Toppsta - Childrens Books – Reviews

Rachel Renee Russell New Books
Rachel Renee Russell is best known for her Dork Diaries Books and the 14th book in the series, Spectacular Superstar, was released in October 2019. The paperback of Crush Catastrophe was published in June 2018. She also had two new books out in 2017 Frenemies Forever and Middle School Mayhem, the second book in her new Misadventures of Max Crumbly series.

Rachel Renee Russell Biography
Rachel Renee Russell is a highly successful American children’s books author best known for the Dork Diaries series. Born in 1945, in Michigan in the USA, she is the oldest of five children, growing up with two younger sisters and twin younger brothers.

As a young girl she dreamed of being a writer and even wrote a book for her brothers when she was still in the sixth grade at school. Whilst she was at Midwestern University she signed up for a writing course, but her dreams of becoming a writer were squashed when the professor told her she was the worst writer on the planet.

She decided to study Law instead and soon became a very successful Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney. It is during this time that things changed in her personal life and she turned to writing again, and so The Dork Diaries were born. The first book, Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life was published in 2009, and there are currently 12 books in The Dork Diaries series.

The character of Nikki, is named after the author’s younger daughter, and is based on parts of the author’s life as well of those of both her daughters.

In 2016 Russell’s started a new series: The Misadventures of Max Crumbly, the first book is Locker Hero.

Rachel Renee Russell Facts
Liongate Summit Studios have bought the film rights to The Dork Diaries and it is hoped that the movie will be ready for release in 2016.

Her older daughter Erin helps her with writing the books whilst Nikki, her younger daughter, helps her with the illustrations.

Our favourite Rachel Renee Russell Book Characters
Nikki J Maxwell in The Dork Diary Series

Mackenzie Hollister in The Dork Diaries Series

Our favourite Rachel Renee Russell Book Quotes
“Felt SO insanely happy I could just . . . VOMIT sunshine, rainbows, confetti, glitter and . . . um . . . those yummy little Skittles thingies!” (Dork Diaries: Holiday Heartbreak)

“You're such a big BABY. So cry me a river, build yourself a bridge, and GET OVER IT” (Dork Diaries: Pop Star)

“Let your inner DORK shine through.” (Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life)

“Dream big dreams, because little dreams have no magic." (Dork Diaries: Pop Star)