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Dear Dumb Diary #10
The Worst Things In Life Are Also Free
School's out for the summer, and that means no more Meat Loaf Thursdays, Sunday homework-cramming, or teachers (way way unsuccessfully) trying to act cool. It also means that certain Mackerel Middle Schoolers have a lot of time on their hands . . . and seriously empty pockets.
Isabella is going to change all that. And Jamie and Angeline are going to help --- whether they like it or not. It's the best kind of teamwork: When a whole bunch of people work together to do something wrong, instead of doing it wrong one at a time.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
68 people are currently reading
1366 people want to read
About the author
Jim Benton
284 books609 followersBenton began his career in a custom design t-shirt shop where he started designing his own characters. At the same time, Jim did illustrations and artwork for magazines and newspapers. People magazine named him "the most visible cartoonist in America" .
Benton also created greeting cards and worked in the magazine and publishing industry. In 1998, his SpyDogs characters became an animated series, The Secret Files of the Spy Dogs, that aired on Fox Kids. Licensing his own creations brought them widespread attention on products, such as It's Happy Bunny, The Misters, Just Jimmy and more.
Benton currently lives in Michigan, where he operates out of his own studio.
Benton also created greeting cards and worked in the magazine and publishing industry. In 1998, his SpyDogs characters became an animated series, The Secret Files of the Spy Dogs, that aired on Fox Kids. Licensing his own creations brought them widespread attention on products, such as It's Happy Bunny, The Misters, Just Jimmy and more.
Benton currently lives in Michigan, where he operates out of his own studio.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
November 5, 2012
Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
It's summer vacation time. No school means time to do whatever, but Jamie Kelly and her friends Isabella and Angeline quickly discover that anything worth doing costs money. It's even more infuriating when grown-ups keep telling them, "The best things in life are free." Yeah, right!
Uncle Dan saves the day when he makes a deal with the three girls. He says if they can earn $100 each over the next month, he will take them to the amusement park Screamotopia. How hard can it be to earn a little vacation money?
The girls try everything. Their first money-making venture is a lemonade stand. Someone drinks all the profits and all Jamie knows is it wasn't her. Then they try babysitting, car washing, and an eBay auction of all their unwanted treasures. With each new idea the girls have high hopes which are soon dashed to smithereens. By the middle of the month, they've managed to earn a total of $5.50. There is no way they'll be going to Screamotopia this summer.
Jim Benton continues his hilarious DEAR DUMB DIARY series with this entry. Thanks to a 5th-grade student, I discovered this series and have laughed hysterically with each book. Readers will have a great time following the adventures of Jamie and her friends.
It's summer vacation time. No school means time to do whatever, but Jamie Kelly and her friends Isabella and Angeline quickly discover that anything worth doing costs money. It's even more infuriating when grown-ups keep telling them, "The best things in life are free." Yeah, right!
Uncle Dan saves the day when he makes a deal with the three girls. He says if they can earn $100 each over the next month, he will take them to the amusement park Screamotopia. How hard can it be to earn a little vacation money?
The girls try everything. Their first money-making venture is a lemonade stand. Someone drinks all the profits and all Jamie knows is it wasn't her. Then they try babysitting, car washing, and an eBay auction of all their unwanted treasures. With each new idea the girls have high hopes which are soon dashed to smithereens. By the middle of the month, they've managed to earn a total of $5.50. There is no way they'll be going to Screamotopia this summer.
Jim Benton continues his hilarious DEAR DUMB DIARY series with this entry. Thanks to a 5th-grade student, I discovered this series and have laughed hysterically with each book. Readers will have a great time following the adventures of Jamie and her friends.
March 10, 2011
Hi readers!
Recently, I've read this book The Worst Things in Life are Also Free, By Jim Benton. This book is a diary type book, but the story is mostly about a girl named Jamie Kelly, wants to make money and own a amusement park and name it Screamtopia. She and her friends, Angeline, Isabella, and Emmily, are making money. They have lemonade stands, second handed things, and car washes. Emmily walked children on leashes, and called it child walking. And she made lots of money. And Angeline cut of her hair and donated her hair for money. So at the end, they have enough money to let their dream come true.
