The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tyler

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The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tyler ("Tiler" in the United States) is a children's novel by Gene Kemp, first published in 1977. It takes place at Cricklepit Combined School, a primary school in southern England which is the setting for several other of Kemp's stories. It won the Carnegie Medal and the Children's Rights Award.

[edit] Plot Summary

The book tells the story of its main characters' final term at Cricklepit Combined School before they are separated to go on to other schools. Twelve year old Tyke Tyler is a good student but a bit of a troublemaker, and narrates the story in a familiar, colloquial voice. Tyke's best friend Danny Price has a speech defect, which leads to him getting teased at school with only Tyke to look out for him. Tyke's efforts to protect Danny often land the pair in more trouble, such as when Tyke steals a copy of an important test to help Danny study. There is a wonderful twist at the end when it turns out that Tyke is actually a girl named Theodora.

[edit] Jokes

Each chapter begins with a suitably crude joke, such as:

• "Why do you forget a tooth once it's been pulled?"
• "It goes right out of your head!"

[edit] Themes

In addition to the children's real-world adventures there is an emphasis throughout the book on chivalry and heroism. A student teacher reads T.H. White's The Once and Future King to the class, which they perform as a pantomime play, and they later re-enact the Battle of Hastings. Both characters are excited by the stories, and Danny in particular draws comparisons to Sir Galahad: "His strength was as the strength of ten, because his heart was pure."