The Brilliant World of Tom Gates

The Brilliant World of Tom Gates introduces readers to the highly relatable and hilariously distracted Tom, a middle-schooler who documents his life in an illustrated diary. Parents will appreciate how the book normalizes the experience of kids who struggle with focus, offering a protagonist who finds creative, albeit sometimes mischievous, ways to express himself. The diary format, filled with Tom's doodles and handwritten text, makes it an engaging read for children aged 4-11, particularly those transitioning to chapter books or who are reluctant readers. It's a fantastic series starter that explores themes of family dynamics, school life, friendship, and the power of imagination, all wrapped in laugh-out-loud humor.

The top-selling U.K. series for middle-grade readers now crosses the pond! Meet Tom Gates. When his teachers don’t have their beady eyes on him, he likes to draw pictures and write about stuff, like last summer’s worst camping vacation ever (five merits!), or how much he hates sitting next to nosy Marcus Meldrew, the most annoying boy at school. All Tom really wants is to score tickets to see the best band ever, Dude3, when they come to town, and to impress Amy Porter, who is very nice and smart (but is currently ignoring him). Tom’s teachers think he is easily distracted and “lacks focus,” but that’s a bit harsh — can he help it if his grumpy big sister, Delia, made him late for school (again), or that last night’s homework had to be sacrificed to stave off a vicious dog attack? Master of excuses, creative storyteller, and middle-school comedian extraordinaire, Tom Gates is guaranteed to get kids turning the pages — and keep them laughing.