The following version of the book was used to create this study guide: Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Diper Overlode. Abrams, New York, NY, 10007. 2022. Kindle AZW file.

Diper Overlode (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book 17) picks up with Greg Heffley discussing the negatives of becoming famous. Greg believes it would be better to be the friend or relative of someone famous, benefiting from the fame without being the one actually in the limelight. Greg's brother Rodrick has started a band he calls Loded Diper. Two high school students – Mackie and Drew – are the guitarists while Rodrick plays drums. A 35-year-old man named Bill who lives in his gramma's basement is the lead singer. They practice in Rodrick's room in the basement and dream up ways of launching themselves into stardom. They have a lot of ideas, but there are always problems. One of the big obstacles is money. When they cannot afford a professional photographer, Greg's mother steps in. When they have trouble transporting equipment, they use a rusty old ice cream truck. When they need merchandise to sell at a festival, they plaster stickers on items around the house in the hope of earning some money.

Rodrick is a huge fan of the band Metallichihuahua, and he draws inspiration from their success. Though Metallichihuahua has not played together for 25 years, Rodrick sets out to find the band members: One is in law enforcement; one is a lawyer; one still plays events as a solo act; and one has disappeared. Rodrick and his friends track down two of the members, but they do not get any helpful advice.

Rodrick and the band members are beginning to have some arguments as Rodrick demands two practices each day to prepare for the upcoming Battle of the Bands – the competition that launched Metallichihuahua into stardom. Bill falls in love, and his girlfriend Becky begins attending practice. Becky soon convinces Bill that he should be the star of the group. As the arguments are escalating, Rodrick receives a letter ordering him to stop using the name Loded Diper. Drew, Bill, and Mackie quit the band, leading Rodrick without a band. Rodrick tries to find new band members but ends up recruiting Greg, a friend named Ward, and Drew's brother. None of them have any musical talent. Soon, they discover that Bill has become the lead singer for one of their competitors, a band called Stank.

On the day of the Battle of the Bands, Greg, Ward, and Drew's brother want to leave, but Rodrick insists on performing. He begins with a track he recorded with Mackie, Drew, and Bill, meaning Greg and the others just pretend to play. When there is a problem with the recording, Greg and the others want to leave the stage, but the lawyer is blocking their exit. Greg is amazed when an angry security guard rushes onto the stage, followed by the two members of Metallichihuahua that Rodrick was able to find. The crowd figures out that all four members of Metallichihuahua are on stage together for the first time in 25 years, and begin to cheer. The four men use Loded Diper's instruments to play, winning the competition and launching them back into stardom. Meanwhile, Mackie and Drew move on with their lives and Bill and Rodrick begin playing together again.