This review is also available on my blog, Read Till Dawn.

First things first, this book is so British! It's like the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books (or at least like what I'd heard they're like), but written by a British author so full of words and phrases that make me feel like I'm a little English kid. As someone who dearly loves all things U.K., that definitely brings this book up in my esteem - for an American kid reading this with no real understanding of the linguistic differences between our two cultures, it could be very off-putting. On the plus side: Pichon includes a glossary for things that, as Tom puts it, "might sound a bit ODD." On the negative: it's literally the last page of the entire book, so confused readers won't discover it until they've already muddled through the entire book.

But what of the book itself? Well, I have to say that this sucker is not winning any literary awards. It's like cotton candy, all fluff and no substance - but you know what? It's good cotton candy. It's realistic and silly and funny and witty, and Tom is such a genuine character that I could totally imagine running into him on some random street corner in the UK. He's also a genuinely nice kid, which I really liked - the problem with the popular series like Diary of a Wimpy Kid is that all of the characters are such jerks I can't stand reading about them. Tom, on the other hand, isn't obnoxious or horrible or unreasonably disrespectful. He argues with his sister, sure, and complains about his grandmother's cooking and makes fun of his father's terrible old-fashioned dance moves, but he does it in a way that's just honest, not over-the-top. I fight with my siblings, too. I pick at food I don't like (but, just like Tom, when someone I love cooks it I only complain about it when they're not there to be hurt). I laugh at my parents when they seem particularly out of touch with modern culture. That doesn't make me a mean person, it just makes me human, and the same goes for Tom.

So if you get a chance to read a Tom Gates books, by all means do so! I'm not going to go around advertising it from the street corners as God's gift to literature, but it might just be exactly the fun, light, silly read you're looking for.

Disclaimer: I received a complementary ARC of this novel at KidLitCon. ( )

I had never read a graphic novel previous to this book so I couldn't understand the excitement surrounding the Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Smile, or similar series, but I can now! I thoroughly enjoyed middle-school student, Tom Gates, perspective of what an adult would have perceived as fairly typical events in the life of a typical student. Embarrassing parents, out-of-touch grandparents, a moody sister, friends (and friend problems), a birthday party, a school dance, homework... It was all there and it was all fun to read.
I can't wait to introduce this book to my classroom library and watch my students reaction! ( )

I really enjoyed this book. The illustrations had me laughing and the story was interesting. I would recommend this for elementary on up. ( )

As an adult, it took me awhile to get into this book. It wasn't until about half way through when I figured out the chapter dividers and started enjoying it. By the time I reached the end, I was chuckling out loud. Having said that, I have purposely kept it out of my fifth grade classroom until I could review it. I knew it would immediately be checked out and I wouldn't see it again until the end of the year. I expect this to be a great hit with middle-schoolers and older elementary students. The story did remind me of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, but I thought the doodles were much better. Tom Gates will be loved by many kids. ( )

I was ill the other day and in need of a little of that TLC that I used to get from my mom when I was in grade school and home sick. So I decided to see if I could replicate a little of that TLC by wrapping up in my jammies and blankie, eating chicken noodle soup and crackers, and reading Tom Gates, Everything’s Amazing (Sort Of). And, you know … it worked! (Well, as much as it could without my actual mom and her Vicks VapoRub being present) When I read Tom Gates, I was transported back to the world of the grade school reader. That world where you felt so much joy while you were reading a book, when you felt like you were actually living within that book and with all of those characters.

Tom Gates is a UK series, and has been compared to the American Captain Underpants and Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, which is high praise, indeed. It’s a sketch-book diary, where Tom’s doodles and drawings and handwritten fonts make the words and the stories come alive. Best of all is Tom’s character, which comes shining through in all of his adventures and mishaps (perhaps embellished a wee bit, Tom? LOL) – he’s got a exuberant, cheerful optimism that just can’t be beat.

I thought Tom Gates: Everything's Amazing (Sort Of) was funny, fun, creative, sweet, and absolutely delightful. I’d recommend it highly to any upper-grade schooler on your list … or those of you who, like me, sometimes long to be back in grade school themselves. ( )