What do you think?
Rate this book
Dante N. Ferno is NOT a Loser: The most devilishly funny book you'll read this year!
Meet Dante, (who is definitely NOT a loser) in this hilarious, highly illustrated book for children aged 7+, by author/illustrator Brian Gordon. Perfect for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
Ever since his trousers fell down in front of the whole school, Dante has struggled to shake off his seriously uncool reputation. Luckily, he has a foolproof plan to become the most popular kid at his new
1. Completely reinvent himself.
2. Make a ton of friends and accept his nomination as their leader.
3. Become good at sports stuff and win all the game things.
4. Rub his newfound popularity in the face of all the haters he grew up with.
Sounds easy, right? Well think again - Purg School is attended by infamous creatures from myths and legends and they're not going to let him shake off his loser status overnight! Dante is going to have his work cut out to beat the bullies and show the world that he is NOT a loser.
Ever since his trousers fell down in front of the whole school, Dante has struggled to shake off his seriously uncool reputation. Luckily, he has a foolproof plan to become the most popular kid at his new
1. Completely reinvent himself.
2. Make a ton of friends and accept his nomination as their leader.
3. Become good at sports stuff and win all the game things.
4. Rub his newfound popularity in the face of all the haters he grew up with.
Sounds easy, right? Well think again - Purg School is attended by infamous creatures from myths and legends and they're not going to let him shake off his loser status overnight! Dante is going to have his work cut out to beat the bullies and show the world that he is NOT a loser.
184 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 3, 2025
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
February 8, 2026
Perfect mixed media book for fans of Dog Man, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Life of Zarf and similar humorous to the point of goofy reads targeted at grade 2-5.
Dante, a resident of Brimstone and a pretty decent kid with a nice set of horns who shouldn’t be a social outcast, is struggling to re-invent himself as he heads off to Purg High School and figures that since only 1/2 of the kids going there come from Brimstone and the other half from the neighboring town of Blisshaven, he has a good shot. What follows is classic slapstick, physical and embarrassing mishaps with both text and sketches showing and telling each and every detail. Plenty of mythical creatures join almost human characters in a rapid fire plot that is sure to entertain, however, if readers, teachers are looking for life lessons or uplifting messages, they are pretty mixed into the laughs but there are a few examples of good friends and supportive family.
Profanity: none
Sexual content: none
Violence: slapstick style, some verbal barbs, no blood or physical harm
Thanks for the eARC, NetGalley and MacKids.
Dante, a resident of Brimstone and a pretty decent kid with a nice set of horns who shouldn’t be a social outcast, is struggling to re-invent himself as he heads off to Purg High School and figures that since only 1/2 of the kids going there come from Brimstone and the other half from the neighboring town of Blisshaven, he has a good shot. What follows is classic slapstick, physical and embarrassing mishaps with both text and sketches showing and telling each and every detail. Plenty of mythical creatures join almost human characters in a rapid fire plot that is sure to entertain, however, if readers, teachers are looking for life lessons or uplifting messages, they are pretty mixed into the laughs but there are a few examples of good friends and supportive family.
Profanity: none
Sexual content: none
Violence: slapstick style, some verbal barbs, no blood or physical harm
Thanks for the eARC, NetGalley and MacKids.
March 24, 2026
Brian Gordon, the cartoonist behind “Fowl Language” has come out with a new middle grade book about a demon kid who is a loser. Well, perhaps not a loser, but that is how he sees himself, ever since his pants fell down in first grade, and showed off his teddy-bear underwear. He is about to start high school, and figured he would reinvent himself, and so tries everything he can to prepare, but it turns out that he can’t change that quickly, especially when the same kids that bullied him in elementary school, are there in high school too.
And then he meets Virgil, and things are bad, but not so bad.
It is a cute series. (there is going to be a second book, who knows if more beyond that), and most kids will enjoy seeing poor Dante try one thing after the other to make himself not the loser everyone says he is.
The good thing is Virgil doesn’t care. He likes Dante for himself, and that is really what middle grade books are all about, friendship.
Although this book is now out, I got it via Netgalley, so I can give an honest review of it.
And then he meets Virgil, and things are bad, but not so bad.
It is a cute series. (there is going to be a second book, who knows if more beyond that), and most kids will enjoy seeing poor Dante try one thing after the other to make himself not the loser everyone says he is.
