I was just a kid when I first picked up “Dork Diaries” at the library. The title had “Diary” in it, and that was all it took to get me completely invested. Admittedly, I also really enjoyed looking at the doodles on each page as I read the story. I thought it was way more fun that way.
At the time, I had no idea that loving “Dork Diaries” was the start of my love for visual storytelling. I just thought it was the girl version of “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” and I liked that. Though I will admit I was definitely reading “Captain Underpants,” “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” and all of those illustrated books too.
Somewhere along the way (probably during my teenage years where I was obsessed with vampires, witches, werewolves and the like), I forgot about all of that. I moved on to “normal” books with no pictures but still a lot of fantasy and drama, and I thought that was just part of growing up. Then, years later, I rediscovered manga (thanks to my husband for showing me anime).
It hit different in the best way.
Manga like “My Hero Academia” and “Naruto: Shippuden” reminded me of the feeling I had flipping through those childhood books but better. I wasn’t just reading; I was feeling it all over again.
That was when I realized: I never stopped loving visual storytelling. I just forgot for a while.
It’s funny how life circles back like that. As adults, we’re constantly told to let go of childish things, but sometimes those are the exact things that bring us joy when life feels heavy. For me, that joy comes in panels and speech bubbles. It’s like I found a part of myself I didn’t know was missing.
I see now that “Dork Diaries” wasn’t just a silly book I read as a kid. It was the beginning towards a lifelong love of stories that show just as much as they tell and characters who are messy and dramatic and all the more real for it.
So here’s to “Dork Diaries” — the unexpected beginning of something that still makes my heart happy. Thank goodness for manga for catching me when that love grew into something bigger.
