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{{Spoiler}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox|Box title = <font color="Violet">Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Meltdown</font>
{{infobox book
|Row 1 title = Author
|image=[[File:Diary of a Wimpy Kid The Meltdown cover.jpg|300px]]
|Row 1 info = [[Jeff Kinney]]
|number=13
|Row 2 title = Publisher
|release date={{date|30|October|2018}}
|Row 2 info = Abram Books (Amulet Books)
|author=[[Jeff Kinney]]
|Row 3 title = Release Date
|illustrator=Jeff Kinney
|Row 3 info = October 30th, 2018
|preceded by=''[[Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway]]''
|Row 4 title = Pages
|succeeded by=''[[Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Wrecking Ball]]''
|Row 4 info = 217
|Row 5 title = Preceded by
|Row 5 info = ''[[Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway]]''
|Row 6 title = Followed By
|Row 6 info = [[Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Book 14]]
|Row 7 title = Color
|Row 7 info = Dark Purple (Spine: Alternating colors of Dark Purple and True Blue)
|Row 8 title = Book Number
|Row 8 info = 13
|image = [[File:Diary of a Wimpy Kid The Meltdown cover.jpg|300px]]
|caption =
}}
}}
'''Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Meltdown''' is the 13th book in the [[Diary of a Wimpy Kid]] series. The book was released on October 30th, 2018.


==Characters==
'''''Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Meltdown''''' is the 13th book in the [[Diary of a Wimpy Kid (series)|''Diary of a Wimpy Kid'' series]]. It was released on {{date|31|October|2018}}. ''Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Meltdown'' succeeds ''[[Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway]]'' and precedes ''[[Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Wrecking Ball]]''.
 
==Main characters==
*[[Greg Heffley]]
*[[Greg Heffley]]
*[[Manny Heffley]]
*[[Rodrick Heffley]]
*[[Frank Heffley]]
*[[Frank Heffley]]
*[[Susan Heffley]]
*[[Susan Heffley]]
*[[Rodrick Heffley]]
*[[Manny Heffley]]
*[[Rowley Jefferson]]
*[[Rowley Jefferson]]
*Lower Surrey Street Kids (Main Antagonists)


==Plot==
==Synopsis==
When the schools get shut down because of a snowy day, the neighborhood transforms into a wintry battlefield. Some rival groups fight over territory, Some rival groups build massive snow forts, and some rival groups stage epic snowball fights. In the cross-hairs are Greg Heffley and his trusty-true to the end-best friend, Rowley Jefferson.
''When the schools get shut down because of a snowy day, the neighbourhood transforms into a wintry battlefield. Some rival groups fight over territory, Some rival groups build massive snow forts, and some rival groups stage epic snowball fights. In the cross-hairs are Greg Heffley and his trusty-true to the end-best friend, Rowley Jefferson.''


It's a fight for survival as Greg and Rowley navigate against alliances, betrayals, and warring gangs in a neighborhood meltdown. When the snow clears, will Greg and Rowley emerge as heroes? Or will they even survive to see another day? <ref>http://www.wimpykid.com/books/book13/</ref>
''It's a fight for survival as Greg and Rowley navigate against alliances, betrayals, and warring gangs in a neighbourhood meltdown. When the snow clears, will Greg and Rowley emerge as heroes? Or will they even survive to see another day?''
 
==Synopsis==


==Plot==
=== January ===
=== January ===
The story starts off by Greg saying how everybody is outside enjoying the warm weather, but Greg isn't because it's January and it doesn't feel right because it's the middle of winter. Greg then says about how the whole planet is warming up, and humans are to blame. But Greg says that he shouldn't be to blame, as he only recently got onto planet earth (being born). He then says about he hopes that it doesn't warm up too fast, or he would have to ride a camel to school. He then says he heard that the ice caps are melting and the seas is rising and he was trying to convince his parents to buy a house higher up on their hill so that they can avoid the water for longer, but his parents aren't too concerned. It makes Greg nervous that he's the only person in his family worried about it, and if they didn't do something about it now they would wish they did. The seas rising isn't the only thing that is making Greg nervous, as there could be things in the ice caps, and since they are melting they could be free. Greg then says that he saw a movie about a caveman that got frozen in ice, and thousands of years later when it melted he was still ALIVE. Greg didn't know if that could happen in real life, but if it could he says that if it could his night time janitor could be one.
The story starts off with Greg saying how everybody is outside enjoying the warm weather, but Greg isn't because it's January and it doesn't feel right because it's the middle of winter. Greg then says about how the whole planet is warming up, and humans are to blame. But Greg says that he shouldn't be to blame, as he only recently got onto planet earth (being born). He then says about he hopes that it doesn't warm up too fast, or he would have to ride a camel to school. He then says he heard that the ice caps are melting and the seas are rising and he was trying to convince his parents to buy a house higher up on their hill so that they can avoid the water for longer, but his parents aren't too concerned. It makes Greg nervous that he is the only person in his family worried about it, and if they didn't do something about it now they would wish they did. The seas rising isn't the only thing that is making Greg nervous, as there could be things in the ice caps, and since they are melting they could be free. Greg then says that he saw a movie about a caveman that got frozen in ice, and thousands of years later when it melted he was still ALIVE. Greg didn't know if that could happen in real life, but if it could he says that if it could his nighttime janitor could be one.


Greg has to participate with his school on International Showcase Week. Back in November, when there was an International Showcase, he wanted the country to be assigned Italy but unfortunately too many people wanted to study Italy. After a random draw by his teacher, it was given to Dennis Tracton. So he was forced to make a project about Malta. However, he forgot all about it and has now to make it for the following day. Since Rowley refused to switch with him, Greg says that he was on his own and hoped his project will be fine.
Greg has to participate with his school on International Showcase Week. Back in November, when there was an International Showcase, he wanted the country to be assigned Italy but unfortunately, too many people wanted to study Italy. After a random draw by his teacher, it was given to Dennis Tracton. So he was forced to make a project about Malta. However, he forgot all about it and has now to make it for the following day. Since Rowley refused to switch with him, Greg says that he was on his own and hoped his project will be fine.


