Frenemies forever

Dork Diaries #11

by Rachel Renée Russell

Nikki Maxwell, Queen of the Dorks, is back in the eleventh instalment of the bestselling series! Nikki is spending a week at North Hampton Hills as part of the school transfer programme. The good news is that NHH is super-cool and preppy. The bad news is that Nikki's nemesis MacKenzie started there two weeks ago! But, faced with NHH queen bee Tiffany, who takes meanness to a whole new level, Nikki might need to work WITH Mackenzie if she's going to survive the week! Can Nikki and MacKenzie overcome their differences and become BFFS ...Best Frenemies Forever?!

Genres: Childrens, Middle Grade, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Romance, Young Adult

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2016

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

[Elise · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was fine, but the originals in the series were much better, well-developed, and LONGER...I got through this in 30 minutes and nothing happened. These used to have a plot and full story that I really enjoyed!! Kinda sad, because I really liked these books and they are going downhill.
It seems like the series should have ended two books ago, maybe the author is just running out of things to say. However, it wasn't AWFUL. Just a little disappointing after the high standards set by the last ones. At first I thought that I've grown out of it, but the others were much better, so I'm really not sure what happened here.

[Jacobe D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nikki is back and ready for her next adventure! With Chloe and Zoey by her side, nothing can go wrong! No divas like Mackenzie Hollister in sight! But we all know there is no way Mackenzie is gone for good; she still has some tricks up her sleeve... or is there a new Queen Bee out there?

When Nikki's school does the Student Exchange Program (every student in eighth grade is sent to another school for the week), she is assigned to North Hampton Hills. Sure, the school is practically Hogwarts, but there's one catch... Mackenzie goes to NHH! The only thing that could possibly make this worse is if Chloe, Zoey, and Brandon aren't with her. Please let them be with Nikki! But of course they're all shipped off to the same school without her! Just Nikki's incredibly bad luck! But when Nikki gets to NHH, she is greeted by the gorgeous, selfie-obsessed Tiffany. Tiffany is all buddy-buddy BFF with Nikki, but why is the most popular girl at NHH talking to Nikki? This is where Nikki finds out about all of the nasty rumors that Mackenzie has spread about her; claiming Nikki did all of the things that the now loser Mackenzie did to her! Mackenzie is no longer the popular CCP she was before (Cute, Cool, and Popular), but Tiffany and her cliques favorite joke! Trust me, Tiffany is not someone that you want on your bad side... but that is exactly what will happen to Nikki. Especially with the chance of a limited-spot Paris, France trip looming over Nikki's head, the pressure (and competition) is truly on. Will a new friendship be formed? Will that same friendship be broken? Will Nikki's drama-filled days ever come to an end?

Dork Diaries: Tales From a Not-So-Friendly Frenemy was all in all, a pretty interesting book! Out of all the Dork Diaries, I would say that this is one of my favorites. Funny and drama-filled to the rim, readers of other Dork Diaries books would like Dork Diaries: Tales From a Not-So-Friendly Frenemy. The reason that this book only has four stars, is because there were parts where I was a little bit bored. Sometimes it just dragged on, but it was very entertaining in the bigger parts! Books like The Battle of Darcy Lane are similar to this book. Dork Diaries: Tales From a Not-So-Friendly Frenemy made me laugh and made me feel a little anxious as to how Nikki would get out of the situations. It made me overall, pretty happy! I hope you will enjoy Dork Diaries: Tales From a Not-So-Friendly Frenemy! Have fun reading!

[Gavin Abdollahi · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I'm such a dork!"

The very same phrase that marked the end of each wonderful book, leaving you wanting more.
Now?
It means that I'm one book closer to finishing my reading challenge.

Repetitive.
That's what this is.
I used to love the repetitiveness.
The look-blush scenes...
The I'm such such a dork scenes...
The bad things happening followed by good things scenes...
But now?
It's not the same as it used to be.

It may be due to the fact that I am now 14?
Or has the series really spiralled downwards?
Maybe it's a mix of both?