The strategy I used while reading this book was asking questions. For example: Who did Angeline donate her hair to? Before reading the book, I used predicting. For example: I think that this book is going to be about being lazy and wanting to have money automatically. And after reading this book, I was making connections. For example: I used to want to buy a panda when I was younger. But I didn't know how to make money, and I didn't want to have a job because I was afraid it would be too hard. But when I got older, I understood that not everything can be bought. I'll just have to go to the zoo if I want to see a panda.
While reading this book, I had many thoughts. One of my thoughts was "I think that Jamie is a weird person. Because why would you want a amusement park when you could go to one?" And I thought that Jamie is a very interesting person. Because, her sense of humor is sarcastic and it's not funny. I think that the author wrote this book because he experienced the same situation when he was young. I think that the theme in the story is about that not everything in life is free. Because in the book, it has been talking about money and the title is very similar to what the book has been saying.
Sincerely,
Jacqueline.
Recently, I've read this book The Worst Things in Life are Also Free, By Jim Benton. This book is a diary type book, but the story is mostly about a girl named Jamie Kelly, wants to make money and own a amusement park and name it Screamtopia. She and her friends, Angeline, Isabella, and Emmily, are making money. They have lemonade stands, second handed things, and car washes. Emmily walked children on leashes, and called it child walking. And she made lots of money. And Angeline cut of her hair and donated her hair for money. So at the end, they have enough money to let their dream come true.
The strategy I used while reading this book was asking questions. For example: Who did Angeline donate her hair to? Before reading the book, I used predicting. For example: I think that this book is going to be about being lazy and wanting to have money automatically. And after reading this book, I was making connections. For example: I used to want to buy a panda when I was younger. But I didn't know how to make money, and I didn't want to have a job because I was afraid it would be too hard. But when I got older, I understood that not everything can be bought. I'll just have to go to the zoo if I want to see a panda.
While reading this book, I had many thoughts. One of my thoughts was "I think that Jamie is a weird person. Because why would you want a amusement park when you could go to one?" And I thought that Jamie is a very interesting person. Because, her sense of humor is sarcastic and it's not funny. I think that the author wrote this book because he experienced the same situation when he was young. I think that the theme in the story is about that not everything in life is free. Because in the book, it has been talking about money and the title is very similar to what the book has been saying.
Sincerely,
Jacqueline.
November 23, 2014
This book is telling or discussing how a girls life is hard during school. She was thinking about the good free stuff in life, but after she thought about it, she realized that even the bad things in life is also free. Like bug bites, sunburn, etc. This book is much funnier than her other books. Very Very realistic book. This girl also has a really big imagination but can never make then come true. Funny illustrations and meanings. I love this book!
July 22, 2011
It turns out that if you accidentally skip this book and read 11 and 12 before you realize what you're doing, the world doesn't end and the story isn't even confusing.
This one is as funny as the previous book (and at least of the subsequent ones). I always like the resolution to these stories and this one was no exception.
My daughter just gave up eating meat about 3 weeks ago. I'm wondering what she's going to think of this book. (She hasn't read it yet, but is planning to very soon.)
Note: Usually I think Isabella is pretty funny in these books. For some reason, she was extra-special funny in this one.
This one is as funny as the previous book (and at least of the subsequent ones). I always like the resolution to these stories and this one was no exception.
My daughter just gave up eating meat about 3 weeks ago. I'm wondering what she's going to think of this book. (She hasn't read it yet, but is planning to very soon.)
Note: Usually I think Isabella is pretty funny in these books. For some reason, she was extra-special funny in this one.
July 24, 2019
This book is SO funny!!! I love how entertaining it is it makes me want to read all day!!! I hope everyone finds a book like this if not than try this series!! I check this books out at the library so please go down and check them out!!! They may be a little negative or short but overall a great story if you dare to see into a 6th graders mind.
