Dork Diaries: Dear Dork

Dork Diaries #5

by Rachel Renée Russell

Welcome to Nikki Maxwell's aDORKable world abd the mega-selling Dork Diaries series – now with over 50 million copies in print worldwide! When Nikki discovers that her arch-nemesis, MacKenzie, has started writing a gossip column for the school newspaper, she's worried that she will share info on Nikki's crush, Brandon to the whole school. To keep an eye on MacKenzie (and spend time with Brandon!) Nikki joins the newspaper and somehow ends up working as the advice columnist, Miss Know-It-All. At first it's fun to answer all the letters from the kids at school, but when her inbox is suddenly overflowing, Nikki feels in need of some help herself. Fortunately she has BFFs Chloe and Zoey on her side . . . and at her keyboard! With a HUGE global fanbase, Dork Diaries is the perfect series for fans of Lottie Brooks, Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Tom Gates. Don’t miss out! Pre-order I LOVE PARIS, the brand new DORK DIARIES, now! Have you read all the DORK DIARIES series? Dork Diaries Dork Diaries 2: Party Time Dork Diaries 3: Pop Star Dork Diaries 4: Skating Sensation Dork Diaries 5: Dear Dork Dork Diaries 6: Holiday Heartbreak Dork Diaries 7: TV Star Dork Diaries 8: Once Upon a Dork Dork Diaries 9: Drama Queen Dork Diaries 10: Puppy Love Dork Diaries 11: Frenemies Forever Dork Diaries 12: Crush Catastrophe Dork Diaries 13: Birthday Drama Dork Diaries 14: Spectacular Superstar Dork Diaries 15: I Love Paris! - Coming soon!

Genres: Childrens, Middle Grade, Fiction, Graphic Novels, Realistic Fiction, Diary, Romance

352 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2012

About the author

Rachel Renee Russell is the #1 New York Times Best Selling author of the book series, DORK DIARIES, and the upcoming, THE MISADVENTURES OF MAX CRUMBLY to be released on June 7, 2016.

For more about Nikki's world visit www.DorkDiaries.com

For more about Max's world visit www.MaxCrumbly.com

Reviews

[Shai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nikki's little sister, Brianna, and her hand-drawn puppet Ms. Penelope strikes again in this series. It's really funny reading Briana's funny antics and hopefully, the author will write a book about Briana and her (mis-)adventures.

[Ashleigh Plante · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this book down. It is about Nikki Maxwell. She is in danger of having to leave the school again. This time it is because of Mackenzie. Nikki toilet papered Mackenzie's house because Mackenzie is a witch. Mackenzie threatened to tell the principal and get Chloe, Zoey, and Nikki thrown out of school. Another reason she might have to leave is because she attends the school on a bug extermination scholarship. Her dad started working for Mackenzie's dad and might work full time. To make sure Mackenzie doesn't put any thing in the newspaper she joins the school newspaper team. Mackenzie is off to her tricks again though, she scribbled Nikki's name off the sign up sheet. Mr.Zimmerman won't talk to Nikki about this. Eventually he gives her the job of Miss-Know-it-All. This is the advice column of the newspaper. The first day of checking the advice boxes the only thing that was in them was trash. But in the end there are over two hundred notes a day. Nikki needs to find Brandon, her crush a birthday present. She goes to the mall, but spends all her money on her sister and her self. The party is getting closer and she still doesn't have a present. Will she get the present? Can she keep up with the advice letters? Read to find out! I recommend this book to any tween girl. It was amazing, and the illustrations were hilarious. I love Dork Diaries. I am totally a dork!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Nikki is at a sleepover with her friends Chloe, and Zoey. They play truth or dare, and to avoid answering questions about Brandon, Nikki chooses a dare. She is dared to toilet paper Mackenzie Hollister house, a CCP girl that she can't stand. At first, she doesn't want to, but then thinks about all the mean things that Mackenzie has done to her and her friends.

They all go and toilet paper her house, and Mackenzie catches them before they can leave. However, Mackenzie is convinced that Brandon, Nikki's crush, did it because he's crushing at her. Nikki and her friends can't believe they are getting away with it.

