Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck

Template:InfoboxDiary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck is the eighth book in the reading Wimpy Kid series, following The Third Wheel, and 14th overall. After finishing the seventh book, Jeff Kinney announced that he was working on the eighth book. On 8 August, 2013, the cover's color, title and a synopsis were revealed, and the book was released on November 5th, 2013.

Main Characters

Synopsis

March

Greg is upset over losing Rowley as his best friend in the opening. His mother tells him that friends come and go. Since Rowley Jefferson and Abigail Brown became a couple at the end of The Third Wheel, the two friends have become more and more distant, very noticably even within nine and a half days. There were many things Greg and Rowley used to do together, such as blow bubbles with chocolate milk cartons, that they can't do now, because Abigail disapproves of. Greg doesn't like how Abigail is trying to shape Rowley, and even believe she is starting to use him. Greg states it gets to the point where Rowley isn't allowed his own opinions anymore, but is simply just following Abigail's. Many plans, such as a snowball fight on a nice day, haven't gone ahead, and when Greg confronts Rowley, he taunts Greg by telling him he's just jealous that he has a girlfriend. Also, Rowley is the only one who can bail Greg out of the fact his English teacher, Mr. Blakely, only accepts essays written in cursive, but also, usually, Rowley scouts ahead and checks for any dog poop whilst they are walking to school, but without Rowley, Greg is having to watch out for the poop himself and avoid a very nasty Rottweiler whilst walking to school. And then Abigail starts using Rowley to carry her books. Greg used to use Rowley to do the same thing.

Greg finds a solution to his book problem - a roller bag. He is able to get to school fast, but there are a few dangers between home and school, such as an angry neighbour who's front lawn got ripped up as a result of a game Greg and Rowley played last winter and woods full of the Mingo kids, who are like wild animals. Mom notices Greg and Rowley have stopped hanging out and gives Greg some advice. Greg, after reading a hundred editions of Slumber Party Pals, he realises that girl friendships and boy friendships are different.

Cover

The cover is lime green, and has eight balls raining depicted with Greg dodging them with a book (most likely his diary).

The Teaser Cover, Announced on 25 March, 2013

Trivia

This book was first announced in the final pages of The Third Wheel.
On 25 March 2013, Jeff Kinney revealed the book's teaser, which had Greg with an umbrella while Magic Eight Balls fall around him.
On July 18, 2013, it was announced the cover would be revealed on August 8th, 2013.
Before the title of the book was revealed, there were several rumors about what the book would be called, including Life Stress, Flipped Out, Spring Bummer and a fake cover called "School Dilemma".
This is the second book with the word "Diary" not being yellow, the first was Dog Days.
The word "of a Wimpy Kid" is not blue or red like the other books, instead it's orange.
It was rumored for a while that the book would be the final one in the series, until jeff kinney said that it wouldn't be.
This is the third time that Greg and Rowley have a big falling out. The first was in the original Diary of a Wimpy Kid after Greg got Rowley in trouble about the safety patrols and lied about it, and the second being in The Ugly Truth when they have a big fight over the events towards the end of Dog Days.
The phone Susan has is possibly an iPhone.
Many things from Dog Days make a reappearance in this book - Sweetie is seen again, as well as the Ladybug.
In Greg's maths problem, the answer is 62. Equations like that are generally sixth-grade questions. This could mean Greg isn't very good at maths at all.
On Page 29, Rowley closes his mouth for the second time in the book series, the first being page 166 of The Third Wheel.
Mrs. Norton also makes another appearance. She hasn't appeared since the first book.
Many things that haven't appeared since early series reappear in this book.

Tweet states Book 8 won't finish off the series.

Gallery

A lost sketchbook which Kinney did a long time ago, and its ideas might be used for the 8th book.
The teaser picture.
Third teaser.
The eighth Chinese book, Survivor of a Skull Shaking Machine.