The good thing is Virgil doesn’t care. He likes Dante for himself, and that is really what middle grade books are all about, friendship.
Although this book is now out, I got it via Netgalley, so I can give an honest review of it.
May 6, 2025
This was pretty decent. Mostly it's a very derivative set-up, borrowing heavily from series like Loki, Hercules, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Tom Gates etc. But there were a few nice original touches in there, it's funny in places, and the kids enjoyed it.
February 4, 2026
The Wimpy Kid set will enjoy this. I particularly enjoyed the ending at the quiz bowl.
February 19, 2026
Super cute and PERFECT for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid! The audio was amazing with tons of sound effects. I know lots of reluctant readers will love it.
Read
April 16, 2026Cute enough. My 12 year old said it was "cringe" a few times, but he wants to read the sequel. Very "Diary of a Wimpy Kid."
November 24, 2025
I thought this was really cute! The vibrant cover instantly pulled me in and convinced me to request it on NetGalley—and with a new audio edition arriving in February 2026, I honestly think it’s going to boost this book’s ratings in a big way.
The audio plays almost like a dramatic performance, complete with sound effects sprinkled throughout the story. I didn’t have the physical book on hand, so I can’t speak to the illustrations mentioned in the description, but truthfully? I never felt like I was missing anything. The audio was such a fun, lively way to experience this story all on its own.
Narrator Nezar Alderazi did a fantastic job bringing every character to life. I even paused to double-check the credits because the female voices were so spot-on—even if slightly caricatured for effect. Turns out it really is all Alderazi, and he carries it beautifully.
I loved the playful Dante’s Inferno vibe threaded through the book. While the classic itself is obviously meant for older readers, this feels like a great, age-appropriate introduction. There are plenty of Easter eggs for adults listening along, but honestly, I think they’re moments young readers will enjoy now and appreciate even more when they eventually pick up the classic.
I’d happily recommend this audio to young readers (3rd grade and up), especially those who love “history” or mythology, or who enjoy series like Diary of a Wimpy Kid and are on the path to becoming future Percy Jackson fans.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Macmillan Children’s via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
How I Rate
Since I primarily read ARCs, I focus on how I believe middle grade readers will respond. I sometimes round my rating up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, while doing my best not to let my own personal preferences weigh too heavily.
My Rating System for Middle Grade and Children’s Books
⭐️ 1 Star – Significant problems; I would not recommend it to the intended audience.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – A lot of trouble connecting with it; issues with prose or overall execution, though it may still hold some appeal.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – An okay read. I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it, but it has value for young readers.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – A really enjoyable book! I would recommend it for the appropriate age or reading level.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Outstanding! I would highly recommend it, especially for classrooms or school programs as a great wide-spread reading
The audio plays almost like a dramatic performance, complete with sound effects sprinkled throughout the story. I didn’t have the physical book on hand, so I can’t speak to the illustrations mentioned in the description, but truthfully? I never felt like I was missing anything. The audio was such a fun, lively way to experience this story all on its own.
Narrator Nezar Alderazi did a fantastic job bringing every character to life. I even paused to double-check the credits because the female voices were so spot-on—even if slightly caricatured for effect. Turns out it really is all Alderazi, and he carries it beautifully.
I loved the playful Dante’s Inferno vibe threaded through the book. While the classic itself is obviously meant for older readers, this feels like a great, age-appropriate introduction. There are plenty of Easter eggs for adults listening along, but honestly, I think they’re moments young readers will enjoy now and appreciate even more when they eventually pick up the classic.
I’d happily recommend this audio to young readers (3rd grade and up), especially those who love “history” or mythology, or who enjoy series like Diary of a Wimpy Kid and are on the path to becoming future Percy Jackson fans.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Macmillan Children’s via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
How I Rate
Since I primarily read ARCs, I focus on how I believe middle grade readers will respond. I sometimes round my rating up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, while doing my best not to let my own personal preferences weigh too heavily.
My Rating System for Middle Grade and Children’s Books
⭐️ 1 Star – Significant problems; I would not recommend it to the intended audience.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – A lot of trouble connecting with it; issues with prose or overall execution, though it may still hold some appeal.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – An okay read. I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it, but it has value for young readers.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – A really enjoyable book! I would recommend it for the appropriate age or reading level.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Outstanding! I would highly recommend it, especially for classrooms or school programs as a great wide-spread reading
February 10, 2026
2/3/2026 3.5 stars rounded up. Full review tk at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.
