What a truly fabulous book. Anyone with a taste for the classics will remember the pleasure of reading 'Tom Brown's Schooldays' and 'Goodbye Mr Chips' and the sheer joy when a new 'Malory Towers' book appeared. Now, at last, a novel full of the same rich values of excellent storytelling.
A Manchester schoolroom from the late 1970s is recreated with an evocative dose of realism, but also perception and wit, bound in the pathos and irony of those days (which now seem so long ago).
Every school needs and deserves a Mr Harris, and who wouldn't love a friend like Tug? The author excelled in making even the tiniest child a larger than life character.

Mr Harris is a very true to life, believable character who cares about the pupils in his care. This book is a very real depiction of life in school during the 1970s- retold with a touch of humour. Mr Harris wants the very best for his class- the lowest set in school- and fights to ensure that they get the same opportunities as the other children. His pupils face the challenges they meet with wry comments and absolute truth telling which are hilarious at times. The reality of some of their lives is truly tear-jerking and sadly accurate for this era making you appreciate how far we have come. Overall a great read!

An entertaining read about a teacher in the 1970's depicting the best and worst of teaching in the period, The children and their very different backgrounds and individual struggles were well depicted, This book is a reminder of how far we have come in terms of inclusion and better treatment in schools.

The various dilemma of the main character were very well described and often with great humour.