"Greg Heffley's on a losing streak. His best friend, Rowley Jefferson, has ditched him, and finding new friends in middle school is proving to be a tough task. To change his fortunes, Greg decides to take a leap of faith and turn his decisions over to chance. Will a roll of the dice turn things around, or is Greg's life destined to be just another hard-luck story?"-- Provided by publisher.

Greg records his sixth grade experiences in a middle school where he and his best friend, Rowley, undersized weaklings amid boys who need to shave twice daily, hope just to survive, but when Rowley grows more popular, Greg must take drastic measures to save their friendship.

Middle-schooler Greg Heffley nimbly sidesteps his father's attempts to change Greg's wimpy ways until his father threatens to send him to military school.

When Miss Know-It-All's inbox overflows with pleas for guidance, Nikki Maxwell, the school newspaper advice columnist, turns to her best friends for help.

Nate has serious problems to deal with after his fight with Randy Bentancourt was reported in "Weekly Bugle," but he'd rather focus his attention on the cute new girl named Ruby. And with the annual Mud Bowl around the corner, Nate's team will be taking on the biggest opponents they've seen yet.

"After a disastrous field day competition at school, Greg decides that when it comes to his athletic career, he's officially retired. But after his mom urges him to give sports one more chance, he reluctantly agrees to sign up for basketball. Tryouts are a mess, and Greg is sure he won't make the cut. But he unexpectedly lands a spot on the worst team. As Greg and his new teammates start the season, their chances of winning even a single game look...

Nikki's best friends want to throw her a birthday part with cake, special invitations, and even a DJ. But when her mom claims the party is too expensive, Nikki thinks her birthday might be a bust.

Middle-school drama queen Nikki Maxwell worries about asking a boy to her school's "sweetheart dance."

A bump on the head suffered during gym class causes middle school drama queen Nikki Maxwell to have a crazy dream where all of her acquaintances assume the roles of familiar fairy tale characters.

Nikki tries to be a pet sitter, but realizes it's harder work than she thought.