January 13, 2011
This was a great book. *SPOILER* Jamie begins to warm up to Angeline, which I think is awesome. I hate that she hates her. I read this a while ago, so I can't remember much, but it is of course as hilarious as its precedors.
June 13, 2012
This book is about three girls (Jamie, Isabelle and Angeline) trying to save up enough money to earn $300 so that Uncle Dan can bring them all to the amusement park. They all have trouble getting the money. Their attempt at making money was from lemonade stands, car washes, babysitting and selling unwanted items on eBay. They make a little of $5 by the end of the month. Luckily, Jamie’s dad anonymously buys an unwanted item for $200 and their friend dog-walks for about a week and earns $100 and they bring her along with them because she helped raise the money.
I picked this book because I have read all the previous books and I was sure this was going to humourous.
I finished this book because it amused me throughout the story.
I think people who don't like reading, but forced to will enjoy this book because it's a short read and quite amusing.
I picked this book because I have read all the previous books and I was sure this was going to humourous.
I finished this book because it amused me throughout the story.
I think people who don't like reading, but forced to will enjoy this book because it's a short read and quite amusing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2014
The book The Worst Things In Life Are Free is a fictional book written by Jim Benton about a girl named Jamie and her friends figuring out how to get money for Screamotopia. Their first thing the tried to do to get money was to set up a lemonade stand. As other ideas went by they kept making money. The one day they found a way to get money. To find out how they get the money for Screamotopia read this amazing fictional book.
November 28, 2019
its pretty good very funny some parts were better than other i guess it gave me something productive to do instead of sit around and watch tv all so yea its good i guess.
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July 31, 2025Isabella was at my house before any of us woke up this morning, and she totally scared my dad when he opened the door to get the newspaper. Isabella was just snoozing on our porch, but she can't help it if all her sleeping positions look like the positions that police find the victim in when they arrive at a crime scene.
the awesome thing about isabella is that she has the "i have older brothers so i'm tough ooo" backstory but instead of it making her tough it just made her legitimately evil. this series is quite genuinely diary of a wimpy kid for girls who are going to grow up to be lesbians someday. jamie gay tracker: not actually the cutting her hair short, but the basically passing out when angeline cuts HER hair short, because her hair is "shimmering, sparkling, radiant, heavenly, magnificent," etc.
the awesome thing about isabella is that she has the "i have older brothers so i'm tough ooo" backstory but instead of it making her tough it just made her legitimately evil. this series is quite genuinely diary of a wimpy kid for girls who are going to grow up to be lesbians someday. jamie gay tracker: not actually the cutting her hair short, but the basically passing out when angeline cuts HER hair short, because her hair is "shimmering, sparkling, radiant, heavenly, magnificent," etc.
September 16, 2022
Summer's here. Can the things in life that are free help Jamie have her best summer? She can't seem to sleep in -- waking up at alarm time out of habit. Aunt Carol and Uncle Dan will take her, Isabella, and Angeline to Screamotopia -- her favorite amusement park -- if they can come up with the $100 for admission. How can she earn that $100 in time? She opens and closes multiple businesses (some metaphorically) and can't seem to find a moneymaking idea. Isabella is up to now good. Angeline is too nice, donating things that could be sold. Perhaps new friend Emmily will have some good ideas. If nothing else, she is another pair of hands -- and feet. Sneak a peek into Jamie's diary and see how she spends her summer.
August 11, 2019
These books make my kids laugh out loud. I’m this case, they couldn’t believe that Jamie couldn’t see that Isabella is not a very good friend. They also loved the girls’ inability to make money, an all-too-familiar situation.
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October 27, 2024꒰🪷⊹ ࣪ pre-read review ᯓᡣ𐭩
i’ve probably read this book like 200 times 🫠
i’ve probably read this book like 200 times 🫠
December 14, 2010
Dear Dumb Diary, The Worst Things in Life are Also Free by Jim Benton
Read Jamie Kelly’s tenth diary: The Worst Things in Life are Also Free. “Sneak a peek inside the diary of Jamie Kelly, who promises that everything she writes is true . . . or at least as true as it needs to be!”