Dork Diaries is basically the feminine version of DOAWK.
I'm a boy, not gay, mind you, but I still like this better.
The story was better, the character development was better... Heck, even the art was better.
I'm still giving it half a star more than the latest Wimpy Kid instalment, but this is so far my least favourite book so far in the series.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

this cover hurts my eyes

[tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

definitely one of the better dork diaries books

[Tatum M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dork diaries #11 is a great book!
I have read each and every one of Rachel Renee Russell's book aka Dork diaries and Author of the new and upcoming series... The Misadventures of Max Crumbly! I am looking forward to reading her Max Crumbly series!
Dork diaries #11 is great it is about Nikki Maxwell and her CRAZY friends!
Everyone in Nikki's school (W.H.S) West Chester High go to a different school, while Nikki goes to N.H.H North Hampton Hills where her arch enemy Makenzie Hollister goes to school. Nikki and her friends Chloe, Zoey, and Brandon... Brandon is Nikki's crush they really like each other. Her friends and Brandon go to the school that Max Crumbly go to. Meanwhile Nikki is dreading N.H.H! Anyways I felt like I was like the camera recording the new Makenzie Hollister...shhhh! I would recommend this book to someone that like books with lots of DRAMA! I would like to tell you more, but I can't read the book to find out what will happen next! HAPPY READING!


-Tatum M.

[nastia · Rating 2 out of 5]

i read this during a car ride bcs my little sister brought it along... never read these as a kid but yeah it was honestly silly funny quick? nikki is like "i'm not like other girls" and is constantly talking shit abt her archenemy mackenzie while she is also doing mean things,, anyway briana's fave thing to eat is ice-cream with ketchup and raisins??? ice-cream with KETCHUP???

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

CANT WAIT!!!!!!

[Natalia W]

this book is 1 of the best im so happy that i got it .

[Tony Lee-Son · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE the Dork Diaries series

but sometimes it gets a little bit BORING😼

[Vanessa Peralta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can a total dork survive in a high-class institution for a week? Find out in Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Friendly Frenemy. The genre of this story is drama. I thought that this book was very entertaining and would allow the reader to want more.

The setting is a school called North Hampton Hills International Academy. The main character, Nikki Maxwell, has to attend this academy for a week as an exchange student along with a few others. She does not want to go because her enemy MacKenzie Hollister is a student there. But Nikki faces bigger problems. The conflict is that a girl named Tiffany attempts to "befriend" Nikki, only to treat her awfully. Tiffany acts badly towards everyone and plans on taking away the science club, as well as being the most popular in the school. Now Nikki and MacKenzie have to team up to stop her. A major theme in the book is ambition. This is shown because Nikki is eventually able to stop Tiffany from doing what she wants.

The setting adds to the conflict because Nikki gets sabotaged multiple times and this has a large impact on the benefits Nikki gets while she is an exchange student. It also influences how people see her. The author's word choice does a good job at making the form of writing seem less mature and more like a younger person. It fits with the concept of the book.

***Spoiler Alert*** I was surprised when, near the end of the book, MacKenzie admitted in front of lots of people that she had secretly been doing things to make herself look bad on purpose, and it was not the people she blamed. I liked the way the author portrayed the new characters and showed their actions and ways of thinking.

I would give this book five stars because I liked the illustrations and the writing. I would recommend this for people who like reading things with drama and comedy. This book is something that most people will enjoy.

[Emunah]

i like it in english, the book is awesome

[rit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was *my shit* when i was 12 aaa good times

[valencia ☾:･ﾟ✧ (jude's version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
☆・｡・★ ・｡・☆ ・｡
Might be spoilers if you haven't read the book!......
☆・｡・★ ・｡・☆ ・｡

In this book, I like the fact that they actually became friends for probably just a matter of moments, thanks to Tiffany for ruining their friendship that only lasted a couple seconds. Nikki faces quite a lot of drama but a fun time at North Hampton Hills. Nikki worked with the science club members to help them get more members so that Tiffany doesn't shut down their club to replace it with another selfie club (the girl loves social media ¯\_(ツ)_/¯). Nikki finishes her week at North Hampton Hills successfully, later on Brandon comes over to Nikki's house to help make a dessert
(romantically ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)) for Brianna to earn her cooking Badge!
Brianna just always has the spotlight, she's my favorite character.
I like how this series is written from a perspective of a teenage American, who is Nikki (the main character!)

[Cassidy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this might be my least favorite installment from the recent releases. I adored the past few books, but this one fell a bit flat for me. It felt like filler setting up for the premise of the next book, and in the end the character's seemed to be right back where they were at the beginning of the story. The "villainy" was blown up to comic proportions. I know this is a series for middle schoolers, so the drama is a bit ridiculous, but the new characters in this book were hardly developed and were all extremely one dimensional despite their main roles. The main reason for this is that the entire book felt rushed, and no wonder since the plot with NHH takes place in only one week. Overall I think this is my least favorite book in the Dork Diaries series because the plot felt so insubstantial and I feel like this installment was basically meant to set up the plot for the next book. More of my thoughts that include spoilers are mentioned below.

