The book acts as a journal and follows the adventures of Greg Heffley the narrator of the book who is in the second half of his seventh grade year. The title comes from the threat of military school to toughen Greg up. This book was released on January 13 2009 in the USA. As a continuation of the second book this novel rounds out the second semester of Greg s seventh grade school year. The book starts with Greg s New Year s Day. The follow up is Greg s Christmas which is similar to Christmas in the first book. Greg gets nothing he likes from anyone. Uncle Charlie gives Greg a laundry hoop and Greg s mother inspired starts making Greg do his own laundry. Due to Greg s laziness he does not do his laundry and does not plan to either. This plays a significant role later in the story.