By Brian Gordon

Dante Nimrod Inferno is your typical 6th grade demon – uncool, goofy and ready to to change his reputation in middle school. Bullied and laughed at ever since his pants fell down in the cafeteria, he plans a fresh start in a new school, where his elementary classmates combine with the kids from the school in Blisshaven. New school means new Dante, right? Not really, because the same yucky bullies are there and his old reputation is lingering. Virgil, a brainy new friend from Blisshaven, enters the story and becomes a rather unwitting ally in Virgils’ quest for greatness. The story ends with a huge school competition (kind of like middle school Jeopardy) in which the teams are in a nail-biting near tie for the win. Dante’s knowledge of comics saves the day for Virgil and him in and they win, becoming slightly more cool and ready for more adventures.

While young readers may not get the references to Dante’s Inferno, they will certainly understand the burps, farts, annoying siblings and schoolyard escapades in this book. And, they will really get into all the hilarious illustrations that are generously peppered throughout the story. Hand this book to those readers who enjoy Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Timmy Failure. They won’t be disappointed. Recommended.