I loved the development that was happening with MacKenzie in the last two novels, but all of that was completely negated in this book. We finally got to see a vulnerable side of her, and despite the lies she told in order to make friends at NHH she seemed like she was starting to change. I was hoping that this side of her would shine through stronger and she could possibly even make up with Nikki. After all, she spilled everything to Nikki in a moment of weakness. I didn't expect them to become best friends, but putting MacKenzie back into the same position she was before the previous two books made it feel like everything we learned about her was cancelled out. This vulnerable side that we got to see in her made her a much better character. It showed that even the bullies have private lives, and while it doesn't excuse what they do to others, it makes them more human and relatable. In my creative writing class we're learning how to write good characters and the tip we got for writing villains would be to give them the possibility of change even if they don't end up taking that chance. MacKenzie was given the opportunity to change, but instead of making it clear that she wouldn't by taking that chance away from her, she would have been a much better character if that chance still existed for her. That brings me to the other 'villain,' Tiffany. She was ridiculously overdone. I know she's supposed to be relatable because the popular kids are usually obsessed with social media, but her character was so ridiculous that even when it was meant to be humorous it was just aggravating. Every character from NHH was glossed over and reduced to one or two traits or even just a name and one line of dialogue. The whole gig with the science club was extremely rushed. I highly doubt if the kids from the club thought Nikki was such a bully and did all of the things that MacKenzie said she did then they wouldn't go after her for help, especially since they were victimized by Tiffany. That whole plot was so quickly resolved and brushed aside that I kind of wondered why it was there besides to conveniently make sure Nikki wasn't alone at NHH. Honestly the plot that received the most thought and was written the best with the most humor was the subplot of Brianna trying to get her cooking badge. All of the other humor felt really juvenile (especially the storyline with Buddy the pony. It was mentioned twice but didn't really bear any significance on the plot besides a few cheap fart jokes). Also it might just be me, but Nikki seemed really conceited this book. Normally she is confident but still somewhat self-conscious and definitely a lot less confrontational than she was in this book. I kept noticing where she commented that she's so cute, smart, a great big sister, an awesome person, a good friend, and someone that everybody (minus MacKenzie) loves. Maybe the plot felt rushed because I read this book in one day without taking any significant breaks, but then again I strongly feel like this book was just written to bridge the gap and fill in a few plot holes before the next publication, which I'm assuming will have to do with Nikki's trip to Paris.

[Finola Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Friendly Frenemy by Rachel Renée Russell. This book is fiction. The genre of the book is realistic fiction. I chose to read the book because one of my friends said that it may be short, but it is a relatively okay book, and I agree with her.
A girl named Nikki is in middle school and is chosen to go to a different school for a week because of a program at her school. She gets her school and is super excited to tell her friends and she hopes that they got the same school. It unfortunately turns out that they do not, and she will be alone for a week. But, this doesn't stop her from being excited. There is another problem though. As it turns out, her enemy MacKenzie Hollister goes to that school. She starts to become a little nervous. When she gets there, she finds out she shouldn't be worrying about MacKenzie, she should be worrying about a popular girl there named Tiffany.
The story seemed very cliché to me, as it had a pretty much Mary-Sue protagonist (A very cliché character), which you see in many stories. It was somewhat believable, as I have gone through a similar situation. The story made me think about pretty much every teen movie out there. This book to me seemed very bland, and I honestly wouldn't recommend it. My recommended reading age is maybe 6-9, because I don't know anyone above that age who would enjoy a book like this.

[Taryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book about a girl named nikki who has to go to NHH for student exchange week. Her worst enemy goes there, and she is mad that she has to go to that school.
I would recommend this book to anyone!!!!!!!

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As part of the community's Student Exchange Week, Nikki and her classmates from Westchester Country Day Middle School are participating in a program to foster good citizenship between neighboring schools. One problem: Nikki gets assigned to spend a week at the school of her nemesis, Mackenzie Hollister...and none of her friends at WCD are going with her.

At North Hampton Hills International Academy, she comes face-to-face once again with this bully. Of course, Mackenzie has been busy spreading wild rumors about Nikki. Yet, in true dork fashion, Nikki finds a way to rise above it and make new friends at NHH. She assists the science club and thwarts NHH's bully's attempts to undermine them. Her fears of spending the week in 'enemy' territory have been eased.