2/9/2026 It's my birthday week so I'm going to treat myself by focusing on recently published Middle Grade books this week instead of going for a wide variety of genres, as I usually do. MG is one of my favorite categories because the authors uniformly care about being entertaining and emotionally engaging -- and often educational -- when writing to their target market.
So let's kick things off with a very cute series debut. If you've ever read the Diary Of A Wimpy Kid books and wished there was a little more fantasy involved, then this is definitely the book for you!
This illustrated Middle Grade novel revolves around a kid named Dante, who's been the biggest, well, loser in his town of Brimstone ever since an embarrassing incident with teddy bear underpants. But now that he's starting high school, he has a plan for becoming the coolest kid around. It helps that the student body at Purg High School will consist of both other little devils from Brimstone as well as kids from the neighboring town of Blisshaven. Surely, he'll be able to reinvent himself here, with the help of his four-step, foolproof popularity plan.
Ofc, nothing goes as he expects, but it's fun for the reader to follow along as Dante learns how to navigate a new school and new challenges. Readers familiar with classic literature will see and appreciate the many allusions to Dante Alleghieri's The Divine Comedy, especially the appearances by Virgil and Beatrice. I personally enjoyed the jokes built into the teachers' names and, as a comic book and trivia nerd, absolutely loved the final chapter.
The art follows in the Jeff Kinney vein of cartoony but still expressive, evoking the actual journal of its young narrator. The only thing that gave me pause about this volume was the odd mix of British and American phrases, which felt puzzling given Brian Gordon's origin on this side of the pond. A bit of poking around led me to discover that this book was actually first published in the UK last year, which I imagine is where my digital copy originated. I wonder if they'll do a de-localization. I very much hope so, as the British bits were unexpectedly jarring in a book that reads quite smoothly otherwise.
Definitely get this for your kid who's interested in branching out from the DoaWK books, or who you want to introduce to the classics. It's a fun, quick read for adults, too!
Dante N Ferno Is NOT A Loser by Brian Gordon was published February 3 2026 by Farrar, Straus & Giroux and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
2/9/2026 It's my birthday week so I'm going to treat myself by focusing on recently published Middle Grade books this week instead of going for a wide variety of genres, as I usually do. MG is one of my favorite categories because the authors uniformly care about being entertaining and emotionally engaging -- and often educational -- when writing to their target market.
So let's kick things off with a very cute series debut. If you've ever read the Diary Of A Wimpy Kid books and wished there was a little more fantasy involved, then this is definitely the book for you!
This illustrated Middle Grade novel revolves around a kid named Dante, who's been the biggest, well, loser in his town of Brimstone ever since an embarrassing incident with teddy bear underpants. But now that he's starting high school, he has a plan for becoming the coolest kid around. It helps that the student body at Purg High School will consist of both other little devils from Brimstone as well as kids from the neighboring town of Blisshaven. Surely, he'll be able to reinvent himself here, with the help of his four-step, foolproof popularity plan.
Ofc, nothing goes as he expects, but it's fun for the reader to follow along as Dante learns how to navigate a new school and new challenges. Readers familiar with classic literature will see and appreciate the many allusions to Dante Alleghieri's The Divine Comedy, especially the appearances by Virgil and Beatrice. I personally enjoyed the jokes built into the teachers' names and, as a comic book and trivia nerd, absolutely loved the final chapter.
The art follows in the Jeff Kinney vein of cartoony but still expressive, evoking the actual journal of its young narrator. The only thing that gave me pause about this volume was the odd mix of British and American phrases, which felt puzzling given Brian Gordon's origin on this side of the pond. A bit of poking around led me to discover that this book was actually first published in the UK last year, which I imagine is where my digital copy originated. I wonder if they'll do a de-localization. I very much hope so, as the British bits were unexpectedly jarring in a book that reads quite smoothly otherwise.
Definitely get this for your kid who's interested in branching out from the DoaWK books, or who you want to introduce to the classics. It's a fun, quick read for adults, too!
Dante N Ferno Is NOT A Loser by Brian Gordon was published February 3 2026 by Farrar, Straus & Giroux and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
February 3, 2026
Thank you so much to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Netgalley for the advance review copy! As always all opinions I share here are 100% my own.
I've always believed that good children literature is good literature. A good story will enchant not just young readers but adults, as well. And I can safely say that this is one of those instances.
