The Secret Diary of Katie Dinkerhoff

by Lila Perl

Fourteen-year-old Katie lies to her secret diary, writing what she wished would happen, rather than what did happen -- and in so doing, she learns how to make wishful thinking a reality.

Genres: Young Adult

170 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1987

Reviews

[Cupof Tea · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Romantic" was my one-word description in grade 7.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so funny! Katie writes in her journal, only she doesn't write about what has happened to her, she writes about what she wants to happen. The most memorable part in this book, for me, was that she lives in Salt Lake City and she dances in the streets and talks about how steep the hills were. I think of this book everytime I drive up on the U campus and see the streets (like 13th south) steeply slanting west...

[Dna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know if this is the same 5-star read as it was when I was a kid, but it was still fun reading it as an adult. What's funny to me is how much I didn't like Katie in the first half of the book -- she is a fantasist, self-centered, and -- unforgivably -- mean to her ONE friend, the school nerd Irma. Katie comes to her senses as the story wears on, realizing that Irma is a true friend...but too little too late, Katie! LOL Just kidding. I remember this book capturing my imagination and impressing upon me the power of positive thinking. I'm not a positive thinker as an adult, mostly because I think blind positivity is the work of morons. You have to have your head stuck in the sand to be positive on that level, and Katie demonstrates this quite well. I'd recommend this to kids and tweens who have big imaginations, romantic ideals, or who love to write and journal.