Can Adults Become Human (Dear Dumb Diary #5)

Published in 2006 by Scholastic, Can Adults Become Human serves as the fifth installment in the Dear Dumb Diary series, a middle-grade franchise created by Jim Benton. The series is written from the perspective of Jamie Kelly, a middle-school student whose cynical yet humorous observations about her classmates and family resonated deeply with young readers during the mid-2000s. The books were designed to capture the diary format, utilizing a distinct aesthetic that blends informal prose with Benton’s signature cartoon illustrations.

Jim Benton, an established cartoonist known for his work in both television and print, utilized his background in visual storytelling to give the series its iconic look. The books were conceived to provide a relatable, tongue-in-cheek take on the anxieties of early adolescence. Upon its release, the series became a staple in school libraries and scholastic book fairs, lauded for its ability to engage reluctant readers through its accessible, irreverent, and heavily illustrated pages.