In order to push kids asking questions away, he only pretended to speak Maltese and not English, but after this, a kid in his grade has parents who are from MALTA. Fortunately for him, the huge fight between Brazil and Bulgaria flared up again, and the bell rings dismissing school.
In order to push kids asking questions away, he only pretended to speak Maltese and not English, but after this, a kid in his grade has parents who are from MALTA. Fortunately for him, the huge fight between Brazil and Bulgaria flared up again, and the bell rings dismissing the school.


However, the situation worsens when Susan receives a letter that Greg has to make his project again. Plus, she forbids him for screens on weekends as well as Rodrick and Manny. All brothers decide to misbehave in order to prove her that "Screen-Free Weekends" aren't working.
However, the situation worsens when Susan receives a letter that Greg has to make his project again. Plus, she forbids him for screens on weekends as well as Rodrick and Manny. All brothers decide to misbehave in order to prove to her that "Screen-Free Weekends" aren't working.


Greg also says that his mom says that she wants him to make some new friends. But with the exception of Rowley, he has no chance to befriend an another child. Sometimes, he even has to walk in front of Fregley's house which is between his and Rowley's and it's difficult for him.
Greg also says that his mom says that she wants him to make some new friends. But with the exception of Rowley, he has no chance to befriend another child. Sometimes, he even has to walk in front of Fregley's house which is between his and Rowley's and it's difficult for him.


Greg then explains that the other kids in his street aren't good people for him to befriend, but the worst are the ones who live in Lower Surrey Street because their street part is flat and Greg lives in Upper Street. The two parts can't stand one another and you can't change from a part to the other as Trevor Nix is considered a traitor for moving to Lower Surrey Street.
Greg then explains that the other kids in his street aren't good people for him to befriend, but the worst are the ones who live in Lower Surrey Street because their street part is flat and Greg lives in Upper Street. The two parts can't stand one another and you can't change from a part to the other as Trevor Nix is considered a traitor for moving to Lower Surrey Street.
Line 57: Line 45:
Greg talks about the Safety Patrols as he enjoyed it since it gave him access to hot chocolate. But he got kicked out of Safety Patrols, so he can't have any. Ever since that, he has been filling a thermos with hot chocolate.
Greg talks about the Safety Patrols as he enjoyed it since it gave him access to hot chocolate. But he got kicked out of Safety Patrols, so he can't have any. Ever since that, he has been filling a thermos with hot chocolate.


He also tells how about dirty his neighbors are. When he is sick, he receives some cherry lozenges for his throat which makes him popular for girls.
He also tells how dirty his neighbours are. When he is sick, he receives some cherry lozenges for his throat which makes him popular with girls.


Because of the cold, Greg and Rowley try to find a place where they could warm up. They finally hides at Gramma's place while she is on vacation but they don't know that Susan actually comes sometimes in order to do her laundry.
Because of the cold, Greg and Rowley try to find a place where they could warm up. They finally manage to hide at [[Gramma]]'s place while she is on vacation but they don't know that Susan actually comes sometimes in order to do her laundry.


To Greg's surprise, Susan isn't mad at him at all, even congratulating him for "using his imagination" rather than screens. Greg wishes she'd grounded him instead.
To Greg's surprise, Susan isn't mad at him at all, even congratulating him for "using his imagination" rather than screens. Greg wishes she'd grounded him instead.
Line 65: Line 53:
=== February ===
=== February ===


Greg explains that the Safety Patrol is very strict and report anyone who dares to throw a snowball during a school day. They also allows girls to walk on the road but don't allow boys to do it.
Greg explains that the Safety Patrol is very strict and report anyone who dares to throw a snowball during a school day. They also allow girls to walk on the road but don't allow boys to do it.


Greg says that he has no qualms about snitching and also that due to the snow, all students had to walk barefoot in the school.
Greg says that he has no qualms about snitching and also that due to the snow, all students had to walk barefoot in the school.
Line 71: Line 59:
The next day, Greg tries vainly to invent a new way to walk in the snow with pizza boxes with his shoes duct-taped to them after trying to warm up his winter boots, which end up melting into the bricks of the fireplace, but his idea fails. He also discovers that the janitor couldn't stand the sock smell and open the windows to let some fresh air in, but forgot to close the windows at the end of his shift, and now, it FREEZES inside.
The next day, Greg tries vainly to invent a new way to walk in the snow with pizza boxes with his shoes duct-taped to them after trying to warm up his winter boots, which end up melting into the bricks of the fireplace, but his idea fails. He also discovers that the janitor couldn't stand the sock smell and open the windows to let some fresh air in, but forgot to close the windows at the end of his shift, and now, it FREEZES inside.


So, the students try to keep warm and use their creativity. The principal then decides to dismiss school early, much to the children's delight but since Rowley and Greg have to walk on their way home, instead of taking the bus, they decide to borrow the Whirley Street Kids bus. At first, they can sit in the bus without being discovered until an incident with a snowball prompts the bus driver to stop the bus and refuse to start it again until the tattletale admits they did it. Greg looks in the back of the bus, hearing some kids, however an eight-grader realizes he wasn't from Whirley Street and all the kids on the bus blame it on Greg, forcing him and Rowley to get off the bus.
So, the students try to keep warm and use their creativity. The principal then decides to dismiss school early, much to the children's delight but since Rowley and Greg have to walk on their way home, instead of taking the bus, they decide to borrow the Whirley Street Kids bus. At first, they can sit in the bus without being discovered until an incident with a snowball prompts the bus driver to stop the bus and refuse to start it again until the tattletale admits they did it. Greg looks in the back of the bus, hearing some kids, however, an eight-grader realizes he wasn't from Whirley Street and all the kids on the bus blame it on Greg, forcing him and Rowley to get off the bus.