Mackenzie is furious when she isn't invited to Brandon's party but Nikki and her friends are invited. Mackenzie threatens Nikki that she better get her and her friend invited.

The only solution Nikki can come up with is to join the newspaper to prevent Mackenzie from turning in Brandon for the prank. Nikki winds up off the sign-up list, but gets her the opportunity to write an anonymous advice column as Miss Know it All. Will Nikki be able to get closer to Brandon and prevent Mackenzie from turning Brandon in for a prank that was her fault?

I've read enjoyed all of the books in this series. I love to read the little snippets that Briana, Nikki's sister, and Miss Penelope, a drawn-on face on Briana's hand. As I've mentioned in some of my other reviews, I would love to see a spin-off series just focused on them.

I didn't love this one quite as much as the others, but this one was still pretty great. I wish there were moments of Nikki and Brandon in this one. This is a series that is a must read for younger girls and anybody that like reading fun contemporary middle grade books. Can't wait for the next installment.

[Dreamcatcher (HIATUS) · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 Stars.

[Juan Alvarado · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG GUYS!! This is like so totally the most thrilling psychological gothic, uhm, Thriller you guys have ever seen. And yet it still weaves comedy masterfully into the plot without breaking the tension of the mind games and hostile environment like ever!!!!!! And not to mention it makes like the diary of a middle schooler high art!! I’m so freaking over this master piece!

So I like totally respect this book for pioneering a new sub genre I like to call: “2000’s Gothic”. You guys know southern gothic right? Well it’s just like that, but instead of the south being all grody and moldy, it’s the totally cool malls and makeup and girly aesthetic!! It just gets so over the top that it starts to seem fake and unsettles you, like you don’t even know the character whose DIARY you’re reading!! And it’s like so an excellent critique of all girls’ vapidity and phoniness, NOT!!! I actually read it as like a way the main character views the world, with herself needing such things as lip gloss or makeup to appear goodlooking for her crush or when those dreadful CCP girls use it to cover up their rotten nature, and when it fails Nikki’s little sister (a destructive force of nature, that helps sometimes) and ends up looking almost horrific (and very expensive) on her too! It’s a mask for the perceived wrongs In somebody, be they actual (CCP girls) or perceived (like on Nikki) but it can’t cover up everything, hence why the little sister ends up looking worse because of it. Just an excellent narrative device!

And the gothic atmosphere is upheld by characters who are both unhinged and have gone mad. Mr.Zimmerman is my personal favorite because he is pure insanity who helps or harms indiscriminately and it is fantastic for drumming up tension, and the little sister does the exact same thing but at home instead of school, giving Nikki no place where she is truly safe as she should be in a gothic novel.

But the best unhinged character is by far Mackenzie Hollister, because she isn’t random like Zimmerman or the sister, but she actively plots and plans against Nikki which makes her so much more threatening. When she knew it was Nikki and her friends behind the toilet paper caper, OOOH, suddenly everything made more sense. And the intense cat and mouse game with the crossing off of Nikki’s name on the sign up sheet and the blackmailing for the party invite really made me tense up, and holds this novel up as a true pioneer of “2000’s gothic” and as a solid psychological thriller!!!!

Not to mention the paranoia generated by Nikki’s dad working for Mackenzie’s dad, which goes only further to make everywhere feel unsafe and stressful, and OMG I just love it so much!!!

But then it’s also just spit-out-your-drink hilarious sometimes, especially with the use of Nikki’s absurd drawings and her crossing out of some embarrassing things in her diary. They do a lot to deepen her psychology, as a middle school girl in over her head that’s trying to keep sane by making little jokes, so like it totally balances the two with them playing off of each other and it’s sooooo gooood!

I just love this book now that I’ve read it all (and in one day!) and I look forward to the other horrific entries in the Dork Diaries series!!!!

(This is a semi satirical review but I did read it and I enjoyed it!)

[Aily · Rating 4 out of 5]

ultimamente sto rileggendo alcuni libri che amo o che sono letture comfort e i diari di nikki sono una di quelle cose che leggo perché simpatiche e soprattutto prive di ansia. l'ansia è una brutta bestia, la affronto ogni giorno in maniera diversa, e una delle persone che più riesce ad aiutarmi è questa frana con i suoi diari. sto pensando di comprare il resto di loro, ne ho solo tre e so che sono tanti ma per una volta vorrei leggere qualcosa di nuovo invece che i soliti tre (anche se li amo sempre e comunque, quindi oggi probabilmente ne inizio - ricomincio -un altro).

