DORK DIARIES Reading Levels

Welcome to our Dork Diaries support page. You'll find Lexile and Accelerated Reading information (where available) for all the books in this series, as well as the AR Quiz numbers.

We've Linked to many of the Hardback version because they can frequently be had for pennies (plus shipping).  Be sure to shop around.

**all ratings from GoodReads
**all links to Amazon.com. Being Affiliate links they help support this site so more lists can be made. (It's amazingly labor intensive.) No cost to you.

DORK DIARIES
by Rachel Renee Russell

A Wimpy Kid for girls! Nikki Maxwell navigates the halls of middle school.

Book #1

 TALES FROM A NOT-SO-FABULOUS LIFE
4.17 avg rating — 28,827 ratings

14 year old Nikki Maxwell is a character many girls can relate to.  She tries to be popular in school, and she argues with her mom about getting a cell phone.  What's great is that she writes and sketches in her diary about her struggles.  (And eventually figures out that it's best just to be herself.)

Reading Information:
Word Count: 29,745
Page Count: 288
Accelerated Reader: 5.4 / points: 5.0
AR quiz: 132957
Lexile: 890L
--Espanol
Cronicas De Una Vida Muy Poco Glamurosa 

Book #2

TALES FROM A NOT-SO-POPULAR PARTY GIRL
4.29 avg rating — 25,335 ratings

Filled with the stuff girls face.  Crushes on lab partners... kooky plans... boy-crazy friends, and  pesky little sisters. 

Word Count: 24,123
Page Count: 288
Accelerated Reader: 5.1 / points: 4.0
AR quiz: 137932
Lexile: 840L
--Espanol 
Cuando No Eres La Reina De La Fiesta Precisamente 


Book #3

TALES FROM A NOT-SO-TALENTED POP STAR

4.32 avg rating — 21,059 ratings

Aggh!  Nikki's nemesis is MacKenzi, and MacKenzi isn't a very nice person.  When Nikki enters a talent contest, Mac threatens to tell EVERYONE that Nikki's dad is only an exterminator.

Word Count: 27,459
Page Count: 320
Accelerated Reading level: 4.9 / points: 4.0
AR quiz: 144765
Lexile: 770L
--Espanol  
Una estrella del pop muy poco brillante


Book #3.5

HOW TO DORK YOUR DIARY
4.32 avg rating — 7,078 ratings

Nikki has lost her diary, and in the process of looking for it, she gives tips on writing and keeping a diary.

Word Count: 11,627
Page Count:184
Accelerated Reader: 4.4 / points: 2.0
AR quiz: 149466
Lexile: 710L


Book #4

SKATING SENSATION:
Tales From A Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess

4.39 avg rating — 12,626 ratings

Nikki's crush, Brandon, lets her know that the animal shelter where he volunteers is going to be closed for lack of funds.  The gang gets together to try to win a skate contest that features a nice $$ prize.  But with MacKenzi interfere?

Word Count: 28,373
Page Count:  368
Accelerated Reading level: 4.5 / points: 4.0
AR quiz: 152355
Lexile: 750L
--Espanol 
 Una Patinadoa Sobre Hielo Algo Torpe


Book #5

TALES FROM A NOT-SO-SMART MISS KNOW-IT-ALL

4.43 avg rating — 13,178 ratings

It's all convoluted in this one.  Nikki joins the school paper because she doesn't want MacKenzi to blab about her crush on Brandon.  As it works out she becomes the Miss Know-It-All columnist... a role she's not exactly prepared for.  Will her friends be enough help?

Word Count: 28,356
Page Count:  321
Accelerated Reader: 4.7 / points: 4.0
AR quiz: 154900
Lexile: 750L
--Espanol 
Una Sabelotodo no tan Lista 


Book #6

HOLIDAY HEARTBREAK
Tales From A Not-So-Happy Heartbreaker 

4.44 avg rating — 10,267 ratings

True teen angst.  The dance is coming up and Brandon hasn't asked Nikki.  Does that mean he's asked MacKenzie?

Word Count: 28,726
Page Count: 352
Accelerated Reader: 4.2 / points: 4.0
AR quiz: 159057
Lexile: HL690L
--Espanol 
 Una rompecorazones no muy afortunada 
or  Una rompecorazones no muy afortunada 
 

Book #7

TALES FROM A NOT-SO-GLAM TV STAR

4.42 avg rating — 5,531 ratings

Everything is so BUSY. With the camera crews following Nikki and her friends around, how is she ever going to have some down time with Brandon (her crush)?  Will there be a kiss?

Word Count: 27,603
Page Count: 336
Accelerated Reader: 4.6 / points: 4.0
AR quiz: 166963
Lexile: 710L
--Espanol 
Diario de Nikki #7


Book #8

TALES FROM A NOT-SO-HAPPILY EVER AFTER!

4.29 avg rating — 3,632 ratings

This is fun!  After a bump on the head Nikki has a dream in which she casts her friends, Brandon, and mean girls in a storybook story.

Word Count: 23,500
Page Count: 304
Accelerated Reader: 4.3 / points: 3.0
AR quiz: 169753
Lexile: 660L
--Espanol  Diario de Nikki #8



Book #9 

TALES FROM A NOT-SO-DORKY DRAMA QUEEN

4.44 avg rating — 2,163 ratings

Mackenzie is the queen of the  queen of the CCP (Cute, Cool and Popular) girls and horror of horrors, she has gotten hold of Nikki's diary.  What will happen next? 