A few Whirley Street kids start running after Greg and Rowley, due to the kids on the bus lying about him throwing the snowball. They then decide to run from them, leading them into the woods.
A few Whirley Street kids start running after Greg and Rowley, due to the kids on the bus lying about him throwing the snowball. They then decide to run from them, leading them into the woods.


Greg and Rowley are forced to run in the woods, which is where the Goat Man lives. Greg sees an light coming form an car, it was, but was actually coming from an broken car, Greg and Rowley then realize they're in the Mingo camp, after getting close to a car, Mr. Morsels gets stuck on the door handle of the car, resulting in Greg abandoning him. He and Rowley then dash out of the woods, where Frank sees them and then brakes.
Greg and Rowley are forced to run in the woods, which is where the Goat Man lives. Greg sees a light coming from a car, it was but was actually coming from a broken car, Greg and Rowley then realize they're in the Mingo camp, after getting close to a car, Mr. Morsels gets stuck on the door handle of the car, resulting in Greg abandoning him. He and Rowley then dash out of the woods, where Frank sees them and then brakes.


The next day, Greg has the house for himself since Manny is at nursery, Rodrick sleeps and his parents are gone. But little does he know is Susan planned some chores for him. Since he isn't able to finish all of them before his parents return, his mother forces him to play on the snow and also calls Rowley's parents in order to prevent Greg from going to his house.
The next day, Greg has the house for himself since Manny is at nursery, Rodrick sleeps and his parents are gone. But little does he know is Susan planned some chores for him. Since he isn't able to finish all of them before his parents return, his mother forces him to play in the snow and also calls Rowley's parents in order to prevent Greg from going to his house.


Without any option, Greg and Rowley build a fort which is quickly demolished. Frank gives them some advice, and both boys build an another fort but discover that almost every kid had the SAME idea. Now, they have to fight against the Lower Surrey Street Kids due to them sliding on their hill, but after a while, they're not ready to surrender and decide to refuel. Even Trevor Nix betrays the Upper Surrey Street Kids in order to possibly get accepted by the Lower Surrey Street Kids. After being double-crossed by Trevor, the Upper Surrey Street Kids snow fort gets demolished.
Without any option, Greg and Rowley build a fort which is quickly demolished. Frank gives them some advice, and both boys build another fort but discover that almost every kid had the SAME idea. Now, they have to fight against the Lower Surrey Street Kids due to them sliding on their hill, but after a while, they're not ready to surrender and decide to refuel. Even Trevor Nix betrays the Upper Surrey Street Kids in order to possibly get accepted by the Lower Surrey Street Kids. After being double-crossed by Trevor, the Upper Surrey Street Kids snow fort gets demolished.


Then they hear The Safety Patrol who came there for revenge, resulting in the battle turning into the Surrey Street Kids versus the Safety Patrols, but some girls on Surrey Street SWITCH sides which makes it confusing. The Whirley Street Kids slide on the hill and join the battle. Then all the kids hear a sound, but Greg and Rowley knew it was the Mingo kids, looking like they woke up from a three-month nap. Greg realizes that he had Meckley's buckle in his pocket without realizing it. Since the kids hate the Mingo kids than everyone else, they turn to fight them. Greg decides he has had enough, and he and Rowley hide. And are worried that they won't survive. Then the ground shakes, but it turns out to be the snowplow drive, plowing all the snow and ends the battle.
Then they hear The Safety Patrol who came there for revenge, resulting in the battle turning into the Surrey Street Kids versus the Safety Patrols, but some girls on Surrey Street SWITCH sides which makes it confusing. The Whirley Street Kids slide on the hill and join the battle. Then all the kids hear a sound, but Greg and Rowley knew it was the Mingo kids, looking like they woke up from a three-month nap. Greg realizes that he had Meckley's buckle in his pocket without realizing it. Since the kids hate the Mingo kids than everyone else, they turn to fight them. Greg decides he has had enough, and he and Rowley hide. And are worried that they won't survive. Then the ground shakes, but it turns out to be the snowplow drive, plowing all the snow and ends the battle.


After the battle, Greg can't remember what they started fighting over in the first place, and the weather warms up a lot. There is still snow on the ground, so Mitchell Pickett uses a snowmobile he spent with all the money he made. Trevor Nix gets accepted in Lower Surrey Street. Greg just hopes that everyone will be grateful at him if he can make a good strategy which could allow human people to live with robots. Greg says he's glad that there are people like the HERO type out there, but the world needs guys like HIM too. Greg says because if human beings are still around 500 million years from now, it's gonna be thanks to the Greg Heffleys of the world who figured out a way to SURVIVE.
After the battle, Greg can't remember what they started fighting over in the first place, and the weather warms up a lot. There is still snow on the ground, so Mitchell Pickett uses a snowmobile he spent with all the money he made. Trevor Nix gets accepted in Lower Surrey Street. Greg just hopes that everyone will be grateful to him if he can make a good strategy that could allow human people to live with robots. Greg says he's glad that there are people like the HERO type out there, but the world needs guys like HIM too. Greg says because if human beings are still around 500 million years from now, it's gonna be thanks to the Greg Heffley's of the world who figured out a way to SURVIVE.


