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A review by cassidylynnereads
Tales from a Not-So-Happy Birthday by Rachel Renée Russell
2.0
This review is now live on my Tumblr blog! Check out the likable and rebloggable version here: https://cassidylynnewrites.tumblr.com/post/187127453291/reader-review-of-dork-diaries-13-tales-from-a
I started reading Dork Diaries in middle school. I remember the librarian showed us a few book trailers, including one for this series, and I couldn’t wait to crack into them all. Many years later I’m a senior in college and I still read this series. Despite the fact that it’s not really “meant” for me any more, I still find this series adorable and I decided to read it through to the end (if the end ever comes) unlike some other middle grade series I had to let go of. Of course there are moments where I question: “do I want to continue spending my money on books that are so far below my reading level?” And even though there are a few entries in the Nikki Maxwell chronicles that don’t hook me in as much as the others, I feel like the answer to that question will continue to be yes.
If that’s the case, then why did I give this book only two stars? The answer is that I believe this entry, and a few others in this series, feels like filler. The plot just seems to push off a storyline that the series has been building up to for the past few books (the Paris and/or Bad Boyz Tour, if it weren’t obvious enough). It’s Nikki’s birthday! But the party won’t turn out like Nikki planned it… or will it? No, no it won’t… but wait, a convenient plot twist happens and suddenly the party is back on! And the whole time Nikki resolves zero conflicts, so the whole thing is a back-and-forth with no consequences until the very last page, when it loops back around to the Paris/Bad Boys decision that has been put off for two or three books at this point. It’s not even getting me excited for the eventual resolution of this conflict anymore; at this point, I’m a little tied of hearing about it.
I think I wouldn’t have minded the resolution of Nikki’s summer plans being delayed if this book had any importance, but as I said earlier, nothing really happens that involves Nikki making any decisions or solving any problems. Everything that happens occurs kind of on accident or to create silly shenanigans. The problem of whether or not Nikki would have a party is solved by Brianna, who somehow made dog treats that the neighborhood dog owners swoon for and at the last minute ropes Nikki into the “business” so she can open a webpage. Side note- am I the only one who thinks Nikki’s parents shouldn’t have kids? They leave Brianna, who has been known to cause damage when left alone and nearly destroy the house, alone on multiple occasions. And when Nikki’s left to babysit, Brianna easily sneaks away. This child should be taken for endangerment.
There’s also the minor problem where both Andre and Brandon ask to be Nikki’s date. Even though that sounds like it’d be a major plot point, it’s brought up once and resolved when Nikki “forgets” to answer either of them. And somehow they both showed up without an answer and without reminding Nikki that she never chose. And even though they supposedly hate each other and squabble like kids when they’re together, for this party they miraculously get along.
Even MacKenzie and Tiffany ganging up to sabotage Nikki by telling her friends she bailed on the Bad Boyz Tour ends up being meaningless since the friends accept her decision right away. The only real conflict comes when Nikki decides to change her mind and go on the Bad Boyz Tour to be with Brandon, who somehow booked a tutoring gig the whole way in Paris to be with Nikki (which sounds pretty impossible for someone in his freshman? year of high school, to do). But that’s where the book ends, so again, no resolution really comes to any of the issues raised in this book. Even the final conflict seems like just another way to drag out the romance between Nikki and Brandon. Which is obviously a romance, no matter how many times Nikki acts oblivious and calls him her “good friend.”
I think this book could have been skipped altogether. The Bad Boyz/Paris summer has bend looming for so long that it would’ve made more sense for that book to come first anyway.
Also can I just say the “dabbing, flossing, and doing cool Fortnite dances” moment was probably the cringiest pop culture reference that could’ve been included in this book. I bet that page won’t age gracefully.
I started reading Dork Diaries in middle school. I remember the librarian showed us a few book trailers, including one for this series, and I couldn’t wait to crack into them all. Many years later I’m a senior in college and I still read this series. Despite the fact that it’s not really “meant” for me any more, I still find this series adorable and I decided to read it through to the end (if the end ever comes) unlike some other middle grade series I had to let go of. Of course there are moments where I question: “do I want to continue spending my money on books that are so far below my reading level?” And even though there are a few entries in the Nikki Maxwell chronicles that don’t hook me in as much as the others, I feel like the answer to that question will continue to be yes.
If that’s the case, then why did I give this book only two stars? The answer is that I believe this entry, and a few others in this series, feels like filler. The plot just seems to push off a storyline that the series has been building up to for the past few books (the Paris and/or Bad Boyz Tour, if it weren’t obvious enough). It’s Nikki’s birthday! But the party won’t turn out like Nikki planned it… or will it? No, no it won’t… but wait, a convenient plot twist happens and suddenly the party is back on! And the whole time Nikki resolves zero conflicts, so the whole thing is a back-and-forth with no consequences until the very last page, when it loops back around to the Paris/Bad Boys decision that has been put off for two or three books at this point. It’s not even getting me excited for the eventual resolution of this conflict anymore; at this point, I’m a little tied of hearing about it.
I think I wouldn’t have minded the resolution of Nikki’s summer plans being delayed if this book had any importance, but as I said earlier, nothing really happens that involves Nikki making any decisions or solving any problems. Everything that happens occurs kind of on accident or to create silly shenanigans. The problem of whether or not Nikki would have a party is solved by Brianna, who somehow made dog treats that the neighborhood dog owners swoon for and at the last minute ropes Nikki into the “business” so she can open a webpage. Side note- am I the only one who thinks Nikki’s parents shouldn’t have kids? They leave Brianna, who has been known to cause damage when left alone and nearly destroy the house, alone on multiple occasions. And when Nikki’s left to babysit, Brianna easily sneaks away. This child should be taken for endangerment.
There’s also the minor problem where both Andre and Brandon ask to be Nikki’s date. Even though that sounds like it’d be a major plot point, it’s brought up once and resolved when Nikki “forgets” to answer either of them. And somehow they both showed up without an answer and without reminding Nikki that she never chose. And even though they supposedly hate each other and squabble like kids when they’re together, for this party they miraculously get along.
Even MacKenzie and Tiffany ganging up to sabotage Nikki by telling her friends she bailed on the Bad Boyz Tour ends up being meaningless since the friends accept her decision right away. The only real conflict comes when Nikki decides to change her mind and go on the Bad Boyz Tour to be with Brandon, who somehow booked a tutoring gig the whole way in Paris to be with Nikki (which sounds pretty impossible for someone in his freshman? year of high school, to do). But that’s where the book ends, so again, no resolution really comes to any of the issues raised in this book. Even the final conflict seems like just another way to drag out the romance between Nikki and Brandon. Which is obviously a romance, no matter how many times Nikki acts oblivious and calls him her “good friend.”
I think this book could have been skipped altogether. The Bad Boyz/Paris summer has bend looming for so long that it would’ve made more sense for that book to come first anyway.
Also can I just say the “dabbing, flossing, and doing cool Fortnite dances” moment was probably the cringiest pop culture reference that could’ve been included in this book. I bet that page won’t age gracefully.