[Kacee]

How do u read it sorry new to all this

[Lance · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHY DOES THIS SERIES ALWAYS TAKE SOO LONG FOR THE NEXT ONE TO COME?????? NEXT ONE, COME FAST!!!!!!!

[Grace, Queen of Crows and Tomes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great addition to the series! These books just keep getting better and better as we see Nikki and her friends grow up. Definitely check out this middle school series if you haven't yet!!

[Tilde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this book up at the airport to read on a nine hour flight. It kept me entertained almost the whole way!

Great book! I love Nikki's sense of humor.
It's a lot of drama, but still realistic and described in a funny way.
You really connect with Nikki and got excited about her life - making you want to read more.

For once I actually wanted to continue reading the book as I got home (yeah, I'm a slow reader).
I don't usually read books, since they don't keep me entertained, but as soon as I finished this book I ordered the rest of the series. I can't wait for it to arrive!


While waiting for the other books to arrive, I googled "Dork Diaries" and ended up on Nikki's blog. Very entertaining with lots of doodles, on there too!
I just don't recommend you to read the latest posts if you haven't read the latest books, there are a couple of spoilers. Instead I started from the first post.

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Snatched up this book before it would have surely been checked out by a tween patron. This series is hot at our library and I wanted to find out why. Maybe as a mom of two boys, I found Diary of a Wimpy Kid funnier than Dork Diaries. Both reveal middle school life so why do the girls in DD seem meaner than the boys in Wimpy Kid? Russell certainly seems to get it right as all the 5-star ratings indicate.

[Bella:) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was very good nit just because it was funny but also you could really relate to the story.When Nikki and her friend make a bad choice e and tp Mackenzie house and Mackenzie see it she threatens to take away Nikki's new job at the paper becomes the school by telling the principal. Niki has to make a big decision to find out what she does read the book!!

[Chloe Resendez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a really good one. Better than I thought it would be. And it's very cool how Nikki joins the WCD Newspaper. The thing that bothers me the most is how Mackenzie keeps on getting worse and worse every time I read a new book! It just makes me wanna punch her in the face! I cannot wait to read the 6th Dork Diaries book. I heard that one was the best!!!

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome book that I would recommend to ages 10 to 14.Nikki is a dork who loves art, she is socially challenged but still manages to make everything go right in the end even with the popular mean girl Mackenzie Hollister who is constantly trying to run her life. I would highly recommend reading the dork diaries series as they are lively, lovely and lots of fun to read!

[~♡Nujaba♡~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book a lot! Once I started reading it i couldn't stop! it was so cool!!!! :0!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

liked this. the only complaint i have is how nikki always says she going to tell her friends the truth but then just never does. the concept just gets a little old and frustrating to hear her complain when she should fix all her problems. but at the same time it’s just a made up story so it’s not that deep. love how nikki and brandon are continuing to get closer and closer

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dit gaf me Gossip Girl vibes met die column voor de schoolkrant! Super leuk