== Trivia ==
==Continuity==
* This is the second purple book, the first being [[The Ugly Truth]].
*''[[Diary of a Wimpy Kid]]'': The Safety Patrol organization is mentioned again. It is revealed that all of the boy members have since been kicked off for misbehaviour.
* This is the third book to not have the word "Diary" in yellow. The first two books are [[Dog Days]] and [[Hard Luck]].
*''[[Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck]]'': The [[Mingo Kids]] and [[Meckley Mingo]] reappear.
** However, this is the first odd-numbered book to not have the word "Diary" in yellow.
*''[[Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul]]'': [[Flat Stanley]] is referenced.
* This is the first book to use two different shades of one color. On the top half of the book, it is colored Blue-ish Dark Purple. While on the bottom half of the book, it is colored Red-ish Dark Purple.
*''[[Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway]]'': In ''The Meltdown'', the [[pig]] is upset over not having been included in the Heffleys' Christmas vacation in ''The Getaway''. After the pig starts misbehaving, Frank sends it to an obedience school. The pig escapes and is not found by the end of the book.
** However, the overall color of the book is still Dark Purple, anyway.
*''[[Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid: Rowley Jefferson's Journal]]'': [[Mr. Yee]], the [[Goat Man]], and [[Joseph O'Rourke]] are mentioned.
* This is the second book where the words "of a Wimpy Kid" are in purple. The first is [[Old School]].
*''[[The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book]]'': Fregley's line, "Betcha I can find your 'tickle spot!'" is said again in ''The Meltdown''.
* This is the first time the subtitle is 3D.
*[[Wimpy Wonderland]]:
** This is also the sixth book where the subtitle starts with "The". The first is [[The Last Straw]], the second is [[The Ugly Truth]], the third is [[The Third Wheel]], the fourth is [[The Long Haul]], and the fifth is [[The Getaway]].
**Like in Wimpy Wonderland, Manny escapes while Greg babysits him.
* This is the third time the spine uses these following two colors and they are: Dark Purple and True Blue. The other two books are [[Double Down]] which uses these following two colors: Red-Orange and Yellow and [[The Getaway]] which uses ''these'' following two colors: Azure and Yellow Green.
**In ''The Meltdown'', Fregley appears as a human snowman. In Wimpy Wonderland, Fregley is stuck inside a snowman for most of the island.
** Ironically, the those books are in chronological order.
* This is the first book since [[Dog Days]] to be released in October.
* This is the fourth book to include a reptile-skin design.
** This is also the third book to include the new Amulet logo.
* This is the ninth book to feature Greg's trademark frown. The others were: Diary Of A Wimpy Kid, Dog Days, The Ugly Truth, Cabin Fever, The Third Wheel, The Long Haul, Old School, and The Getaway.
* This is the third book to have a resemblance to the story on the cover, after [[Dog Days]]. As purple and blue are "cool colours".
*In the UK variant of The Meltdown, the 13 on its spine is replaced with its picture for the front cover. (Greg as a snowman.)
* This is the sixth book to take place in winter. The first five books are [[Diary of a Wimpy Kid]], [[Rodrick Rules]], [[The Third Wheel]], [[Cabin Fever]], and [[The Getaway]].
* This book marks the second time the Safety Patrol are seen. The organization hasn't been seen or mentioned since the first book.
* This is the third time Greg screwed up a project without research.
* [[Fregley]] returns in this book. He hasn't appeared since [[Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck|Hard Luck]]. However he is never seen during the battle.
* On page 164, Rowley and Greg come up with a name for their clan. Rowley suggests "Hufflepuff" which is a reference to the ''Harry Potter'' Hogwarts house, but Greg says he wants a more original name.
*[[Flat Stanley]] is mentioned on page 141. Greg says that he wants a TV on his ceiling, but he wants it installed by someone who knows what they're doing so he isn't "the next Flat Stanley."
*This is one of few books in which Rodrick and Manny have much shorter roles and the second book after [[The Third Wheel]] in which except from flashbacks, Rodrick does not bully Greg.
*Greg mentions on page 215 that the pig is "somewhere warm by now, having the time of his life." This probably means the pig will probably not return in Book 14, but it is unknown.
*802 words are written in all-capital letters in this book.
*This is the first book in the series to have 2 pages with no words and only drawings on them.
*Fregley's line, "Betcha I can find your 'tickle spot!'" was first used on his section in [[The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book]].


== References ==
==Cultural references==
{{Reflist}}
*Greg thinks that [[Emilia Greenwall]] has "seen too many {{w|Disney}} movies" due to her dressing like a princess.
*Rowley suggests "Hufflepuff" as a name for his and Greg's clan, which is a Hogwarts house from ''{{w|Harry Potter}}''. Greg denies it and says he wants a more original name.
*As the class plays "Museum," one student is shown {{w|Dab (dance)|dabbing}}.


== Errors ==
== Errors ==
* At page 181, Joseph O'Rourke is refered as "Joe O'Rourke."
* Despite Sweetie getting overweight in ''Hard Luck'', he is normal in this book.
* Sweetie is shown to be not overweight, despite him being overweight in past books due to being fed too much by Gramma. However it is possible he probably lost weight and got normal again.
* Latricia Hooks appears different on the snowball fight panorama.
 