When the week is over, back at WCD, she is happy to reconnect with her friends, but finds she has a new problem to cope with...her frenemy has returned and it's not good! Tales From a Not-So-Friendly Frenemy is full of humor as it addresses the challenges of facing a bully, helping a bratty little sister achieve her dreams, and staying kind in the face of nastiness.

[Lexi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book because it was hilarious at times and made me want to know what was going to happen next. Nikki Maxwell's school has a student exchange program where the students all attend different schools for a week. Coincidentally, Nikki ends up getting chosen to attend the North Hampton Hills Academy where her nemesis, Mackenzie, just transferred to in the school year. Mackenzie transferred from Nikki's school because of a dreadful video that got posted, and everyone in the entire school saw it. All of her friends laughed at it too, so Mackenzie begged her parents to let her switch schools, and they agreed because somehow the video got posted online for everyone to see. Mackenzie and Nikki encounter twists and turns along the way while at NHH. Read the book to find out if Nikki can survive attending school with Mackenzie for a whole week!

[Dorothy DeWees · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is awesome!!!!!! It's another book about Nikki and is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO awesome! You will really like it if you have liked all the other books. It might not be the best if you haven't read any of the others but still! It is a really great book.

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

Tbh, these books give me life and help me chill 💚

[lotus ✧˚ · . · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot (partially because I like reading the whole 'Dork Diaries' series) and it was entertaining to read. There were 2 plot twists in the story that I enjoyed.

[Abi · Rating 4 out of 5]

As part of her school's student exchange program, Nikki and her friends (Chloe, Zoey and Brandon) get separated as they all go to a different school than her. The school she has been chosen to attend is her arch nemesis, Macknezie's new school, North Hampton Hills! However, Nikki learns that things have changed for Mackenzie as she transferred to a new school. Is she still the Queen Bee? Can Nikki get through her days of North Hampton Hills?

This book was the best in the series so far as it was the funniest and there were a few plot twists that I wasn't expecting. This book is good to read as part of the series, but as a stand-alone book I probably wouldn't recommend. Overall, I enjoyed this book and I will probably read it again.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seriously don't think I will ever get tired of this series, it's always such a silly fun ride with these books. I practically grew up with these books so they have a special place in my heart, I picked up the first book when I was in 6th grade and immediately fell in love. The main character Nikki is such a relatable character and what she goes through in school has helped me a lot in ways I can't describe. Please pick up these books if you haven't already, you'll thank me later.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its really good to read because if you turn it around it says to be friends with a bully.

[rainbow_pigeon]

Percy Jackson chciałby maseczkę Nikki (była niebieska), robienie selfie już zawsze będzie mi się źle kojarzyć XDDD

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

really liked the plot of nikki going to north hampton hills for a week and meeting new characters. brianna is a brat tho and gets even more annoying with each book.

[Brittney · Rating 1 out of 5]

read for nostalgia but lost more brain cells than i had to begin with

did not hit like it did 10 years ago sadly

but adding it coz im not losing out on my reading goal!!! 😤

[Ynah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe I should just accept the fact that I have already outgrown this series, and that I'm already out of the age gap the Bestseller List recommends the readers to be.

Okay, I read this book in one sitting, and okay, the experience was actually still fun. But there were, of course, moments I just found too good to be true. I also really thought it annoying that Nikki was iffy about almost everything. One time she'd complain about her friends, and the next she'd be all like, "I have the best friends EVER!"

To be honest, this series was one of my favorites growing up. Actually, I grew up along with this series. But it isn't for me anymore, and I think my 9 year- old self would appreciate and love this more than I do now.

I'm giving this 3 out of 5 stars because howsoever, these books serve as a reminder that no matter how infeasible you find a problem, you'll find a solution for it if you don't give up. Nikki's stories have such a huge part on my childhood, and one of the many things it has taught me is that you must always look on the bright side, despite how dark and gloomy your life is turning out to be.

[Courtney Umlauf · Rating 1 out of 5]

Another missed opportunity for some character development. Nikki attends school for a week at NHH during a student exchange where her arch-nemesis, MacKenzie, has recently transferred. She quickly finds out that MacKenzie has undergone the same type of treatment at NHH that Nikki first experienced when starting at WCD: the queen bee bullies her relentlessly and she has no friends. You'd think MacKenzie might see the error of her ways, that Nikki and MacKenzie could come to some sort of truce if nothing more. It looked like it was headed that way for a bit, then both characters quickly fell back into their routines, neither of them really learning anything.


Series Review | TpT Store | Pinterest