Dante N. Ferno is NOT a Loser by Brian Gordon is an illustrated book that mixes the Diary of a Wimpy Kid formula with classic literature, mythology and figures. Dante N. Ferno, a kid from Brimstone, is just starting at a new school (even taking the school bus for the first time!) and is trying to reinvent himself and shake off his old reputation. Let's just say, his underpants are a bit infamous. But what happens when befriends Virgil, a kid from Blisshaven, who is eager to help him rediscover how cool he is.
Both characters are wonderfully designed and very memorable. I thought I might find Dante annoying as time would go, but he remained delightfully awkward and ridiculous. I genuinely caught myself laughing quite a few times especially at the comparisons between Brimstone and Blisshaven and the subtle nods to classic literature.
The story itself was relatable for middle-school children especially, but I believe most children would enjoy it. The illustration were exceptionally fun and expressive.
I even found myself excited to read the next ones myself. And not just for the kids in my family!
This was a wonderful read and a fresh take on mythology. And I think this might be my favourite depiction of Dante and Virgil as of today.
You can also find me on: Instagram (MoonlightCocoa) and Instagram (MoonlightCupOfStories)
I've always believed that good children literature is good literature. A good story will enchant not just young readers but adults, as well. And I can safely say that this is one of those instances.
Dante N. Ferno is NOT a Loser by Brian Gordon is an illustrated book that mixes the Diary of a Wimpy Kid formula with classic literature, mythology and figures. Dante N. Ferno, a kid from Brimstone, is just starting at a new school (even taking the school bus for the first time!) and is trying to reinvent himself and shake off his old reputation. Let's just say, his underpants are a bit infamous. But what happens when befriends Virgil, a kid from Blisshaven, who is eager to help him rediscover how cool he is.
Both characters are wonderfully designed and very memorable. I thought I might find Dante annoying as time would go, but he remained delightfully awkward and ridiculous. I genuinely caught myself laughing quite a few times especially at the comparisons between Brimstone and Blisshaven and the subtle nods to classic literature.
The story itself was relatable for middle-school children especially, but I believe most children would enjoy it. The illustration were exceptionally fun and expressive.
I even found myself excited to read the next ones myself. And not just for the kids in my family!
This was a wonderful read and a fresh take on mythology. And I think this might be my favourite depiction of Dante and Virgil as of today.
You can also find me on: Instagram (MoonlightCocoa) and Instagram (MoonlightCupOfStories)
February 10, 2026
🔥𝘿𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚 𝙉. 𝙁𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙤 𝙞𝙨 𝙉𝙊𝙏 𝙖 𝙇𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙧🔥 // 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘎𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘰𝘯
While I’m certainly not the intended audience for this book (upper elementary-lower middle), I think 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦 is a great addition to the collection of humorous books like 𝘋𝘪𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘞𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘺 𝘒𝘪𝘥 and the 𝘔𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 series.
The play on 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦’𝘴 𝘐𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘰 will likely go over many middle grade student’s heads, but it’s honestly what drew me in. I also think it’s a nice intro into the adult text without being too over the top. Readers will appreciate the parallels, but that appreciation will not be immediate for the intended audience.
Dante, the kid with the horns from Brimstone, and the world he lives in are just so fun. Full of infamous mythological creatures, the Purg School isn’t exactly forgetting Dante’s cemented loser status, but he is determined to show everyone that he’s so much more than that. He sets out to reinvent himself, make a ton of friends, become respected in sports, and flaunt his newfound popularity. This isn’t an easy task though.
Full of silly slap stick humor, “punny” jokes, and nods to classic literature, this new series is sure to be a hit with middle grade kiddos.
Btw- the audio is ridiculously great…full of sound effects to immerse readers in the scenes and narration that does the perfect job of distinguishing characters from one another.
*Thank you to @librofm for the #gifted audio version of this book.
While I’m certainly not the intended audience for this book (upper elementary-lower middle), I think 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦 is a great addition to the collection of humorous books like 𝘋𝘪𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘞𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘺 𝘒𝘪𝘥 and the 𝘔𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 series.
The play on 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦’𝘴 𝘐𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘰 will likely go over many middle grade student’s heads, but it’s honestly what drew me in. I also think it’s a nice intro into the adult text without being too over the top. Readers will appreciate the parallels, but that appreciation will not be immediate for the intended audience.