 

Word Count: 28,171
Page Count:  304
Accelerated Reader: 4.9 / points: 4.0
AR quiz: 174507
Lexile: 780L
--Espanol 
Diario de Nikki #9


Book #10

TALES FROM A NOT-SO-PERFECT PET SITTER

4.40 avg rating — 1,562 ratings

Yikes.  Nikki has to hide a dog, Holly, and seven puppies (yes, seven!) from 2 parents, 1 obnoxious little sister, an entire school, and the dreaded MacKenzie.

Word Count:  24,922
Page Count:  320
Accelerated Reader: 4.4 / points: 4.0
AR quiz:  177366
Lexile: 730L

 

updated by Pam
updated June 2016

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID Reading Levels

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is an excellent funny series that is mom/dad, kid and teacher tested and approved. Jeff Kinney, the author, uses a combination of text and hand drawn images to entertain and mesmerize kids of all ages.

This really is a great series!

**all ratings from GoodReads
**all links to Amazon.com. Being Affiliate links they help support this site so more lists can be made. (It's amazingly labor intensive.) No cost to you.


Greg Heffley's Journal
by Jeff Kinney

3.95 avg rating — 191,525 ratings

Greg Heffley is entering sixth grade and we're so lucky because we get to read all about his experiences in school where he and Rowley (Greg's best friend) hope to survive as undersized weaklings amid boys who need to shave twice daily. Sample pages available.

Reading Information:
Word Count: 19,784
Page Count: 224
Accelerated Reader: 5.2 / points: 3.0
AR quiz: 113950
Lexile: 950L
--sample pages and other reviews available
--audio version available
--sample e-chapters available

• Note that the Spanish translations of the Wimpy Kid books can be found on there own list, here.

Rodrick Rules #2

Greg tries to keep his older brother Rodrick from telling every at his middle school about his humiliating summer vacation experience. Sample pages available.

4.09 avg rating — 84,369 ratings

Word Count: 20,165
Page Count: 224
Accelerated Reading level: 5.2 / points: 3.0
AR quiz: 119441
Lexile: 910L

The Last Straw #3

Greg's father threatens to send him to military school because of his wimpy ways. Sample pages available.

4.10 avg rating — 74,558 ratings

Word Count: 21,084
Page Count: 224
Accelerated Reader: 5.4 / points: 3.0
AR quiz: 127979
Lexile: 970L


Dog Days #4
Greg tries to spend summer vacation sensibly playing video games and watching television, while his mother has other ideas. Sample pages available.

4.13 avg rating — 70,644 ratings

Word Count: 19,591
Page Count: 224
Accelerated Reader: 5.2 / points: 3.0
AR quiz: 133167
Lexile: 1010L


The Ugly Truth #5
Greg and Rowley fight, and his family tells him stop being such a slacker. Sample pages available.

4.16 avg rating — 61,193 ratings

Word Count: 18,979
Page Count: 224
Accelerated Reading level: 5.5 / points: 3.0
AR quiz: 140879
Lexile: 1000L


Cabin Fever #6

While trying to earn money, Greg accidentally damages school property, and being the goofy kid he is, Greg concludes that he's a wanted man and that the police are looking for him. When a blizzard hits, he's stuck inside with little food and a lot of dread. Sample pages available.

4.21 avg rating — 57,377 ratings

Word Count: 20,757
Page Count: 224
Accelerated Reading level: 5.8 / points: 3.0
AR quiz: 147741
Lexile: 1060L 


The Third Wheel #7
Love is in the air --but not necessarily for Greg.  It's life in the Middle Grade trenches.

4.21 avg rating — 39,426 ratings

Word Count:19,525
Page Count: 224
Accelerated Reading level: 5.6 / points: 3.0
AR quiz:  155305
Lexile: 1060L 

Hard Luck #8

4.28 avg rating — 27,682 ratings

Yikes! Things are getting tough for our boy-- could it be because he is using one of those Magic 8 balls to make decisions?!?

And sadly, Rowley dumps Greg when he gets a girlfriend. Will the boys become best buddies again?

Word Count: 18,271
Page Count: 224
Accelerated Reader: 5.5 / points: 3.0
AR quiz: 162772
Lexile: 1020L 

The Long Haul #9 
This book has gotten so much praise.  Adult reviewers have said it is laugh out loud funny.  And I think that it has to do with the fact that a 'family vacation' is at the center of the story.

Heffley's go on vacation.  Chaos ensues!

4.32 avg rating — 17,601 ratings

Word Count: 18,192
Page Count: 224
Accelerated Reader: 5.4 / points: 3.0
AR quiz: 170409
Lexile: 1000L

 Old School #10 

Greg asks his community to unplug... and they do. The question is will they all survive (happily) without all the modern conveniences!

4.29 avg rating — 9,680 ratings

Word Count: 18,179
Pages: 224
Accelerated Reading level: 5.6 / points: 3.0
AR quiz: 177801
Lexile: 1020L

YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED in the Spanish versions of these books, found on this list.

updated by Pam
updated June 2016

Curious about the Author?  You can find 4 kid-friendly biographies here!