* On page 16, after Malta is Mauritania. However, the Marshall Islands actually come next in alphabetical order.
==Preview==
* A character on page 122 is shown with a black jacket. On the next page, he is wearing a white jacket.
*https://s3.amazonaws.com/WebVault/SLJ/EDIT18/DWK-SneakPeek-TheMeltdown.pdf


== Gallery ==
== Gallery ==
===Promotional images===
{{main-gallery|Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Meltdown}}
<gallery>
<gallery>
31172298 1341803409253935 4784052309411759443 n.jpg|A screenshot from an official teaser video for the book, released ahead of the books title, cover and color being revealed
File:Greg wears clothes from Lost and Found items for Malta in International Showcase.png
53167-v1-600x.jpg  
File:Greg used Mr. Morsels to get rid of his peas.jpg
Dg-CokNUYAAWemS.jpg
File:The next Flat Stanley.jpg
MeltdownSketches.png|Sketches from Jeff Kinney's twitter post.
File:Who threw the snowball.jpg
File:Sense of order gone.jpg
File:Screenshot 2022-03-17 201358.webp
</gallery>
</gallery>
===Illustrations===
 
<gallery>
== External Links ==
Greg's neighbourhood enjoying the warm weather.jpg
[https://ia902902.us.archive.org/19/items/diaryofawimpykidbookseriesbyjeffkinney_202004/Diary%20of%20a%20wimpy%20kid%20book13%20the%20meltdown.pdf The Meltdown PDF]
Riding a camel to school.jpg
 
The Heffley Family in underwater.jpg
==Names in other languages==
Night Janitor.jpg
{{foreign names
The future war.jpg
|Jap=さすがに、へとへとだよ
Greg sleepwalking with his robot legs to school.jpg
|JapR=Sasuga ni, hetohetoda yo
Asteroid came to wipe dinosaurs out.jpg
|JapM=As Expected, It Is
Frank Heffley attempting to kill cockroach with his left side shoe.jpg|Frank is attempting to kill cockroach with his left side shoe.
|Spa=Frío fatal
Greg and Rowley sweating out during lunch.jpg
|SpaM=Fatal Cold
Dennis Tracton wooing for Italy Project in International Showcase.jpg
|Fre=Totalement Givré!
Rowley's England project.jpg|Rowley's project on England.
|FreM=Totally Frosted!
Maltaproject.png|Greg's project on Malta.
|Dut=Vet koel
Malta Food.jpg
|DutM=Cold Fat
International Showcase kids started fighting one another.jpg
|Ger=Eiskalt erwischt!
Rodrick, Greg and Manny misbehaving and made Susan and Frank puzzled.jpg
|GerM=Caught Freezing!
Susan talking to Greg and shocked.jpg
|Pol=Jak po lodzie
Rowley giving Greg a tea during lunch.jpg
|PolM=Like Ice
Bad breath.jpg|Ernesto Gutierrez and Gabriel Johns both have bad breath.
|Bul=
Joseph.PNG|Joseph O'Rourke getting injured.
|BulR=
Mitchell Picket's store.jpg|Mitchell Pickett's store selling pre-made snowballs during the winter.
|BulM=
Speed Bump.jpg|Speed Bump.
|Por=Batalha Neval|PorM=Snow Battle}}
Speed Bump commits all the crimes.jpg|Speed Bump shoves Pervis Gentry in backyard treehouse.
 
Duplex kids.jpg|The Duplex kids.
{{navboxes|
Gino.jpg|Gino.
{{DoaWKTM nav}}
Baby Gibson's yard.jpg|Baby Gibson in the yard.
{{DoaWK series}}
Mrs. Jimenez's Playgroup that is out of control.jpg|Mrs. Jimenez's Playgroup children that is out of control while their moms don't care what they do.
}}
Anthony Denard.jpg
 
