort of thing my son loves. He's reading a really really looong book at the moment so hasn't had the chance to read this yet.

So i've had a skim through to be able to give my feedback...

in terms of layout its kinda like the wimpy kid books - diary style font, interspersed with pictures so that always helps make it easier reading and my children love that.

Whilst it is aimed at girls and written from a girls point of view - my kids would get it and would like it as I think you can relate to it whether you're a boy or girl.

As you read it you can actually imagine the character saying that stuff as it is written just like a diary like that.

I think this is going to be a popular book!

MummyBtothree · 18/01/2014 18:06

Very impressed with the book..thank you so much x

debjani · 19/01/2014 11:02

My DD (nearly 9) had read Dork Diaries: How to dork your diary a couple of years ago so was already a fan - she was thrilled to get this one. She says this one was even better and says she wishes Nikki could be her friend in real life! The cartoon/diary format and font is particularly appealing for young ones.
My other DD (nearly 11) also read it and says it was really good and kept her hooked to the end. She also liked how the author/Nikki describes her life & feelings.
Thanks very much!

susantherblanche · 22/01/2014 17:55

Thanks for my copy, it was a really cute book and I know my daughter will love it :-) I wish I had a sister like Brianna!

Audreyblue · 23/01/2014 10:08

Thank you for sending us this book. My daughter aged 8 finished it in a few days and said it was 'so brilliant and funny!'. She especially liked the illustrations and the main character Nikki and has urged me to buy the rest of the books in the series. So a big hit here!

vix2185 · 23/01/2014 10:41

Thank you so much for sending us this book. I never win anything! So it was a lovely surprise! My 13 year old loved it! She has read all the wimpy kid books and can't wait to read the rest of the Dork Diaries series now! This is her review:

This book was a very interesting good book to read. The book is written in the style of 'the diary of a wimpy kid's which I love reading so I was very excited when I got this book. My favourite part was,when Mackenzie was so horrible but she never spoilt Nikki and Brandons fun and ended up trying to blame others but failed. It's very funny and a book you just won't want to put down. I would definitely get the rest of the collection. I hope they bring out more so I can keep reading dork diaries!

Thank you again