Dante, the kid with the horns from Brimstone, and the world he lives in are just so fun. Full of infamous mythological creatures, the Purg School isn’t exactly forgetting Dante’s cemented loser status, but he is determined to show everyone that he’s so much more than that. He sets out to reinvent himself, make a ton of friends, become respected in sports, and flaunt his newfound popularity. This isn’t an easy task though.
Full of silly slap stick humor, “punny” jokes, and nods to classic literature, this new series is sure to be a hit with middle grade kiddos.
Btw- the audio is ridiculously great…full of sound effects to immerse readers in the scenes and narration that does the perfect job of distinguishing characters from one another.
*Thank you to @librofm for the #gifted audio version of this book.
February 20, 2026
In a world full of mythical beings living in adjoining but dissimilar towns/neighborhoods, Dante is apparently a devil(?) from Brimstone, where everything is on fire most of the time and food is always burnt through. After an embarrassing incident at school when he was little, Dante got the reputation of being a loser, which bullies love to capitalize on. However, he's about to start a new school, with students from other towns and neighborhoods, so it's his perfect opportunity to reinvent himself and become popular. He's extremely confident in all of his half-baked plans, which go about as well as you might expect. He does, however, manage to accidentally make a friend in apparent-angel(?) Virgil, who is really too nice for his own good.
This is pretty much a mythic knock-off of Wimpy Kid, complete with a nebbishy, unsympathetic main character who is egotistical, self-centered, and deluded, and treats his friend as a side character there to be dragged along to make the main character look good. Can you tell I didn't like him? I didn't like Greg Heffley, either. But I do think kids will like this, especially if they like that kind of humor. I listened to the audiobook so didn't see the images, which probably add a lot to the book. The world was created with lots of clever details and thought, and I'm sure kids will laugh along and enjoy this. I'd recommend it for grades 2-5. Thanks to Libro.FM for a free educator copy of the audiobook.
This is pretty much a mythic knock-off of Wimpy Kid, complete with a nebbishy, unsympathetic main character who is egotistical, self-centered, and deluded, and treats his friend as a side character there to be dragged along to make the main character look good. Can you tell I didn't like him? I didn't like Greg Heffley, either. But I do think kids will like this, especially if they like that kind of humor. I listened to the audiobook so didn't see the images, which probably add a lot to the book. The world was created with lots of clever details and thought, and I'm sure kids will laugh along and enjoy this. I'd recommend it for grades 2-5. Thanks to Libro.FM for a free educator copy of the audiobook.
July 10, 2025
Dante N. Ferno is NOT a Loser:
Written and illustrated by Brian Gordon.
Everything about this book looked funny and I couldn’t wait to read it.
And I wasn’t disappointed in it.
Ever since his trousers fell down in front of the whole school, Dante has struggled to shake off his seriously uncool reputation. Luckily, he has a foolproof plan to become the most popular kid at his new
1. Completely reinvent himself.
2. Make a ton of friends and accept his nomination as their leader.
3. Become good at sports stuff and win all the game things.
4. Rub his newfound popularity in the face of all the haters he grew up with.
Sounds easy, right? Well think again - Purg School is attended by infamous creatures from myths and legends and they're not going to let him shake off his loser status overnight! Dante is going to have his work cut out to beat the bullies and show the world that he is NOT a loser.
I took this to bed one night and all my neighbours could hear was my uncontrollable laughter. This book is so funny, it has the vibes of the wimpy kid series.
This book is full of puns, which some children will not understand.
The moral of this book is learning to look at life with optimism and how important friendship is.
I am looking forward to reading more in this series.
Written and illustrated by Brian Gordon.
Everything about this book looked funny and I couldn’t wait to read it.
And I wasn’t disappointed in it.
Ever since his trousers fell down in front of the whole school, Dante has struggled to shake off his seriously uncool reputation. Luckily, he has a foolproof plan to become the most popular kid at his new
1. Completely reinvent himself.
2. Make a ton of friends and accept his nomination as their leader.
3. Become good at sports stuff and win all the game things.
4. Rub his newfound popularity in the face of all the haters he grew up with.
Sounds easy, right? Well think again - Purg School is attended by infamous creatures from myths and legends and they're not going to let him shake off his loser status overnight! Dante is going to have his work cut out to beat the bullies and show the world that he is NOT a loser.
I took this to bed one night and all my neighbours could hear was my uncontrollable laughter. This book is so funny, it has the vibes of the wimpy kid series.
This book is full of puns, which some children will not understand.
The moral of this book is learning to look at life with optimism and how important friendship is.
I am looking forward to reading more in this series.
February 13, 2026
Dante N. Ferno is trying to be a winner. Ever since his pants fell down in front of the entire school, Dante's life has been nothing short of embarrassingly uncool. Thanks to his nemesis, Phillip, no one has forgotten the incident. Dante, who’s cued neurodiverse, has trouble focusing, but he means well and wants to get along, no matter how much teasing he gets from classmates like the unicorns. He does befriend a couple of nicer kids, including Virgil, a winged boy from the neighboring realm of Blisshaven, who acts as an accomplice to many of Dante’s plots.
Every page features an illustration that breaks up the text, and varied fonts adding to the visual interest. Gordon’s scribbly black-and-white art is lively and expressive. Dante’s maturing personality and better nature come through as he interacts with friends and demonstrates his mastery of comic book superhero lore. I loved how Dante doesn’t give up regardless of what happens. He doesn’t solve all the problems in his life, but by the end of the book, his confidence and self-esteem have a chance. This is a book about friendship.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
Every page features an illustration that breaks up the text, and varied fonts adding to the visual interest. Gordon’s scribbly black-and-white art is lively and expressive. Dante’s maturing personality and better nature come through as he interacts with friends and demonstrates his mastery of comic book superhero lore. I loved how Dante doesn’t give up regardless of what happens. He doesn’t solve all the problems in his life, but by the end of the book, his confidence and self-esteem have a chance. This is a book about friendship.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
July 19, 2025
A dweebish schoolkid, newly moved up to the bigger school, is fretting about being thought the loser that everyone in his old school – and indeed his entire town – knows him as. That's the scenario here, and it was so virtually adult-proof and slow-moving that I nearly gave up before this proved to be interested in cramming both Greek myth and Dante's Inferno into things. I think it could have stuck with one or the other – although let's face it, most schoolkids haven't turned to Dante that often, even the comic book adaptations such as Hunt Emerson's. So it is a little peculiar to have both things added here for more mature in-jokes and Easter eggs the intended reader will probably never get, and this did need to have a bit more opening oomph. But it seemed to stand as its own thing by the end (and not a "Loki" rip-off), it did have some interesting beats, and it did manage a sensible, full narrative. However, knowing this could have been better, it gets three and a half stars maximum, and the final verdict that it might be worth a library loan, but potentially no more.
November 26, 2025
Dante N. Ferno is NOT a Loser is like Wimpy Kid put into Dante's Inferno and with some Greek mythology mixed in. Basically, Dante is a kid that´s not very cool and gets bullied by some mean classmates. He is trying to “reinvent” himself into a cool kid in the new school called Purg that he´s about to start. But naturally things don´t go according to his foolproof plan.
At the beginning, I didn´t find the book that interesting or funny. But once Dante met Virgil and the two became friends, I started enjoying the story more. The setting is cool with the characters either from Brimstone like Dante and his bullies - the “hell”, where it´s super-hot and everyone seems to have horns - or Blisshaven, Virgil´s town built on clouds where people have to bounce instead of walk and have halos above their heads (the “heaven”). Despite this, the characters don´t have any superpowers and are just normal kids trying to fit in their new school and experiencing all sorts of awkward, stressful and hilarious situations.
At the beginning, I didn´t find the book that interesting or funny. But once Dante met Virgil and the two became friends, I started enjoying the story more. The setting is cool with the characters either from Brimstone like Dante and his bullies - the “hell”, where it´s super-hot and everyone seems to have horns - or Blisshaven, Virgil´s town built on clouds where people have to bounce instead of walk and have halos above their heads (the “heaven”). Despite this, the characters don´t have any superpowers and are just normal kids trying to fit in their new school and experiencing all sorts of awkward, stressful and hilarious situations.
July 15, 2025
Imagine Diary of a Wimpy Kid got mixed up with a fantasy world where the boy is a demon/devil. The strengths center around the witty humor, weaknesses, and likability of Dante. The mini pictures will be a great hit with the graphic novel/young crowd. The cover art and concept will hit the mark for young readers (based on my 8-year-old's reaction).
