Diary of a Wimpy Kid 12: The Getaway

Book Info

I will swim with dolphins…and they will love me

It is Christmas, and the Heffleys are getting out of town to change up their holiday.  Travelling Isla de Corales, Greg not only will experience his first flight, but the joys of paradise…which includes giant spiders, dinosaur size iguanas, killer jellyfish, and an adults only side of the island which could include even more horrors.  The adventure is on for Greg Heffley, and Greg just wants to go home.

Written and illustrated by Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid 12:  The Getaway follows Diary of a Wimpy Kid 11:  Double Down from 2016.  The young-adult novel was released on November 7, 2017.

Snorkling could be deadly…with box jellyfish

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series is tumultuous to me.  I thought the first novel was very clever (as first novels often are), but since the first book and the rise in popularity, the books have been hit or miss…Diary of a Wimpy Kid 12:  The Getaway, is better than some of the sequels but still hasn’t lived up to the original.

Part of the reason Diary of a Wimpy Kid 12:  The Getaway is better is that it once again puts the Heffleys out of their safe zone by sending them on vacation.  Many of the Diary books are too formulaic with school and a big event that is developing through the course of the story.  Here, there isn’t so much a big event as a series of errors that eventually catches up to all of the characters (not just Greg).  This title feels more rounded in that Greg’s family is more included.

The book essentially has two parts which includes the “joy” of travel by plane and the resort.  I almost wish that the characters had traveled to a Disney World-esque location in that the three children would have different reactions.  An island resort generally has something for everyone (even the most reclusive people), but it still is utilized decently with Greg and his picky nature coming forward.

Seasons Greetings from the Heffleys!!!

To me a lot of the book’s joys come from the illustrations by Kinney.  The writing is so-so, but the pictures bring the plots home.  By this point, you have a good feel of the characters and their hang-ups so you can see them coming even in the drawings (I don’t see these characters actually spending the money for a trip like this however).

Diary of a Wimpy Kid 12:  The Getaway is a fun read, but it doesn’t take the series anywhere really new (nor did I expect it to).  Diary of a Wimpy Kid has moved past being original and moved into an “institution” phase (almost like a comic strip) where you expect certain things from the story and get them…it is a better entry than many however.  Diary of a Wimpy Kid 12:  The Getaway is followed by Diary of a Wimpy Kid 13:  The Meltdown.

Preceded By:

Diary of a Wimpy Kid 11:  Double Down

Followed By:

Diary of a Wimpy Kid 13: The Meltdown