“The best things in life are free” says Isabella’s mom. Jamie, Isabella, and Angeline are raising money to go to Screamotopia Amusement Park with Jamie’s Aunt Carol, and Angeline’s Uncle Dan, who married. But the “raising money” business didn’t go well, all because of Isabella.
I like the way this book tells Jamie’s life, as well as her opinions. Read about why Isabella dragged the cable out of the wall, or why everybody evacuated the school when nothing happened. I like the part when everybody (including the teachers) evacuated the school! It was caused by somebody . . . if you read Jamie’s other diaries, you will know who!
I think it isn’t normal for a boy author to write a girls diary. I noticed that in Jamie’s diaries, some thoughts from her are like a boy’s, and some parts, she thinks like a girl. In some parts of the story, it contains really disgusting things that are “boy stuff”. This book even contains crazy stuff people WON’T normally do, like putting seven layers of diaper on a baby to block the stink, or to pretend that you are going to explode! These things are done by ___________. Can you guess who?
I recommend this book to people who like the Dear Dumb Diary Series, or people who have read the Franny K. Stein series. This book can be for boys and girls (because the author is a boy), who like hilarious stories.
Read Jamie Kelly’s tenth diary: The Worst Things in Life are Also Free. “Sneak a peek inside the diary of Jamie Kelly, who promises that everything she writes is true . . . or at least as true as it needs to be!”
“The best things in life are free” says Isabella’s mom. Jamie, Isabella, and Angeline are raising money to go to Screamotopia Amusement Park with Jamie’s Aunt Carol, and Angeline’s Uncle Dan, who married. But the “raising money” business didn’t go well, all because of Isabella.
I like the way this book tells Jamie’s life, as well as her opinions. Read about why Isabella dragged the cable out of the wall, or why everybody evacuated the school when nothing happened. I like the part when everybody (including the teachers) evacuated the school! It was caused by somebody . . . if you read Jamie’s other diaries, you will know who!
I think it isn’t normal for a boy author to write a girls diary. I noticed that in Jamie’s diaries, some thoughts from her are like a boy’s, and some parts, she thinks like a girl. In some parts of the story, it contains really disgusting things that are “boy stuff”. This book even contains crazy stuff people WON’T normally do, like putting seven layers of diaper on a baby to block the stink, or to pretend that you are going to explode! These things are done by ___________. Can you guess who?
I recommend this book to people who like the Dear Dumb Diary Series, or people who have read the Franny K. Stein series. This book can be for boys and girls (because the author is a boy), who like hilarious stories.
December 20, 2018
Choice book #3 Quarter 2
Dear dumb diary #10 written by Jim Benton is a realistic fiction/humor book which takes place in Jamie's Neighborhood.
The main characters in this book are Jamie, Isabella, and Angeline. Jamie is usually unhappy, Isabella is usually serious, and Angeline is bratty. Jamie, Isabella, and Angeline are friends.
Jamie, Isabella, and Angeline want to go to an amusement park named Screamtopia, but they don't have enough money to go there.
The book Dear Dumb Diary #10 follows three fifth graders Jamie, Isabella, and Angeline as they try to earn money to go to an amusement park, they try to earn money by doing a lemonade stand, babysit some babies, and washing cars.
I liked the book, but the pictures in the book are inappropriate. I liked the book, because it is teaching how to make money to save something you like. My favorite part of the book is when Jamie, Isabella, and Angeline babysat Angeline's mom's friend's one year old son named Ricky, and Isabella putted eight diapers on Ricky. This book was compared to one of the episodes in Curious George, where George wants a kite, but he don't have enough money, so he tries to earn money by mowing the lawn of other people's houses, walking dogs, and selling a lemonade stand. That was like what happened at Dear Dumb Diary #10.
Dear dumb diary #10 written by Jim Benton is a realistic fiction/humor book which takes place in Jamie's Neighborhood.
