Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck - Jeff Kinney

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck is the eighth book in the global hit series by Jeff Kinney. Released in November 2013, the storyline centers around Greg Heffley navigating middle school entirely on his own after his best friend, Rowley, ditches him for a girlfriend, leading Greg to outsource his daily decisions to a Magic 8-Ball.

📖 Summary at a Glance

• The Friendship Split: Rowley Jefferson gets a new girlfriend named Abigail Brown. Almost instantly, Rowley begins acting completely different, choosing Abigail over Greg and leaving Greg completely isolated at school.
• The Search for a Replacement: Desperate not to be seen as a loner, Greg tries to find a new best friend. He evaluates his options at the lunchtime "Misfit Table" and even briefly attempts to reconnect with his bizarre former friend, Fregley, though Fregley's eccentric habits make it impossible.
• The Magic 8-Ball Decisions: While looking through his older brother Rodrick's room, Greg discovers a Magic 8-Ball. Deciding that making his own choices hasn't worked out well, Greg begins consulting the toy for every decision he makes, including how to handle his school exams and daily social dilemmas.
• Family Easter Drama: The book features a chaotic Easter family gathering where the Heffley aunts get into massive arguments. Greg's mum, Susan, hides a highly valuable plastic egg containing a prize, which gets entirely lost and drives the extended family into a competitive frenzy trying to locate it.
• The Climax & Reconnecting: Greg accidentally breaks his Magic 8-Ball and feels totally lost. However, while trying to find a shortcut home through the woods, he stumbles upon the missing Easter prize egg. Shortly after, Abigail breaks up with Rowley to go back to her ex-boyfriend. Rowley sits back down with Greg at lunch, and the two immediately resume their friendship, putting Greg's streak of bad luck to an end.