Is this connected to the Marvel Cinematic Universe Loki?

No. Stowell goes straight back to traditional Norse mythology rather than the MCU, though kids who know Marvel's Loki will instantly recognize his trickster personality and his love-hate rivalry with Thor.

Is the humor clean enough for an 8-year-old?

Yes. The jokes lean into middle-school silliness—pranks, mild dishonesty, lunchroom gross-out humor, and fart jokes. There is no mature content, romance, or graphic violence.

Is this a good book for a reluctant reader?

Extremely good. The short entries, frequent doodle illustrations, font changes, and funny back-and-forth between Loki and his magical diary make pages flip very quickly.

Is this part of a series?

Yes, this is the first book in the Loki: A Bad God's Guide series by Louie Stowell, so if your kid enjoys it, there are several follow-up titles ready to go.

Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Being Good – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Being Good

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

bookJuvenile Fiction

87%

WISE Score

Odin banishes the Norse god of mischief to Earth as an 11-year-old boy with a magical diary that catches every lie he tries to write.

Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Being Good

book

Juvenile Fiction

87%

WISE Score

Odin banishes the Norse god of mischief to Earth as an 11-year-old boy with a magical diary that catches every lie he tries to write.

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Where to Read

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Screenwise Verdict

Louie Stowell hits a sweet spot here: taking the Norse god of mischief and dumping him into modern middle school with an enchanted journal that corrects his lies in real time. It reads like Diary of a Wimpy Kid had a baby with Percy Jackson, packed with doodles, snarky commentary, and genuine mythological detail.

While Loki begins as a selfish trickster looking for easy loopholes in Odin's point system, the story quietly builds real heart. It's a fantastic pick for reluctant readers who want fast laughs without sacrificing actual character development.

Age Fit

Ideal for 8 to 12-year-olds, especially kids who love heavily illustrated chapter books like Diary of a Wimpy Kid or mythology adventures like Percy Jackson.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Explores themes of empathy, loyalty, and accountability through a trickster character who learns to care about human relationships, offset by mild prankster humor.

Imaginative

Combines ancient Norse mythology with modern middle school tropes, complete with doodle illustrations and a magical truth-forcing journal.

Safe

Mild middle-grade comedic mischief, potty jokes, and schoolyard drama; no graphic content or genuine safety concerns.

Enriching

Sneaks in authentic Norse mythological lore alongside real character growth about conscience, guilt, and true friendship.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Hook for reluctant readers: The illustrated diary format with doodle-heavy pages keeps fast-paced humor front and center.
Authentic Norse lore: Louie Stowell knows her mythology, weaving Thor, Odin, and Frost Giants into realistic 6th-grade chaos.
Clever narrative device: Loki's magical diary acts as a snarky, real-time fact-checker every time he tries to spin a lie.

⚠

What to Watch For

Sassy anti-hero energy: Loki starts out petty, self-absorbed, and eager to scheme, though his bad behavior comes with clear consequences.
Standard potty humor: Expect occasional jokes involving farts, poop, and school lunch grossness.

Conversation Starters

"If you had a magical journal that forced you to tell the truth, what would be the hardest secret to write down?"
"Loki thinks virtue points are a silly way to measure goodness. Do you think doing good stuff counts if you only do it to avoid getting punished?"
"How would Thor handle being stuck in an actual 6th-grade classroom?"

Deep Dive

Why this book works so well for 8-to-12s

Middle-grade fiction is full of diary-style illustrated novels, but Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Being Good stands out because the core premise does real narrative work. Loki isn't just complaining about school; he's a centuries-old deity experiencing mortal indignities like dodgeball and homework.

The genius of the format lies in the diary itself. Odin endows the journal with its own magical consciousness, meaning whenever Loki writes something dishonest ("I felt deeply remorseful"), the book scribbles back in bold ink to call out his nonsense. That dynamic creates an instant feedback loop for young readers, turning what could be a story about bad behavior into a comedy about developing an actual conscience.

Mythology without the textbook feel

If your kid likes Rick Riordan's universe, Stowell offers a lighter, comedic entry point. The book treats Norse myths with respect—Thor is properly brash, Heimdall is watchful, and Midgard feels foreign to a god—while keeping the reading level accessible for late elementary grades. It bridges the gap between heavily visual graphic novels and full-text chapter books with ease.

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