Coming of Age

Coming of age is an important theme in the novel “Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life” by Rachel Renee Russell. Coming of age involves the personal, spiritual, moral, or emotional growth and maturation of an individual often based on real world experiences. In the novel, it is Nikki who comes of age, enduring bullying, finding courage, and becoming a stronger, more mature person in the end.

When the novel begins, Nikki is hopeful but nervous about her new school. She wants to fit in, make friends, and be fashionable. However, this does not happen. No one says hello to her at all, and she already feels worthless because the school is full of rich kids. Nikki herself is only attending the school because her family has received a scholarship for her to do so. She also feels inferior to MacKenzie, a gorgeous new...