Dork Diaries

Gr 5—8—Nikki Maxwell, self-professed dork and aspiring artist, has plenty of problems starting at a brand new private middle school in this tale (Aladdin, 2009) by Rachel Renee Russell. Her locker is right next to MacKenzie, the queen of mean girls; she can hardly speak around her crush Brandon; and she is desperate to hide the fact that she is attending on scholarship because her father is the school's exterminator. Chronicling her middle school highs and lows in a diary, Nikki includes all the humorous as well as embarrassing details. Lana Quintal is well-cast to voice the first title in this popular series. Her youthful voice is a match for Nikki's personality, providing authenticity for her observations and emotions. Her tone is appropriately clichéd for MacKenzie, Nikki's nemesis and the most popular girl in school. Listeners will laugh even as they identify with Nikki's insecurities and her struggles to fit. The CD also includes a video interview with the author.—Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, IL