[Brealovesanimals · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine you are a teenage girl and you are going to the super rich, and snooty Winchester Country Day middle school. Also you have the most popular girl in school out to get you. Also you are holding a big secret that you are hoping no one in the entire school will find out. Well this is what Nikki Maxwell goes through every day of her middle school life.
Nikki Maxwell is an ordinary middle school girl, but since her dad is an exterminator. Her dad got an exterminating job at this really snooty and preppy school, so she has to go there. On her first day she has a locker next to the most popular girl in school. She looks nice but as Nikki puts it “she is an evil vicious Pitbull in glittery eye shadow and Jimmy Choo flip flops, but that would be an understatement.” In Rachel René Russell’s newest installment of dork diaries Mackenzie is being a jerk as usual. Thought this time she is using blackmail to get on Nikki’s nerves. Her blackmailing starts on New Years Eve. Nikki is staying over at Chloe and Zoey (her best friends.) ‘s house for a new years eve sleepover. They are having so much fun. Then they play a game of truth or dare. It gets crazy, and Nikki thinks all of them should go over to Mackenzie’s house and TP it!!!! So they do and they end up getting caught. Though Mackenzie knows it is them she acts as though it isn’t. So they don’t get in trouble. They then go to school, and Mackenzie thinks she can just blackmail them. So she says if Nikki doesn’t get her and her friend, Jessica an invite to Brandon (Nikki’s crush) Birthday party Mackenzie will tell the principal about the TP incident and they could get kicked out of school. A lot of other crazy things happen in the story. Including Nikki joining the newspaper and starting her own very cool and popular advice column. Will Nikki get ratted out by Mackenzie or will she get the invitation? Read to find out.
To tell you the truth and believe me I am not lying this is a realistic fiction book! I know it is way too exciting to be one, but believe me it is. Personally I think this book was actually pretty good. I liked how the author incorporated real life things. Like how in the story she described Mackenzie as “an evil vicious Pitbull in glittery eye shadow and Jimmy Choo flip flops.” but then puts in “but that would be an understatement.” I think if that were real life I believe I would describe her as that. I think anyone that likes a book with drama, romance, and quite a bit of comedy would enjoy this book. I know I did. They would because in the book it does have quite a bit of drama. Also there are a lot of pictures in the book, and some most will probably make you laugh. If I had to give it an overall rating I would give it 4 stars. Well I wish I could stay and chat, but I can’t so TTFN (Ta Ta for now.)

[Sroberts17 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I have read many books in 1st quarter, Dork diaries is my favorite. In Dork diaries-Tales from a Not-So-Smart-Miss-Know-It-All, Nikki wants to work as a reporter for the school but doesn't get the job. Instead, she becomes someone who answers peoples questions through a secret name. She learns that this job isn't as easy as she thought. She answers almost 200 questions a day! Talk about tiring. She is trying to keep Mackenzie from telling on her to the principle and do her job at the same time. Nikki's bully (Mackenzie) might be spreading rumors about her that Nikki doesn't know about.

Out of all the characters in the book, Nikki is my favorite. For example, she isn't afraid to express herself. She writes in her diary when people are around even when Mackenzie is next to her. It is the same with me and my Diabetes. Even when people are around, I am not afraid to express myself. Another reason Nikki is my favorite character is she has a little sibling to look after 24/7. Her little sisters name is Brianna. Brianna is annoying almost all the time but she also loving. I have a little brother named Jackson. He is sometimes annoying and is always loving and loves to share. I like Nikki as my favorite character because she isn't afraid to stand up for herself.

Out of all the books I have read, I would recommend this book to all 6th grade girls because Nikki is a 6th grader that is dealing with life just like us. She is a strong girl that is not afraid to express herself. This is a series book so there are 5 other books. The book is also funny. For example, Nikki was supposed to start exercising for a gym test that was coming up. She was supposed to do curl-ups but instead she thought it meant curling her hair. The second exercise she was supposed to do was push-ups but instead she thought it was the push up pops(ice cream). The third exercise she was supposed to do was pull-ups but instead she thought it was to pull on her socks every morning. The last exercise she was supposed to do was crunches but instead she thought it was to eat chips and listen to the sound of chips crack in her mouth.

[Kiara Cabrera Julio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nikki Maxwell and her besties Chloe and Zoey were having a sleepover when one of the girls said to Nikki to go to her rivals house Mackenzie and toilet paper her house. Off they went. They got caught by MacKenzie dog. A few weeks later Nikki auditioned for a spot for the newspaper article. She wanted to take the pics but she didn't get that position because someone crossed her name off. But she did get a position after all. It was as Miss - know It All.

I really thought that this book was an amazing book to read because, Niki (the main character) is full of gossip and a lot of mischief. I thought that both beginning and ending was awesome because in the beginning Nikki seemed that she was too shy to stand up for what she wanted. But twords the tail end of the book it ended romantically by Nikki and her crush Brandon going on a date to a pizza place.

I would recommend this book to a person that likes to read about other characters gossips and mischief. Also the drama that goes on in the story. Also they love story's and the lies that people tell to get other people into trouble.

[Eden Silverfox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nikki is in danger of having to leave school again and this time due to a little harmless prank. Mackenzie, as usual, isn't going to let a chance pass by to get rid of Nikki. But Nikki isn't going to let Mackenzie win that easy.

I love this book series. I love Nikki. Sure, she is over-dramatic at times (Well, a lot of the time), but I think that is one of the things that makes this series so fun and funny!
Mackenzie is yet again trying to get rid of Nikki (No surprise there!) and since Mackenzie has a fashion/gossip column in the school newspaper, she threatens to expose Nikki and her friends prank they played. Nikki decides the best thing to do is to get her own column in the school newspaper so she can make sure Mackenzie doesn't try to write anything about her, or her friends.

So, it is pretty much another crazy adventure in Nikki's world. And some of the things that Nikki says makes me laugh so much. I can't wait for the next book. June is too far away!

[Kelly Stadel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do mean girls get you down? So you have annoying little sister? Do you have a crush on a boy who is way out of your league? Well, send Miss Know it All a letter and she will answer your questions not matter what!!!! Okay Nikki Maxwell her life is filled with the normal tween problems, boys, pimples, mean girls and of course as the title implies the art of the dork. As I call myself some times. Okay so Nikki wants to work on the school newspaper. Only because her crush, Brandon, is working on it too, but Mackinze, the mean girl, gets her off the team and suddenly she has an adivce. As I don’t say, when life hands you lemons make an advice colon. No one knows that she is M.K.A. So if you are bullied, like funny books, or books that seem very realistic you most likey to enjoy this book. You have to read this amazingly funny story to find out what happens!!

[Lakole Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dork Diaries Tales From a Not So Smart Miss Know it All is a awesome book. I love to read diaries so you can see why I love this book.

I didn't want to put this book down . My favorite part is when Nicki goes crazy trying to get in the newspaper and she finally gets her letters and she hugs them tight. I was really happy with the ending of this book. I would recommend this book if you like diaries. Mackenzie Hollister is the mean but pretty girl she likes to bully Nicki. Nicki maxwell is the new girl and everyone calls her a dork because she writes in a diary. Zoey is Nicki's BFF. Chloe is also Nicki's BFF. Brandon is Nicki's crush and he likes her back to. Jessica is Mackenzie's best friend and she likes to tease Nicki. This is why I personally love these books.

[Edward Creter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nikki Maxwell is back and stylin as ever...and just as dorky. Nikki is already in trouble big time for letting her BFFS Chloe and Zoey talk her into toilet papering the humble abode of the Ultimate Enemy Supreme, namely Mackenzie Hollister, the Lindsay Lohan of Middle School. Luckily she gets a shot at redemption when a rotten-feeling newsman allows her to run an advice column, something normally she would never--NEVER--attempt. I mean, cmon! Nikki as personal I Ching? That's like asking Forrest Gump to be military advisor for a war picture! IT DOES SO NOT HAPPEN! And yet--DUH--she's soooo good at advice! HUH??? This fifth advent into the world of dorkdom and the beginning teen years is the funniest yet in the series. AS IF!!!

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great comeback to the 4th one. I did not like the 4th one as much.

I thought it was really fun reading all of the letters Nikki received! Some were really embarrassing and some sounded let alone helpless! There were no disappointments in this book.

I am not the kind of reviewer who totally spoils what's going to happen, so don't worry about that! All I do is tell about how i liked the book or not.

If you are in the middle of a series or just dont have anything GOOD to read, then you are in luck! Congratulations you just found yourself a book to read sista!

[Hannah Pack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the whole dork diaries series and this one is by far my favorote. In this book Nikki Maxwell signs up to work in the newspaper department at school with her crush (Brandon). When her arche rival, Mackenzie, sets her up. Nikki has to bring back the old advice column with a little help from her friends to stay in the newspaper department with her crush

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it

[Mya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her book just keep getting better.

In my opinion, she gets better every time she writes and it shows in her writing.

[Abrianna Aid · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was a very good book

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Αγαπητή Μις Ξερόλα...

Ωραίες συμβουλές μας δίνεις!

Για τον εαυτό σου τι κάνεις όμως;

Τουλάχιστον έχεις πολύ καλούς φίλους και - μάλλον - ένα καινούριο αγόρι!!!