DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: HARD LUCK

In the latest installment of this popular series, Greg is feeling abandoned because his best--and only--friend, Rowley, has a girlfriend. Narrator Ramon De Ocampo sounds too old to be convincing as a middle schooler, but his performance is expressive and clear. His pacing is excellent, leaving listeners enough time to laugh and process what's happening beyond Greg's limited viewpoint and clueless self-absorption. As ever, this series masterfully displays adults' well-meaning confusion, as when Greg discovers his mother's hidden stash of parenting guides and his school's attempts to create community go awry. A wide range of listeners will empathize with Greg and his all-too-familiar troubles. A.F. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2013]