After the publication October 22 of Hot Mess (Amulet Books), the 19th title in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, author Jeff Kinney went on a sold-out tour for the title, including (above) in Wrentham, Mass. At the "Hot Mess Shows," thousands of middle-grade children and their families experienced Hot Mess come to life as Kinney enlisted the help of audience members to open a restaurant. Kids and families got involved and were hired as waiters and line cooks to compete in interactive games from taste testing to barefoot grape stomping to balancing inflatable meatballs.
Hot Mess has been a hot seller, reaching the No. 1 spot on major bestseller lists, including the New York Times, USA Today, IndieBound, BookScan, the U.K. Top 50, and more. As Andrew Smith, senior v-p and publisher of Abrams Children's Books, observed, "The success of Hot Mess across all markets demonstrates the enduring appeal and growing strength of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Jeff Kinney continues to captivate readers worldwide, and these results reflect the passionate engagement of fans around the world and across multiple generations."