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A Book I Have Read Report

Name:

Amyah Samuel

Name of the book:

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hot Mess

Author's name:

Jeff Kinney

Date started / Date complete:

October 11, 2025

The story is about:

This story is about the Heffley family's chaotic trip to a beach house for Grandma's 75th birthday. Their plans for a relaxing vacation fall apart when they find other relatives are already there, making the small house extremely crowded. The main character, Greg, has to deal with his mom's attempts to force everyone to have fun, his fear of sharks and jellyfish in the ocean, and a family mystery about his grandma's secret meatball recipe. The main idea is to show how a simple family vacation can turn into a hilarious series of disasters and awkward moments. It explores the funny side of family frustrations and the challenge of trying to have a good time when everything seems to be going wrong.

Beyond the funny events, the book is also about expectations versus reality. Greg hopes for a relaxing time, but he's met with a crowded house, a fear of jellyfish in the ocean, and his mom's endless plans for activities like lighthouse tours and family games. His perspective highlights the hilarious tension between what parents think is fun and what kids actually enjoy. The story perfectly captures the feeling of being stuck on a family trip where nothing goes according to plan, from a big family game night with thirteen people to a secret meatball recipe that no one is allowed to know.

Some interesting words/expressions were:

"Celebrity dog," "special meatball," "lighthouse tour," "family game night."

The part I enjoyed most was:

When Greg's mom made spaghetti with Grandma's famous meatballs. Everyone in the family loved them and wanted to know the secret recipe, but Grandma refused to tell anyone. It created a funny mystery in the middle of all the vacation chaos.

The main character(s) was/were:

1. Greg Heffley, the narrator who is just trying to survive the vacation.

2. Greg's Mom, who is determined to make the vacation a perfect family bonding experience, whether they like it or not.

3. Grandma, the guest of honor with a famous secret recipe.

The character I liked best was:

Greg Heffley.

I liked this character because:

He is funny and very relatable. His thoughts about the crowded house, his fear of the ocean, and his reactions to his mom's plans for "forced family fun" are hilarious and capture what it's like to be a kid on a crazy family trip.

I would recommend this story because:

I would recommend this story, especially to Grade 6 students, because it’s not just funny; it’s also very relatable. Almost everyone has been on a family trip that didn't go perfectly, and Greg's story shows you're not alone in that experience. The lesson you can learn from this book is about the importance of having a sense of humor. Even when things are frustrating or embarrassing, like being forced to play family games or dealing with a crowded house, being able to laugh about it later is what makes a great memory. It teaches that family life is often a 'hot mess,' and the best way to get through it is to find the humor in the chaos.

The Story: "Hot Mess"

The story begins when the Heffley family goes on what they hope will be a fun beach trip for their Grandma's 75th birthday. But when they arrive, they discover that Aunt Gretchen and her kids are already there, crowding the small three-bedroom beach house. With only one bathroom for everyone, things get chaotic quickly.

Greg's mom decides the family should go to the beach for some fun, but Greg is terrified of sharks, jellyfish, and other sea creatures. His plan to just relax on the sand is ruined when his mom insists that the family "play some games" together. Later, after returning from the beach, his mom makes a big spaghetti dinner featuring Grandma's special meatballs, which everyone loves. The family begs Grandma for the secret recipe, but she refuses to share it.

The vacation continues with more of his mom's planned activities, including a lighthouse tour and a difficult family game night with thirteen people trying to play. The whole trip is a "hot mess" of family craziness leading up to Grandma's birthday party.

Story Analysis

Paragraph 1: Introduction (Characters, Setting, Main Idea)

The humorous fiction story "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hot Mess" by Jeff Kinney features the main character and narrator, Greg Heffley. The story is set in a cramped beach house during a summer family vacation for his Grandma's 75th birthday. The main idea is to explore the comical chaos and frustration that happens when a large family is forced to spend a vacation together in a small space.

Paragraph 2: The Problem

The central conflict is Greg's struggle to find any peace or enjoyment during a vacation that is anything but relaxing. He faces external problems like a crowded house, a single bathroom for thirteen people, a fear of the ocean, and his mom's relentless schedule of "forced family fun." His internal problem is his growing frustration and his "wimpy" perspective on the whole chaotic event, which creates much of the story's humor.

Paragraph 3: Solution and Recommendation

The problem isn't "solved" in a traditional way; instead, the family simply endures the chaotic vacation. The resolution comes with the culmination of the trip at Grandma's birthday party, marking the end of the hectic getaway. The true solution is Greg's humorous narration, which turns his stressful experience into an entertaining story. I would highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy funny stories about family life and relatable characters, especially if they are already fans of the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series.

Draw Your Idea of the Story

Here is my idea of the Heffley family's chaotic vacation day at the beach.

Greg Heffley Greg's Mom Time for family games! Rodrick Heffley Manny Heffley
Tools Gemini can make mistakes, so double-check it