Unfortunately, there is a disconnect between my experience and the character, which made it difficult to enjoy. This could be fixed if 1. The age changes from a high school student to a junior high (middle school) student. And 2. Work on modifying the word usage to be more suitable for middle-grade readers (e.g., remove swearing).
As it stands, I honestly see it as a 3/5-star read.
This is an honest review sponsored through NetGalley.
Unfortunately, there is a disconnect between my experience and the character, which made it difficult to enjoy. This could be fixed if 1. The age changes from a high school student to a junior high (middle school) student. And 2. Work on modifying the word usage to be more suitable for middle-grade readers (e.g., remove swearing).
As it stands, I honestly see it as a 3/5-star read.
This is an honest review sponsored through NetGalley.
December 29, 2025
Review from my little sister (13):
Dante has been bullied his whole life, but now that he is going to high school, he wants that to change. So Dante has a plan, but unfortunately, this plan backfires on him. But it does end up with him having a friend. Together, the two of them come up with various ways to boost Dante's reputation.
This book reminded me a lot of "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," but with a fantastical twist. I really enjoyed Danta's character, especially in contrast to his friend, Virgil. The plot was fun and whimsical, which added to my overall enjoyment. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read.
Happy Reading, Laly ❤️ 📚
Thank you, @mackidsbooks, for sharing this fantastic book with me!
Dante has been bullied his whole life, but now that he is going to high school, he wants that to change. So Dante has a plan, but unfortunately, this plan backfires on him. But it does end up with him having a friend. Together, the two of them come up with various ways to boost Dante's reputation.
This book reminded me a lot of "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," but with a fantastical twist. I really enjoyed Danta's character, especially in contrast to his friend, Virgil. The plot was fun and whimsical, which added to my overall enjoyment. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read.
Happy Reading, Laly ❤️ 📚
Thank you, @mackidsbooks, for sharing this fantastic book with me!
January 7, 2026
Dante N. Ferno Is NOT a Loser was a big hit with my kids, especially in audio. The sound effects added a lot of energy, and Nezar Alderazi’s narration made the humor land perfectly. Both my 8-year-old and 6-year-old were cracking up, unanimously declaring the funniest moment to be when the bully’s pants fall down. The pooping sound effects, in particular, had my daughter laughing so hard she had to pause the audiobook.
From an adult perspective, I thought it was solid and entertaining, with a few genuinely funny moments, especially during the bathroom scene. While it didn’t fully win me over the way it did my kids, this audiobook clearly knows its audience. A fun, engaging listen that kids will absolutely love, and honestly, that’s what matters most here.
From an adult perspective, I thought it was solid and entertaining, with a few genuinely funny moments, especially during the bathroom scene. While it didn’t fully win me over the way it did my kids, this audiobook clearly knows its audience. A fun, engaging listen that kids will absolutely love, and honestly, that’s what matters most here.
January 5, 2026
Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!
This book follows Dante, a young boy who is going to a new school and has struggled with bullying before. He wants to reinvent himself but things do not go as planned.
This book was fun. It has pictures and humor like Diary of a Wimpy Kid with a bit of magic/creatures. I found Dante to be funny and relatable. I also found the other characters like his parents funny as well. The story was a quick read and would hold the attention of kids.
I think a lot of kids will enjoy this one!
This book follows Dante, a young boy who is going to a new school and has struggled with bullying before. He wants to reinvent himself but things do not go as planned.
This book was fun. It has pictures and humor like Diary of a Wimpy Kid with a bit of magic/creatures. I found Dante to be funny and relatable. I also found the other characters like his parents funny as well. The story was a quick read and would hold the attention of kids.
I think a lot of kids will enjoy this one!
February 7, 2026
This was such a fun and entertaining kids book. Not only it has a great title, but the illustrations made the story even more special. Fans of the Wimpy Kid series will love this one.
We meet Dante and he’s definitely a cool kid in his mind. Unfortunately he had an incident where his pants fell in front of the whole school. As you can imagine this is really hard to walk away from. Dante has had time to try and reinvent himself, he plans to be extra cool and confident. It’s probably easier said than done, because the school he attends too has a lot of creepy crawling creatures that will not let him be what he wants. As he moves along the school’s fierce popularity competition he’ll make unlikely friendships and learn to native growing up.
