Dork Diaries
| Company type | Book series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Children's literature |
| Founder | Rachel Renée Russell |
| Products | Children's books |
Dork Diaries is a series of children's books created by Rachel Renée Russell, with illustrations provided by both Nikki Russell and the author herself. Presented in the style of a diary, the narrative includes sketches and comic-style panels that portray the experiences of Nikki Maxwell, a girl aged 14 to 15.
By December 2024, the franchise has achieved global sales surpassing 55 million copies. The books are available in 52 countries and have been translated into 45 different languages.
Books
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Companion books
- How to Dork Your Diary (published October 8, 2011) is an interactive activity book presented as a misplaced diary containing Nikki's advice on diary-keeping.
- Dork Diaries OMG!: All About Me Diary! (released October 8, 2013) provides daily prompts designed to help readers craft their own personal diary entries.
Audiobook editions
Audiobook versions of the initial two novels became available on September 28, 2010.
The Misadventures of Max Crumbly spin-off series
Penned by Russell, this spin-off centers on Maxwell "Max" Crumbly's middle school experiences, narrated in diary form.
| # | Title | Release Date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Locker Hero | June 7, 2016 | 978-1484481264 |
| 2 | Middle School Mayhem | June 6, 2017 | 978-1481460033 |
| 3 | Masters of Mischief | June 4, 2019 | 978-1534453494 |
Key characters
Nicole Jullianne "Nikki" Maxwell
- The main character of the series, Nikki is a 15-year-old scholarship recipient attending Westchester Country Day. She lives with her quirky family, including her father who works as an exterminator. Nikki faces harassment from Mackenzie and the CCP clique but finds solace in art and drawing. Her closest friends are Chloe Garcia and Zoey Franklin. Nikki harbors romantic feelings for Brandon Roberts, a fellow student passionate about animals and photography.
Mackenzie Hollister
- The affluent leader of the CCP clique and Nikki’s chief adversary. Mackenzie is pampered and egotistical, known for her designer wardrobe and tendency to bully Nikki. She also vies for Brandon Roberts' attention. Mackenzie has blonde hair, blue eyes, and a younger sister named Amanda.
Chloe Christina Garcia
- One of Nikki’s best friends and an enthusiastic reader of young adult romance novels. Chloe is well-versed in relationships and dating advice and works alongside Nikki in the school library. She comes from a Latina family that owns a software business.
Zoeysha Ebony "Zoey" Franklin
- Another close friend of Nikki’s who excels academically with interests in psychology and self-improvement books. Zoey’s parents are divorced professionals—a lawyer mother and a record company executive father. Zoey is African-American.
Brandon Roberts
- The boy Nikki admires who reciprocates her feelings over Mackenzie. He is introverted, serves as the school newspaper’s photographer, plays drums in Nikki’s band "Actually, I'm Not Really Sure Yet," and dreams of becoming a veterinarian. Brandon lives with his grandparents and works at an animal care center.
Brianna Lynn Maxwell
- Nikki’s enterprising six-year-old sister who launches a dog biscuit venture to finance Nikki’s birthday celebration. Brianna has an imaginary companion and shares a close friendship with Amanda Hollister.
Jessica Hunter
- Mackenzie’s closest friend within the CCP clique who also participates in bullying Nikki. Jessica has brown-blonde hair and favors wearing pink.
Violet Baker
- A popular figure among less mainstream students who takes over as head of the entertainment committee after Mackenzie steps down. Violet plays piano in Nikki’s band and uses a wheelchair.
Theodore L. "Theo" Swagmire III
- Known as the school’s resident nerd and lead guitarist in Nikki’s band. Initially smitten with Mackenzie, he later develops feelings for Zoey Franklin.
Marcy Simms
- Introduced through Nikki’s Miss-Know-It-All advice column; Marcy suffers bullying from Mackenzie despite serving as assistant fashion editor for the school newspaper.
Marcus
- Guitarist in Nikki’s band and one of the highest-achieving students at school. He has a crush on Chloe Garcia.
Tiffany Davenport
- A secondary antagonist from North Hampton Hills International Academy who cyberbullies Nikki. After her mother discovers these actions, Tiffany is assigned community service.
André
- Tiffany’s stepbrother who becomes Nikki’s pen pal. Initially mistaken by Nikki for a girl, they form a friendship. He briefly competes with Brandon for Nikki's attention but ultimately respects their bond.
Reception, awards, and honors
Kirkus Reviews commended Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life for its witty narrative and authentic depiction of early teenage experiences, highlighting its resonance with young readers undergoing self-exploration.
By December 2024, the Dork Diaries collection had accumulated 334 weeks on The New York Times Children's Series bestseller chart, featuring 18 titles consecutively recognized as New York Times bestsellers.
Book 1
- Dork Diaries: Tales From a Not-So-Fabulous Life achieved a 42-week tenure on the New York Times bestseller list and remained for 7 weeks on the USA Today bestseller chart. It earned the 2010 Children's Choice Book of the Year Award in the 5th/6th grade category and was shortlisted for the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards Book of the Year in 2011.
Book 2
- Dork Diaries: Tales From a Not-So-Popular Party Girl matched its predecessor with 42 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and sustained a 12-week presence on the USA Today list. Both volumes simultaneously featured on the New York Times list for a span of 17 weeks, reaching peak positions of #4 and #2 respectively.
Book 3
- Dork Diaries: Tales From A Not-So-Talented Pop Star maintained a position on the New York Times bestseller list for 28 weeks, also appearing on the USA Today list for an equal duration.
Book 3 1/2
- Dork Diaries: How To Dork Your Diary secured a spot on the New York Times bestseller chart for 14 weeks.
The eighth installment, Tales of a Not-So-Happily Ever After, received the 2015 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Children.
Film adaptation
Summit Entertainment acquired film rights to the series in March 2014, with Karen Rosenfelt reportedly engaged in production discussions. Since then, no additional information regarding progress has been made public.