Sheldon Reyes in the truck snowplowing and accidentally crashed into a mailbox.jpg|Sheldon Reyes in the dad's truck snowplowing the neighbour's driveway and then crashed into a mailbox.
[[Category:Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Meltdown]]
Garza Twins.jpg|The Garza twins.
Marlee Sisters attacking postman.jpg
Emilia Greenwall.jpg|Emilia Greenwall.
Latricia Hooks shoves Rodrick.jpg|Latricia Hooks shoves Rodrick when he was Greg's age.
Evelyn Trimble.jpg
Diagram of Surrey Street.jpg
Lower Surrey Street athletes.jpg
Greg in the bike.jpg
Greg and Upper Surrey Street Kids attacking Lower Surrey Street Kids with a snowball.jpg
Lower Surrey Street Kids wearing the same winter gear as Upper Surrey Street Kids.jpg|The Lower Surrey Street Kids wearing the same winter gear as Upper Surrey Kids before one of them caught on.
Trevor Nix stuck indoors year-round in the Lower Surrey Street.jpg|Trevor Nix stuck indoors year-round as the Lower Surrey Street Kids are having fun and they won't let him play with him outside as he was considered to be a hill person.
The Heffley Family putting up the lost pig sign.jpg
The pig smashes a plate.jpg
The lady in obedience school calling Heffley Family the pig escaped.jpg
Greg hibernates.jpg
Mingo Kids after taking a long nap.jpg
Greg, Rodrick and Manny are fighting over the blanket.jpg|Manny, Rodrick and Greg Heffley are fighting over the blanket while Susan saw them fighting over with angry looks.
Manny has two blankets in the sofa being greedy.jpg
Rodrick in the bathroom covering his blanket.jpg
Blanket User's Manual.jpg
Susan Heffley lectures the boys for not sharing the blanket.jpg
Greg's castle.jpg
Mannequin model.jpg
Ancestors in the coldness.jpg
Greg spits out the mushroom soup from Frank's thermos.jpg
The kids during recess outdoors spitting one another.jpg|Greg is terrified when the kids during recess outdoors are spitting one another.
Museum.jpg
The kids are spreading germs in hallway.jpg
Albert Sandy tells everyone about a guy who covered his sneeze.jpg |Albert Sandy tells everyone about a guy who covered his sneeze and when he did, he blew his head clean off.
Albert Sandy tells everyone that a guy who survived without his head and works as a grocery bagger.jpg
Teddy Silvetti.jpg
The girls have pictures of pop singers in their lockers.jpg
Garza Twins in the laboratory while one of them coughing.jpg
Greg shots a spitball on one of the Garza Twins.jpg
Greg gives a Cherry Lozenges to the girls in Greg's grade.jpg
Greg's cherry lozenges are stolen.jpg|Speed Bump and Jake McGough are stealing Greg's cherry lozenges from his locker.
Greg in the bubble.jpg
Greg fakes from being sick.jpg|Greg fakes being sick to go school and stay home to play video games, making his parents angry.
Greg and Rowley chattering cold.jpg
Greg and Rowley in the library.jpg
Rowley is nervous trying to get a answer from a guy.jpg
Rowley pees behind a rock.jpg
Gramma knitting the mitten for Greg.jpg
Greg and Rowley attacking the guys with a snowball.jpg
Greg without lips.jpeg|Greg imagining what he'd look like without his lips from frostbite.
Susan Heffley shows Greg the phone about Gramma and her friends in the beach.jpg
Sweetie on the beach.jpg|Sweetie at the beach.
Gramma at home cranking up the heat with Greg and Rodrick.jpg
World's Best Grandma sweatshirt.jpg
Rowley, Greg and Susan are screaming one another in Gramma's Basement.jpg|Rowley, Greg and Susan are screaming one another at the Gramma's Basement when she cames with her laundry.
Susan talking to Greg about make-believe.jpg
Lice.jpg|Lily Bodner taking selfies, spreading headlice to her friends.
Gary the weatherman got ambushed.jpg|Gary the weatherman wearing T-shirt and shorts in New Year's eve but then it snowed three inches and then the people saw him at the grocery store, they weren't happy as one of them throw a snowball to him as he was ambushed.
Susan and Frank Heffley are watching Gary the weatherman whiffed and loved him.jpg
Mr. Morsels loves vegetables.jpg
Waving with Mr. Morsels.jpg
Eric Reynolds and Dougie Finch Safety Patrol Captains got into a snowball fight.jpg
Girl safety patrols.jpg
The girls have advantage over the boys were fresh and ready to go.jpg
Greg imagines that the Safety Patrols Girls offering him a hot chocolate.jpg|Greg imagines if the Safety Patrol girls had offered him a hot chocolate.
Narc.jpg|Rodrick explaining to Greg about a narc in his class.
Socks.jpg
Jake McGough smells socks.jpg
Jake McGough gives the right socks to the Garza Twins.jpg
Greg and Rowley being ambushed by the guys who threw a snowball to them.jpg
Safety Patrols Girls being ambushed by the guys who attacked them with a snowball.jpg|Safety Patrol girls being ambushed by the guys who threw a snowball at them.
Pizza boxes.jpg
Greg sees his students chattering cold inside.jpg
Mrs. Willey.jpg
The kids shaking a vending machine.jpg
The kids raiding Science Lab for food.jpg
Rowley shaking his head in the golf course.jpg
Whirley Street Kids kicked Greg, Rowley and everyone out of the golf course.jpg|Whirley Street Kids kicked Greg, Rowley and everyone out of the golf course so that they can have the golf course to themselves.
Whirly Street bus.jpg
The bus driver lecturing Whirley Street Kids.jpg
Who threw the snowball.jpg
Goat Man.jpg|Rodrick talking to Greg about the Goat Man.
Rowley's version of Goat Man.jpg|Rowley is thinking the Goat Man is split down the middle.
Eating pack animals.jpg
Beaver cartoon.jpg
Abandoned cars.jpg|Greg and Rowley stumbled into Mingo Kids' headquarters.
Greg finds Meckley Mingo's belt buckle.jpg
Greg and Rowley pulling Mr. Morsels out of the door handle.jpg
Mr. Morsels is left to die.jpg
Frank screeches his car to avoid hitting Greg and Rowley.jpg
Greg sleeping and dreaming about Mingo Kids chasing Greg.jpg
Greg finishes loading the dishwasher.jpg
The next Flat Stanley.jpg
The floor is lava.jpg
Manny escapes.jpg
Young girls offering Greg a help to clear the driveway.jpg
Young girls clearing Greg's house driveway.jpg
Young girls moved all the snow back to driveway.jpg
Manny making snowmen in the front yard.jpg
Fregley as a snowman.jpg
Upper Surrey Street Kids told the substitute snowplow driver.jpg
Not Robert.jpg
Fake Greg Heffley.jpg
Greg in the detention after Fake Greg Heffley tricked him.jpg
Greg and Rowley sledging.jpg
Upper Surrey Street Kids being ambushed by Lower Surrey Street Kids during sledging.jpg
Igloo buildling.jpg
The kids destroying Greg and Rowley's igloo.jpg
Greg telling Susan about what happened after the kids destroyed their igloo.jpg
Frank tells Greg and Rowley about the snow forts.jpg
Dead wolf flag.jpg|Greg and Rowley's fort flag.
Pouring boiling oil.jpg
Greg sees the street covered by the snow.jpg
Frank came back from his morning walk.jpg
Snowplow driver ambushed by Surrey Street Kids.jpg
Greg looks through the Frank's warfare books.jpg
Mitchell Picket's store 2.jpg
Sloppy Special.jpg
Snow forts.jpg
Garza Twins snow fort.jpg
Sub shop sign.jpg|Marcus Marconi's snow fort with a open flag in it.
Ernesto Gutierrez and Gabriel Johns in the snow fort opened fire to Greg and Rowley.jpg|Ernesto Gutierrez and his best friend Gabriel Johns opened fire at Greg and Rowley in their snow fort.
Latricia Hooks punch Speed Bump's face.jpg|Latricia Hooks punches Speed Bump's face during the snowball fight.
Duplex kids in a snowball fight.jpg
Baby Gibson's fort.jpg|Greg and Rowley are entering Baby Gibson's fort.
Greg, Baby Gibson and Rowley attacking kids with snowballs.jpg
Marlee Sisters ready to attack Greg and Rowley.jpg
Joseph O'Rourke got hit by an ice ball in his mouth and lost a couple of teeth.jpg|Joseph O'Rourke got hit by an ice ball in his mouth and lost a couple of teeth.
Discuss the rules.jpg
Lower Surrey Street shielding from snowballs attack by Upper Surrey Street Kids.jpg
Upper Surrey Street Kids being ambushed by Lower Surrey Street Kids with Sloppy Specials.jpg
Cans of slush.jpg|Speed Bump and Latricia Hooks are dumping trash can containing slush onto the Lower Surrey Street Kids who both attempting to climb up the Upper Surrey Street Kids' snow fort.
Pervis Gentry running down the hill during the snowball fight.jpg
Paper aeroplanes with notes.jpg
Baby Gibson shaken up.jpg
Trevor Nix talking to Upper Surrey Street Kids.jpg
Tricked.jpg
Safety Patrol girls arrived Surrey Street and seeking revenge.jpg
Safety Patrol girls attacking Surrey Street Kids.jpg
THE EPICEST FIGHT EVER.png
Mingo Kids pouring out of the woods after a three-month nap.jpg
Meckley Mingo holding Mr. Morsels on a stick as a tribe symbol.jpg
Greg is shocked to see Meckley Mingo's belt buckle from his coat pocket.jpg
Greg and Rowley hide during the snowball fight.jpg
Children 21st Century.jpg
Snowplow plowing all the snow to end the battle.jpg|The snowplow comes through to plow all the snow to end the snowball battle.
The aftermath of the snowball fight after the street plowed.jpg
The Heffley's Pig in the beach.jpg
Mitchell Picket's snowmobile.jpg
Trevor Nix playing hockey.jpg|Trevor Nix playing hockey.
Figure out how to survive.jpg
</gallery>
[[Category:Books]]
[[Category:Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series]]
[[Category:Jeff Kinney]]
[[Category:Real Life Books]]