The main characters in this book are Jamie, Isabella, and Angeline. Jamie is usually unhappy, Isabella is usually serious, and Angeline is bratty. Jamie, Isabella, and Angeline are friends.
Jamie, Isabella, and Angeline want to go to an amusement park named Screamtopia, but they don't have enough money to go there.
The book Dear Dumb Diary #10 follows three fifth graders Jamie, Isabella, and Angeline as they try to earn money to go to an amusement park, they try to earn money by doing a lemonade stand, babysit some babies, and washing cars.
I liked the book, but the pictures in the book are inappropriate. I liked the book, because it is teaching how to make money to save something you like. My favorite part of the book is when Jamie, Isabella, and Angeline babysat Angeline's mom's friend's one year old son named Ricky, and Isabella putted eight diapers on Ricky. This book was compared to one of the episodes in Curious George, where George wants a kite, but he don't have enough money, so he tries to earn money by mowing the lawn of other people's houses, walking dogs, and selling a lemonade stand. That was like what happened at Dear Dumb Diary #10.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2014
The worst things in life are often the best things in life...if we only take things from a new perspective. Too bad Jamie Kelly, diarist (meaning, in a sense, NOVELIST) in training, and all-around sweet preteenager (at least we think so!) has yet to get the Post-It note. She now is in the annoying habit of living simple, something she admittedly has never considered doing. The cost to her soul is mindbending...and heartening at best. Will she FINALLY accept Angeline into her enclave without puking her guts out with loving sweetness? Will the almighty Cuteness Stinker worm his way into her sensitive heart once and for all? It's a tough challenge no girl this stuck on her hateful self should endure alone? PS: This is the one wherein she....LOSES HER PRETTY HAIR!!!! YES! Justice and LOVE have a chance to triumph !!!!!! Lovers of these fine quality novels will thoroughly enjoy this tenth outing with Jamie, Isabella, Stinker and all our beloved friends as well as exciting fresh faces like little Ricky, a 3-year-old so disarmingly sweet you'll need aromatherapy big time to heal your latent discomfort over all things lovable and cute. Bon appetit!
September 30, 2012
Jamie Kelly is at it again. It is now summertime and Jamie's aunt and uncle give Jamie, her best friend (Isabella), and her cousin by marriage (Angeline) a proposition. If they can come up with $100 a piece they will pay for the hotel for them to stay at so they can go to Screamotopia Amusement Park. They come up with a variety of schemes to earn the money from an unsuccessful lemonade stand, to cutting their hair, to having a car wash.
I think this would appeal to any girl between third through fifth grade. It's an easy book to get children to start reading chapter books because the way it is written. Instead of text, the author wrote this as diary entries so it makes it easy to read.
I would use this book as a fun, entertaining way to discuss different ways on how to raise money for something you really want.
Benton, Jim. Dear dumb diary: The worst things in life are also free. New York: Scholastic, 2010. Print.
I think this would appeal to any girl between third through fifth grade. It's an easy book to get children to start reading chapter books because the way it is written. Instead of text, the author wrote this as diary entries so it makes it easy to read.
I would use this book as a fun, entertaining way to discuss different ways on how to raise money for something you really want.
Benton, Jim. Dear dumb diary: The worst things in life are also free. New York: Scholastic, 2010. Print.
February 11, 2016
Jamie Kelly writes in her Dumb Dairy about her hopes, thoughts, and dreams and it's given to the world. Jamie's Aunt Carol and Uncle Dan tell them that Jamie, her BFF Isabella, and Angeline( Uncle Dan's other niece) can go with them to an amusement park, if they make 3 hundred dollars. All the ideas sort of get them some money, but not much. What will they do?
Dear Dumb Dairy books show a young girl's feelings, opinions, and actions in her dairy. A life filled with money, BFFs, meatloaf, and hair. Age range 10 and up.
I like this book because it gave me the idea for my jerky journal. My favourite is when the three girls babysit for Ricky. There is nothing I don't like about this book.
