Dork Diaries 1: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life

Dork Diaries 1: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life

By Rachel Renée Russell

874 ratings 1384 reviews 1471 followers
Interest LevelReading LevelReading A-ZATOSWord Count
Grades 4 - 8Grades 4 - 7n/a5.429745

Meet Nikki Maxwell! She’s starting eighth grade at a new school—and her very first diary packed with hilarious stories and art in this SUPER SQUEE updated edition of Book One of the #1 New York Times bestselling Dork Diaries series!

Nikki confesses all in her first diary ever: her epic battle with her mom for an iPhone, meeting her new soon-to-be BFFs Chloe and Zoey, falling for adorably sweet crush Brandon, dealing with her zany little sister Brianna’s antics—and the immediate clashes with mean girl Mackenzie, who becomes Nikki’s rival in a schoolwide art competition.

Nearly 30 million books in print worldwide!

Publisher: Aladdin
ISBN-13: 9781416980063
ISBN-10: 1416980067
Published on 6/2/2009
Binding: Hardcover
Number of pages: 304

Book Reviews (1301)

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3 stars--I know this is a popular book, so I was SUPER excited when I saw it at the library. I immediately wanted to read Dork Diaries because the amazing art style captivated me. However, once I started reading, I had...mixed feelings about this book. --The Bad Stuff about Dork Diaries: I HATED Nikki, the main character. I know hate is a strong word, but there's no other way to describe my immense dislike of her. She's whiny, melodramatic, annoying, self-centered, insecure, hypocritical...the list goes on. She's constantly whining about how her life SUCKS because OMG, she doesn't have a phone! And she got a DIARY for her birthday! *gasps* Poor, poor Nikki! (BTW, I'm being sarcastic). Girl, just because you didn't get a phone and your mom gave you a diary instead doesn't mean it's the end of the world. Another thing I didn't like was how Nikki overreacts about every. Single. Freaking. Thing. Mean Girl MacKenzie insults her at school? Meltdown time! Brandon, her crush, smiles at her? Let's have a heart-eyed meltdown! Nikki's father waves at her? MORTIFIED MELTDOWN! Lastly, Nikki is a hypocrite--she constantly complains about how mean MacKenzie is while saying mean things about EVERYBODY behind their backs and tormenting her little sister, Brianna. NOT COOL. I could probably write a five page essay talking about why I hate Nikki. --The Good Stuff about Dork Diaries: You're probably wondering why I gave this book 3 stars if I dislike the main character so much. The answer to that is: I HEART THE ART!!! Seriously, the drawing style is AMAZING. As someone who appreciates art, I enjoyed looking at the pictures in this graphic novel. I also liked the character of Brianna (she's weird but hilarious). So, overall, I didn't love Dork Diaries, but I didn't hate it, either. I'll probably read the rest of the series, though...if only the local library wasn't ten miles away from my house :(.

This book is excellent! Don't mind sunshine rainbow! Unlike her name, she is not sunshine or rainbows. You shouldn't say bad things about things you don't, like. You wrote so much negative stuff! Gosh, if you don't like it, don't read it! It's people like you that are badly influencing this genaration.

Please read the WHOLE series before you wright comments like this and make other people mad/sad (Like me)

i have to dissagree if you read the rest, it gets better eac book you'll see im sory our libray is 10 miles away( vitual hug) :(

Nikki Russel just got a scholarship to a new school, that is, because her dad is an EXTERMINATOR!!!!! On her first day f school, Nikki hopes to get a iPhone, but instead she gets a DIARY!!!!! Nikki's locker is by you know who Makenzie Hollister, the leader of the ccp group and the mean girl. Since she knows no one, Makenzie makes fun of her outfits, like HELLO I"M NOT RICH LIKE THESE SNOBS!!!!! An incident in the lunch room humilliates Nikki on the day she met sophi and chloe. Just great. thinks can't seem to get worse, but they do. The picture of Nikki on the lunchroom floor makes the front page of the school nrewspaper, Makenzie cant seem to stop makeing fun of her. Later on Nikki learns to embrace her dorkiness and lean to have fun with it. "What can i say, im such a dork!:) If you like dorky middle school drama, and loves funny friendsships, boyfriend disasters, and so much more. Check out all 15 of Rachel Renee russel's dork diaries!!!!!!!!!!!!

this is good book right

This great book so funny and like

this is really good nikki is youre average dork who transferred to a new school. while she wants a cell phone, nikki actually gets a diary. if you love crazy adventures and girl power, i reccomend the whole seriess

Dork Diaries a comic book by Rachel Renee Russel Nikki Maxwell is a girl in middle school who hates school, Mostly because a mean girl Makenzie won’t stop bragging to Nikki about how pretty she is. Then it was lunchtime Nikki was walking to her table when Makenzie tripped her! But a boy named Brandon came to the rescue and gave her a towel thatś was the boy she likes. After that, it was P.E time they were playing volleyball when a ball came crashing down on two gossip girls and of course, they lost the round and had to hit the showers. Nikki overheard the two gossip girls talking about how they hate hitting the showers two so the two gossip girls and Nikki talked and became friends. I recommend this book to people who like comics and funny books.

This book is dramatic, and so funny! I totally recommend to other readers.

Along with all the other books in it's series, it's pretty funny and is a great story. I highly recommend it for 6-12.

The illustrations are good, but the book isn't the best. It's really cringey, and it's almost all about crushes and phones and petty rivalries. It's SUPER cringy, and by 3rd grade I hated this book already. The whole series is just super outdated. It might of been good in 2009, but in 2022?

I like it is a tiny bit cringe but I recommend it.

OMG! I really like this book! Its funny, creative, and just the best!!!! I think that you should read this book!

Ya you are right

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