Latest revision as of 05:21, 22 December 2022

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Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Meltdown
Diary of a Wimpy Kid The Meltdown cover.jpg
Number 13
Release date October 30th, 2018
Author Jeff Kinney
Illustrator Jeff Kinney
Preceded by Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway
Succeeded by Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Wrecking Ball

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Meltdown is the 13th book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. It was released on October 31st, 2018. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Meltdown succeeds Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway and precedes Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Wrecking Ball.

Main characters

Synopsis

When the schools get shut down because of a snowy day, the neighbourhood transforms into a wintry battlefield. Some rival groups fight over territory, Some rival groups build massive snow forts, and some rival groups stage epic snowball fights. In the cross-hairs are Greg Heffley and his trusty-true to the end-best friend, Rowley Jefferson.

It's a fight for survival as Greg and Rowley navigate against alliances, betrayals, and warring gangs in a neighbourhood meltdown. When the snow clears, will Greg and Rowley emerge as heroes? Or will they even survive to see another day?

Plot

January

The story starts off with Greg saying how everybody is outside enjoying the warm weather, but Greg isn't because it's January and it doesn't feel right because it's the middle of winter. Greg then says about how the whole planet is warming up, and humans are to blame. But Greg says that he shouldn't be to blame, as he only recently got onto planet earth (being born). He then says about he hopes that it doesn't warm up too fast, or he would have to ride a camel to school. He then says he heard that the ice caps are melting and the seas are rising and he was trying to convince his parents to buy a house higher up on their hill so that they can avoid the water for longer, but his parents aren't too concerned. It makes Greg nervous that he is the only person in his family worried about it, and if they didn't do something about it now they would wish they did. The seas rising isn't the only thing that is making Greg nervous, as there could be things in the ice caps, and since they are melting they could be free. Greg then says that he saw a movie about a caveman that got frozen in ice, and thousands of years later when it melted he was still ALIVE. Greg didn't know if that could happen in real life, but if it could he says that if it could his nighttime janitor could be one.

Greg has to participate with his school on International Showcase Week. Back in November, when there was an International Showcase, he wanted the country to be assigned Italy but unfortunately, too many people wanted to study Italy. After a random draw by his teacher, it was given to Dennis Tracton. So he was forced to make a project about Malta. However, he forgot all about it and has now to make it for the following day. Since Rowley refused to switch with him, Greg says that he was on his own and hoped his project will be fine.

In order to push kids asking questions away, he only pretended to speak Maltese and not English, but after this, a kid in his grade has parents who are from MALTA. Fortunately for him, the huge fight between Brazil and Bulgaria flared up again, and the bell rings dismissing the school.

However, the situation worsens when Susan receives a letter that Greg has to make his project again. Plus, she forbids him for screens on weekends as well as Rodrick and Manny. All brothers decide to misbehave in order to prove to her that "Screen-Free Weekends" aren't working.

Greg also says that his mom says that she wants him to make some new friends. But with the exception of Rowley, he has no chance to befriend another child. Sometimes, he even has to walk in front of Fregley's house which is between his and Rowley's and it's difficult for him.

Greg then explains that the other kids in his street aren't good people for him to befriend, but the worst are the ones who live in Lower Surrey Street because their street part is flat and Greg lives in Upper Street. The two parts can't stand one another and you can't change from a part to the other as Trevor Nix is considered a traitor for moving to Lower Surrey Street.

Greg talks about the pig which was left at a kennel during their Christmas vacation, and when it gets mad about not going with them, Frank sends it to obedience school, but the person who runs the places calls him telling him the pig ESCAPED. Greg's family puts up posters to find it.

