Tom Gates Series L. Pichon – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Tom Gates Series L. Pichon

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2015

68%

WISE Score

4.5

Amazon

British tween dodges homework and doodles through life in this illustrated diary series that gets reluctant readers hooked—even if it won't win parenting awards.

Tom Gates Series L. Pichon

book

2015

68%

WISE Score

4.5

Amazon

British tween dodges homework and doodles through life in this illustrated diary series that gets reluctant readers hooked—even if it won't win parenting awards.

4.5

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Screenwise Verdict

Tom Gates is the book equivalent of potato chips: kids devour it, it's not exactly nutritious, but it gets the job done. If your kid hates reading, this series might be the bridge that works—the doodles, short chapters, and relatable tween grumbling make it feel less like 'a book' and more like peeking into someone's notebook.

That said, Tom is not winning any citizenship awards. He's perpetually late, allergic to homework, and his main life skill is creative excuse-making. Parent reviews are split: kids think he's hilarious, some adults worry he's teaching bad habits. The truth is, he's just a realistic tween—not aspirational, not awful, just... Tom.

If you're looking for books that teach empathy, problem-solving, or literally anything educational, keep moving. But if you need something that will actually get your kid reading without a fight? Tom Gates delivers. It's not going to change their life, but it might change their relationship with books, and that's worth something.

Age Fit

Best for ages 7-12, especially reluctant readers who need a gateway into chapter books. The humor and format work for kids who aren't ready for dense text, but tweens will age out once they want more complex plots or characters who actually grow.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Tom Gates is a relatable tween character who's perpetually late to school, calls his grandparents 'the fossils,' finds his sister annoying, and actively dislikes good students. The humor is grounded in everyday frustrations and mild rebellion rather than meanness, but the books don't exactly model cooperation or kindness—Tom's main energy is dodging homework and making excuses. It's realistic middle-grade behavior, not aspirational. The tone is light and comedic, never cruel, but parent reviews note 'really poor role models and zero educational value.'

Imaginative

The series is packed with Tom's own drawings, doodles, and creative storytelling throughout. The diary-comic hybrid format invites kids to see that their own sketches and observations matter. Tom is described as a 'creative storyteller' and 'master of excuses,' and the visual style encourages readers to think about how they'd illustrate their own lives. It's not world-building fantasy, but it celebrates everyday creativity and self-expression in a way that resonates with reluctant readers and budding artists.

Safe

Books are inherently low-risk, and Tom Gates has no mature content, violence, or scary themes. The 'worst' behavior is mild school rebellion—being late, avoiding homework, complaining about family. No trigger warnings, no inappropriate language, no shocking content. It's safe to hand to any kid who can read chapter books.

Enriching

Tom Gates gets kids reading, especially reluctant ones, and the visual format builds comfort with longer texts. But the books don't teach much beyond 'school is boring and homework is annoying.' There's no real character growth, problem-solving, or empathy-building—Tom stays Tom. The series is entertaining and accessible, which has value, but it's not offering meaningful takeaways or skill-building beyond basic literacy engagement.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

The doodle-heavy, diary-comic format is catnip for kids who think chapter books are boring—this series turns thousands of reluctant readers into actual readers
Tom's everyday frustrations (annoying siblings, tedious homework, embarrassing parents) are deeply relatable without being mean-spirited
The visual storytelling invites kids to see their own creativity as valid—you don't need to be a 'good artist' to draw your life
Genuinely funny in a low-stakes, observational way that doesn't rely on gross-out humor or cruelty

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What to Watch For

Tom is not a role model—he's late to school, hates math, makes excuses, and calls his grandparents 'the fossils.' If you want books that teach responsibility, look elsewhere
Zero educational value beyond getting kids to turn pages; this is pure entertainment
Some parents find Tom's attitude toward school and authority frustrating, especially if you're trying to encourage homework enthusiasm (good luck with that anyway)

Conversation Starters

"Tom's always making excuses for being late or not doing homework. Do you think his excuses are creative or just annoying?"
"If you kept a diary like Tom's, what would you draw? What stuff in your day would be worth doodling about?"
"Tom calls his grandparents 'the fossils' and finds his sister super annoying. Do you think that's funny or kind of mean?"

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