Kinney, Jeff.
DIARY OF A WIMPY KID : RODRICK RULES
New York : Amulet Books, 2008
IL 5-8, RL 5.7
ISBN 0810994739

When Greg returns to school, his first goal is to rid himself of the dreaded “Cheese Touch”. Greg gives it to the new student at school and is free of it! Rowley and Greg still hang out, and Greg learns a great new game from Rowley. Unfortunately, Greg’s mother decides this would be a great way for Greg and Roderick to bond. After Greg puts a dumbbell in a pillow that Rowley kicks, Greg is forced to perform in the school talent show with Rowley’s first grade partner. Even scarier is the fact that Greg’s competition in the talent show is his brother’s band “Loaded Diaper.” Luckily for Greg, his act is the only one not accepted, and he gets to sit on the sidelines. Unfortunately for Roderick, his mother also is in the audience, and she is filming his music. While she becomes a national website download, Roderick’s band isn’t so lucky.

Another interesting development is Mom’s need to make her son’s work and show responsibility. She creates the “Mom Bucks” system. They earn a certain number of “Mom bucks” for doing chores and being nice to each other. Her efforts, as always don’t exactly work the way she intended; especially when Roderick throws a huge party at the house when the parents are gone.

What of Greg’s involvement, well, Roderick holds a very powerful secret over Greg- the secret of what happened this summer. Very entertaining, and hilarious antics from Greg move the story along and make it an adventure to find out what happens next.  (Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award, 2011)