Dear Dumb Dairy books show a young girl's feelings, opinions, and actions in her dairy. A life filled with money, BFFs, meatloaf, and hair. Age range 10 and up.
I like this book because it gave me the idea for my jerky journal. My favourite is when the three girls babysit for Ricky. There is nothing I don't like about this book.
January 8, 2013
well i think that it was a really good book bc i read it before and like i really think you should read the book its just lIKE about jamie and her friends trying to make money over the summer so they can go to the amusment park then anngleana donoteaed her hair to canser and then jaime got mad at her then jamie stared a car wash for 25 cents but the only person that kept comming was mrs. cirgereat lady then elzabeth came up with something and they throught of babysisting so they would go to people houses and eliz would put the lil kids on a leash and walk them its funny you should really read it XD
July 28, 2018
This series was such a big part of my childhood and nostalgia does amazing things for it! The story is entertaining and passed the time quite well. I still love Jamie Kelly's commentary about all the situations she and her friends get into. I still continue to see where my type of humor started getting developed way back when with this series. I also loved the PSA of donating hair to organizations that make wigs for people to help them feel better about what they're going through at that moment!
Favorite Quote:
"I'm really good at ignoring unpleasant feelings if it is really inconvenient to feel them."
Favorite Quote:
"I'm really good at ignoring unpleasant feelings if it is really inconvenient to feel them."
June 8, 2015
I thought this book was cute in the end and kind of boring in the beggining. First of all props to the unexepcted ending. I think this book is great to read in the summer since the setting is summer. I also think this book is great because it talks about money , something we all love. I like how its about that but in a dorky way. This book is about how Angeline, Emmily, Isabella and Jamie all try to do fun things but they realize all good things require money and all bad things dont. So they make lemonade stands and other things to get money and learn that doing that can be hard.
December 16, 2016
I think this book was spectacular. I love it when Jamie try's to feed a baby her shoe beacause she didn't know what she was doing. Jamie Kellie is very cool and fun person to read about. She is always thinking about new ideas for different things, like the time when she thought of making a 100ft long French fry. Or the time Isabella and Jamie thought of an idea to walk children. Jamie Kellie is always hearing about these crazy rumors. I reccomand this book to to people because you are always laughing.
June 8, 2015
The book The worst things in life are also free written by Jim Benton was an okay book. The character’s in the book did seem believable. The character's focused on the most was Isabelle, Angelica, and Jaime. A quick summary of the book was that the three girls wanted to have an amusement park and name it screampia. These they had to make three hundred dollars. They made them all by their work. The theme in the story was that the best things in life are also free. It was an overall okay book.
March 20, 2019
i recently finished this book and it is an okay book it was talking about random things i think the author ran out of things to write about a actual story because it start of problems with school then to selling lemonade to cutting hair and to feel like nobody cares about you to donating hair to a wild warthog oh and what to do with promises i got confused while reading this i don't now it's theme.
November 22, 2010
I haven't read it.. But i will try find it in the library or buy it because the picture looks interesting, And the title sounds interesting. If any of you has it, can you please lend it to me? Or maybe just tell em where to buy it? yeah so ok... bye (:
January 18, 2011
This will take you on a journey with Jamie Kelly and her friend Isabella though a stroy of adventures though tough times and good times. this story wiil leave you hanging. this is heart filled story. This is a story you will have to read.
July 9, 2011
Funny, as per usual, but the more I read these books, the more I notice how incredibly horrible the story lines are! So immature that you can't help but shake your head and think, "Oh, Jamie, how you and Emmily are alike..."
July 16, 2013
This was fun, is it ever easy to earn money? Well apparently if you use ebay or have other people earn it for you, which I fell jipped that elementary kids can learn this less from this book and I had to become an adult to learn it.
March 10, 2015
After I read the previous one I was scared. But no, these books are still funny... that one was a failure (for me), but I loved this one. And now I get it why Jamie is so annoyed with Angeline - she is so kind and lovely, TOO PERFECT!
July 13, 2010
Once again. Not that funny...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews