The Strictist School in the World
Being the Tale of a Clever Girl, a Rubber Boy
&
a Collection of Flying Machines, Mostly Broken
What's the Story?
In the kick-off novel in the Mad Misadventures series, 14-year-old pioneering aviatrix Emmaline Cayley is afraid of one thing: plummeting to her doom. Fortunately, 12-year-old Robert Burns, an indestructible village boy, is not. Absurdly unafraid of bodily harm, "Rubberbones" is the ideal pilot for Emmaline's experiments with flight. But before Emmaline can perfect a flying machine with the aid of her new friend, she is sent off to St. Grimelda's School for Young Ladies -- to be cured of her decidedly unladylike ways. It is a school so strict, so severe, so forbidding that it makes the brutal misery in the tales of Charles Dickens look cheery by comparison. With a horrifying headmistress, terrifying teachers and food that is even worse than Aunt Lucy's, this medieval stronghold also houses a terrible secret and a mysterious way of keeping its prisoners, er, its students in line. All Emmaline can think of is escape. But no one has ever escaped from St. Grimelda's. And our heroine soon realizes that the only way out is to face her greatest fear.
In the kick-off novel in the Mad Misadventures series, 14-year-old pioneering aviatrix Emmaline Cayley is afraid of one thing: plummeting to her doom. Fortunately, 12-year-old Robert Burns, an indestructible village boy, is not. Absurdly unafraid of bodily harm, "Rubberbones" is the ideal pilot for Emmaline's experiments with flight. But before Emmaline can perfect a flying machine with the aid of her new friend, she is sent off to St. Grimelda's School for Young Ladies -- to be cured of her decidedly unladylike ways. It is a school so strict, so severe, so forbidding that it makes the brutal misery in the tales of Charles Dickens look cheery by comparison. With a horrifying headmistress, terrifying teachers and food that is even worse than Aunt Lucy's, this medieval stronghold also houses a terrible secret and a mysterious way of keeping its prisoners, er, its students in line. All Emmaline can think of is escape. But no one has ever escaped from St. Grimelda's. And our heroine soon realizes that the only way out is to face her greatest fear.
Reviews
"The Mad Misadventures of Emmaline and Rubberbones, needs more attention. The Strictest School in the World, The Faceless Fiend, and The Island of Mad Scientists are terrific fun." - Educating Alice
"It's a Middle Grade adventure story involving a daring girl, a crazy aunt, a Dickensian boarding school, and flying machines. What more could you want? ... Give this one to a Middle Grade reader today! - Big A Little a
"Don’t even waste your time reading this review. Just go find a copy and start reading!" - 5 Minutes for Books
"...readers will be delighted to follow along as Emmaline, Rubberbones, Aunt Lucy, and their colorful selection of friends try to find ways to rescue Emmaline from the world's strictest school." - Looking Glass Review
The Faceless Fiend
Being the Tale of a Criminal Mastermind, His Masked Minions
&
a Princess with a Butter Knife, Involving Explosives
&
a Certain Amount of Pushing
&
Shoving
Reviews
"Readers will never know what to expect, and they will have to stay alert to keep up with Emmaline and her decidedly peculiar friends." - Looking Glass Review
"It is full of fun, adventure and amazing exploits with some very suspenseful and tense moments interspersed. " - Weavings
"The gypsy cameo will make no sense if you have not read the first book, and not much more if you have." - Zubon Book Reviews
"The Faceless Fiend is quick-paced, occasionally clunky but otherwise clever, and surprisingly engaging... While not as strong as its predecessor, The Faceless Fiend is still laugh-out-loud funny in places and definitely worth picking up." - Matchstick
The Island of Mad Scientists
Being an Excursion to the Wilds of Scotland, Involving Many Marvels of Experimental Invention, Pirates, a Heroic Cat, a Mechanical Man
&
a Monkey
Reviews
"The subtitle just about says it all. This book made me laugh out loud and reminded me of M.T. Anderson’s series of Thrilling Tales" - Semicolon
"this book is a grand romp. Hilarious, milk-snorting-through-nose funny, I can't remember when I've had so much fun reading. It's full of grand asides, amusing language, silly situations... everything a comic novel should have." - The Book Nut
"Once again I laughed. Outloud. Multiple times and in multiple places. Are you still waiting to go and buy the first book in the series? Why? Give me one good reason." - Reading to Know
Extras
Neither the author or his books have a website, but I did manage to track down an Interview with Mr. Whitehouse @ Reading To Know.
Video
Okay, strictly speaking this video has nothing to do with the book Strictest School series but it is funny and it's about planes which makes a little more sense if you've read the first book and even more sense if you read the interview above. Anyway, here's a video showing film clips of early attempts at flying. Yes, these are all real. Stupid-but real.
Carry on.
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