We meet Dante and he’s definitely a cool kid in his mind. Unfortunately he had an incident where his pants fell in front of the whole school. As you can imagine this is really hard to walk away from. Dante has had time to try and reinvent himself, he plans to be extra cool and confident. It’s probably easier said than done, because the school he attends too has a lot of creepy crawling creatures that will not let him be what he wants. As he moves along the school’s fierce popularity competition he’ll make unlikely friendships and learn to native growing up.
March 30, 2026
This book is written in the style of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and adds in the celestial realm. I read it as an audiobook, so I’m wondering if there are illustrations in the chapters. Dante had an embarrassing act happen to him that has branded him as a loser. He gets picked on by bullies. He meets at kid named Vigil and they develop a friendship. It was fun to watch the friendship unfold even though they are from very different realms. This book is packed with humor. There were several laugh out loud moments.
Perfect for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Big Nate. Also for kids who want a funny, easy read.
Perfect for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Big Nate. Also for kids who want a funny, easy read.
February 2, 2026
I wanted to love this book, but it wasn't as funny as I had hoped. I listened to the audiobook, so perhaps that was part of the problem, but I was not a huge fan. I love Diary of a Wimpy Kid too much, so maybe that is my problem. This was just not that. Maybe you or your kids will like it more than I did.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an audio ARC. The views expressed in this review are my true and honest opinion. I am not the intended audience, so perhaps you will like it more than I did.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an audio ARC. The views expressed in this review are my true and honest opinion. I am not the intended audience, so perhaps you will like it more than I did.
April 26, 2026
A fun middle grade book set in a Divine Comedy-inspired world. Dante lives in Brimstone, a neighborhood in Hell, and has just survived elementary school with the unofficial title of class loser. Now he gets a fresh start at Purg Middle School, where only half his old classmates will follow, and popularity finally feels within reach. There he meets Virgil, an angel, and the two become instant best friends with one shared mission: make Dante cool.
A lot of fun, with background details adults will enjoy catching. Perfect for lovers of Diary of a Wimpy Kid!
A lot of fun, with background details adults will enjoy catching. Perfect for lovers of Diary of a Wimpy Kid!
March 8, 2026
👦🏻 review: This reminds me of Diary of the Wimpy Kid because of the illustrations and storylines incorporated into the pages. The story is funny, LOL and silly. The story focuses on most of the issues that many middle graders faced with exception of using monsters and ghouls as the characters. It is fast-paced and quite entertaining. Actually this is great for reluctant readers who would enjoy a funny story.
February 2, 2026
A fun story that takes place in the land of all things on fire 🔥, but is relatable to kiddos anywhere! Everyone gets to be the new kid at some point. Everyone wants to change people's perception of them at some point. The thing is... there is only one YOU and those that matter will see how fantastic you are. If they don't, their loss!
*ecopy received for review... opinions are my own
*ecopy received for review... opinions are my own
March 13, 2026
This book is such a blast, and I enjoyed the pictures as much as I loved the story. It's easy to identify with Dante N. Ferno, even though he's a little devilish. He doesn't fit in, but he decides to turn things around and ends up making a good friend and experiencing new things. I genuinely laughed a few times, but I was smiling the whole time.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this
April 2, 2026
Such a fun little middle grade school adventure. Basically Diary of a Wimpy kid set in celestial realms lol. The story focuses on Dante whose main goal is to prove to his classmates that he is NOT a loser. Along the way, he makes some poor choices and a best friend. The writing is funny and light and a great way to explore these very real situations.
January 19, 2026
What a cute book! I listened to it as an audiobook and not only did I enjoy the book, but I liked all of the sound effects. Also the narrator did a great job of keeping my attention. I will definitely recommend this to my students!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
February 2, 2026
DRC via Edelweiss.
Maybe it's just me, but basing the characters/setting on The Divine Comedy was an odd choice for a book targeted toward ages 8-10. Classic (albeit unoriginal) plot. Not sure why Percy Jackson is being used as a comp for this title... mythology does not a comparison make.
Maybe it's just me, but basing the characters/setting on The Divine Comedy was an odd choice for a book targeted toward ages 8-10. Classic (albeit unoriginal) plot. Not sure why Percy Jackson is being used as a comp for this title... mythology does not a comparison make.
February 9, 2026
Two new friends from opposite realms take on middle school with one friend striving to be popular and the other just looking to be happy and have a good time. Trick is, they’re at the bottom of the barrel social wise. Funny, irreverent, great for a beginning chapter book reader.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews