3. Junior Readers (9-10 years old)4. Pre-teen Readers (11-12 years old)
Preview: Tom Gates is determined to stay out of trouble, but somehow he has already collected three sad faces on the school achievement chart. One more could mean losing his chance to go on the much-awaited school trip! With Moany Marcus Meldrew making things even harder, Tom has to stay on his best behaviour. Meanwhile, his best friend Derek is there to help, his grumpy sister Delia is furious, and Rooster the dog keeps causing trouble by eating Tom’s homework. Can Tom make it to the school trip without getting into even more trouble?
Perfect for readers, who: • Love funny school stories filled with everyday mischief and chaos • Enjoy Tom Gates, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, or other illustrated chapter books • Like doodles, cartoons, friendship, family drama, and laugh-out-loud moments
Why You'll Love It: ✅ Written in Tom’s hilarious diary style with doodles, drawings, and playful typography ✅ Fast-paced school and family adventures make it especially engaging for reluctant readers ✅ Blends humour, friendship, responsibility, and everyday school-life problems
Also consider the below aspects before you select: ❌ The story relies heavily on silly humour, doodles, and Tom’s mischievous personality, which may not appeal to every reader ❌ It is the 17th book in the Tom Gates series, so some character and series references may be more enjoyable if the reader already knows Tom’s world
Verdict: A hilarious, doodle-filled Tom Gates adventure packed with school trouble, friendship, family chaos, and one very important school trip!
