'Diary of a Wimpy Kid': A new book is coming next fall
The newest book in the series will be the tenth. It 'gives me a chance to reset the series,' author Jeff Kinney said of the upcoming title.
'Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul' is by Jeff Kinney.
The newest book in the popular “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series by Jeff Kinney is reportedly being released this November.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the tenth book in the series, which does not yet have a title, will be released on Nov. 3. The new work will reportedly follow protagonist Greg’s journey to a farm for a field trip. The last book, “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul,” centered on Greg’s family going on a road trip.
And according to Kinney, this book will represent a return to the start of the series for him.
“The tenth Wimpy Kid book gives me a chance to reset the series," Kinney said in a statement. "I've thought a lot about what's made these books work and how it all got started. So for me, personally, it's back to basics. I'm carrying that theme through the book."
The books in the “Diary” series are mainstays on bestseller lists and the series as a whole is currently ranked at number three on the IndieBound Children’s Fiction Series list for the week of March 26.
Kinney spoke about trying to keep the books fresh for multiple generations in an interview with the website Mental Floss.
“That’s been one of the most difficult things for me, is trying to make the books timeless but also keeping up with the modern changes in technology, and especially as it relates to the social component,” he said. “When I write the books, I have a general rule, which is that I try to make the books so that they could have happened 20 years ago and that they could happen 20 years from now. It’s hard to see where technology fits in, but one thing I know is that, 20 years from now, people will still be trying to determine what’s the proper age for a kid to have a cellphone.”
The series was also adapted into a 2010 movie titled “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” 2011’s “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules,” and the 2012 film “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days.”
“The movie business has been around for a long time, and all the roles are really clearly defined,” Kinney said. “There’s not a role for the author, and it’s for good reason. I think it’s because authors can be really precious about their work, and I’ve really had to try to figure out a way to fit in and to have some influence over the films while accepting that I don’t really have control over the outcome.”