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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.
- GenresChildrens
184 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 3, 2025
2 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
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.
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
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.
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!
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!
April 15, 2025
3.5 stars
This was loads of fun! Like Wimpy Kid, but in hell essentially. Made me chuckle. It’s full of puns, friendship and learning to look at life with a bit of optimism!
This was loads of fun! Like Wimpy Kid, but in hell essentially. Made me chuckle. It’s full of puns, friendship and learning to look at life with a bit of optimism!
May 18, 2025
Perfect for young readers looking branch out for the likes of Dog Man and Bunny V Monkey. If you like Greg Heffley you’ll love Dante N. Ferno.
July 5, 2025
3.75 stars. Kid desperately trying to be cool at school and find friends, but with a mythological twist. Lots of fun!
December 1, 2025
Quick, fun listen with the kiddos. Has the same vibe as diary of a wimpy kid and had the kiddos laughing.
Thank you to NetGalley, author and publisher for the audio ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley, author and publisher for the audio ARC!
January 27, 2026
There’s no way in Hell that this series won’t be enjoyed by fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Dork Diaries.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews