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 1474 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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I'm going to be completely honest and this review is for the whole series. Rachel Renee Russel did a HORRIBLE job writing this book. Excuse me if I sound rude. If we look inside Nikki's head its completely messed up and there is no logic in it. Nikki makes herself look like that she's bullied endlessly and that everyone is against her and that Brandon sees her as a friend and nothing more or even less than that, when the TRUTH is that Nikki has everything she wants and needs. She has a famous band, Actually I Don't Really Know Yet, she has the chance to go to Paris or a Bad Boyz concert, AND she had a expensive party that probably cost more that my phone. The worst part is that she denies that Brandon has a crush on her, like honey its OBVIOUS HE DOES. And the book has the same formula every time. Nikki starts of her diary complaining about something or mooning after Brandon. Finds out how to make a big deal out of it and then starts complaining. Then McKenzie does something bad to Nikki and then Nikki freaks out, a little romance time with Brandon then SOMEHOW everything is OK. Also, another thing to add is that NO eight grader/15 year old acts this way! EVER! A normal eighth grader is WAYYY more chill than this. I get why 3rd-5th graders would read this but if you're younger than this it has some bad examples like to sulk instead of facing your problem and that your problems will never go away which can lead to low self-esteem. And if you're older than that then you need to grow up and realize that life won't always be like Nikki's life. I don't want to sound like my mom but she's a poor role model for little kids and that we should be reading about people facing their problems and taking control of their life. Not this. Thank you if you took your time to read this. I really appreciate it!

I agree. Nikki blames pretty much EVERYTHING on Makenzie. If you read closely SHE IS INNOCENT! So yeah pretty BAD book. Sorry if i sound rude but COME ON DUDE! The author feels like she is just trying to get it over with. And she has EVERYTHING! She has to new B.F.FS and also feels like she pretty much dissed her old ones. Never even calls them. NOT ONCE! Does not even say their names. She complains about Brandon but he CLEARLY likes her and has a crush on her. This deserves ONE star only. I will give it zero if possible. >:(

The BFF point is good I almost forgot she went to a new school. Yea, she said that she misses her old school and friends in the first book but after that their was NO MENTION of them after that.

I agree with you, @iceagebaby. All my friends recommend Dork Diaries, but I feel like Nikki is sort of immature, and I also don’t like realistic fiction.

I agree with all of you, I have never actually read this book but I don't want too now (and I probably would have never read this anyway because it's a girls book).

I used to be obsessed with the book but I also wanna say that even though its poorly written there is no such thing as "boy books" or "girl books" books are books and you shouldn't immediately reject a book or make fun of someone reading the book (I know you didn't make fun of someone) because its a "girl book".

Oh yeah and @squirrelflight you can rate something zero stars all you have to do is not touch the rating thing.

I have never read this series, but this is honestly a great review!!! I'm glad you stated your opinion like this, that doesn't happen very often on reviews like this :)

hmm know that I think about it kinda true? But I think in the latest books she has changed a bit with more how should I say it... confidence?

i don't really think so but I respect your opinion.

I totally agree with you! She did a horrible job on this. (Not trying to be rude). I really think she could of tried harder. Also, I followed you!

Nikki Maxwell is not excited to be going to a new school. Not only is she a total dork who has no friends, McKenzie, the most popular girl in school seems to hate her! What will Nikki do? Well at least she has two new BFF's Chloe and Zoey. Nikki wants to enter the art contest, but she's too afraid at what McKenzie will do! Will Nikki be able to stick up for herself and enter the contest? Read the book to find out! Happy Reading!

Lisa Lisa

Wow that is So AWESOME!!!

Hay hay Hay hay

These books are aming and I really love them read them 5 times

I read this book not to long ago. And I thought it was Okay. And I would not like to be bullied at school all day everyday. Though I think she made two really nice Friends after a while. And I know her Friends would stand up for her, It's nice to have friends like that. And if you can it would be nice if you could follow me I'll follow you back.

Fatima Fatima

I have already read ths book , and I loved it

Les2011 Les2011

Omg loved it that I like read it a hundred times

This book was hilarious. It's about a girl starting Middle School and her drama-fest with the mean-girl Mackenzie Hollister. There is drama, comedy and slight romantic tragedy in this book! I would recommend the age 8+ for this book.

Nikki Maxwell is to a new school and so far it's been really hard with dealing with her worst enemy Makenzie which is way harder than it seems and trying to hide one of the most embarrassing thing in her life that she go to the school on a bug scholarship that a job has at her new school but her dads work can is the worst of it it has a huge roach on top and she tries to keep it a secret from people at school and dealing with trying to get some friends and her little sister Brianna who is so annoying and that she has a secret crush on the same boy as her enemy Makenzie do you want to know what happens than you will have to find out. It's a very good book

This book awesome

I totally agree. I have read the entire series twice.

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