Greg wonders if a human being can hibernate, but Greg tells that he knows about The Mingos, who live in the woods don't show up in the winter until spring. Greg says so if they're NOT hibernating all winter, who knows what they're doing.

Greg talks about the Safety Patrols as he enjoyed it since it gave him access to hot chocolate. But he got kicked out of Safety Patrols, so he can't have any. Ever since that, he has been filling a thermos with hot chocolate.

He also tells how dirty his neighbours are. When he is sick, he receives some cherry lozenges for his throat which makes him popular with girls.

Because of the cold, Greg and Rowley try to find a place where they could warm up. They finally manage to hide at Gramma's place while she is on vacation but they don't know that Susan actually comes sometimes in order to do her laundry.

To Greg's surprise, Susan isn't mad at him at all, even congratulating him for "using his imagination" rather than screens. Greg wishes she'd grounded him instead.

February

Greg explains that the Safety Patrol is very strict and report anyone who dares to throw a snowball during a school day. They also allow girls to walk on the road but don't allow boys to do it.

Greg says that he has no qualms about snitching and also that due to the snow, all students had to walk barefoot in the school.

The next day, Greg tries vainly to invent a new way to walk in the snow with pizza boxes with his shoes duct-taped to them after trying to warm up his winter boots, which end up melting into the bricks of the fireplace, but his idea fails. He also discovers that the janitor couldn't stand the sock smell and open the windows to let some fresh air in, but forgot to close the windows at the end of his shift, and now, it FREEZES inside.

So, the students try to keep warm and use their creativity. The principal then decides to dismiss school early, much to the children's delight but since Rowley and Greg have to walk on their way home, instead of taking the bus, they decide to borrow the Whirley Street Kids bus. At first, they can sit in the bus without being discovered until an incident with a snowball prompts the bus driver to stop the bus and refuse to start it again until the tattletale admits they did it. Greg looks in the back of the bus, hearing some kids, however, an eight-grader realizes he wasn't from Whirley Street and all the kids on the bus blame it on Greg, forcing him and Rowley to get off the bus.

A few Whirley Street kids start running after Greg and Rowley, due to the kids on the bus lying about him throwing the snowball. They then decide to run from them, leading them into the woods.

Greg and Rowley are forced to run in the woods, which is where the Goat Man lives. Greg sees a light coming from a car, it was but was actually coming from a broken car, Greg and Rowley then realize they're in the Mingo camp, after getting close to a car, Mr. Morsels gets stuck on the door handle of the car, resulting in Greg abandoning him. He and Rowley then dash out of the woods, where Frank sees them and then brakes.

The next day, Greg has the house for himself since Manny is at nursery, Rodrick sleeps and his parents are gone. But little does he know is Susan planned some chores for him. Since he isn't able to finish all of them before his parents return, his mother forces him to play in the snow and also calls Rowley's parents in order to prevent Greg from going to his house.

Without any option, Greg and Rowley build a fort which is quickly demolished. Frank gives them some advice, and both boys build another fort but discover that almost every kid had the SAME idea. Now, they have to fight against the Lower Surrey Street Kids due to them sliding on their hill, but after a while, they're not ready to surrender and decide to refuel. Even Trevor Nix betrays the Upper Surrey Street Kids in order to possibly get accepted by the Lower Surrey Street Kids. After being double-crossed by Trevor, the Upper Surrey Street Kids snow fort gets demolished.

Then they hear The Safety Patrol who came there for revenge, resulting in the battle turning into the Surrey Street Kids versus the Safety Patrols, but some girls on Surrey Street SWITCH sides which makes it confusing. The Whirley Street Kids slide on the hill and join the battle. Then all the kids hear a sound, but Greg and Rowley knew it was the Mingo kids, looking like they woke up from a three-month nap. Greg realizes that he had Meckley's buckle in his pocket without realizing it. Since the kids hate the Mingo kids than everyone else, they turn to fight them. Greg decides he has had enough, and he and Rowley hide. And are worried that they won't survive. Then the ground shakes, but it turns out to be the snowplow drive, plowing all the snow and ends the battle.

After the battle, Greg can't remember what they started fighting over in the first place, and the weather warms up a lot. There is still snow on the ground, so Mitchell Pickett uses a snowmobile he spent with all the money he made. Trevor Nix gets accepted in Lower Surrey Street. Greg just hopes that everyone will be grateful to him if he can make a good strategy that could allow human people to live with robots. Greg says he's glad that there are people like the HERO type out there, but the world needs guys like HIM too. Greg says because if human beings are still around 500 million years from now, it's gonna be thanks to the Greg Heffley's of the world who figured out a way to SURVIVE.

Continuity

Cultural references

  • Greg thinks that Emilia Greenwall has "seen too many Disney movies" due to her dressing like a princess.
  • Rowley suggests "Hufflepuff" as a name for his and Greg's clan, which is a Hogwarts house from Harry Potter. Greg denies it and says he wants a more original name.
  • As the class plays "Museum," one student is shown dabbing.

Errors

  • Despite Sweetie getting overweight in Hard Luck, he is normal in this book.
  • Latricia Hooks appears different on the snowball fight panorama.
  • On page 16, after Malta is Mauritania. However, the Marshall Islands actually come next in alphabetical order.
  • A character on page 122 is shown with a black jacket. On the next page, he is wearing a white jacket.

Gallery

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Meltdown.

External Links

The Meltdown PDF

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning
Japanese さすがに、へとへとだよ
Sasuga ni, hetohetoda yo
As Expected, It Is
Spanish Frío fatal Fatal Cold
French Totalement Givré! Totally Frosted!
Dutch Vet koel Cold Fat
German Eiskalt erwischt! Caught Freezing!
Portuguese Batalha Neval Snow Battle
Polish Jak po lodzie Like Ice

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