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The Worst Class in the WorldJoanna Nadin
The Worst Class in the World
by Joanna Nadin
Stanley and Manjit are not the worst class in the world, whatever Mr Nidgett says. Two stories that make the case, and rather undermine it.
A story about children, funny and wry in tone. We would put it with children of 6–9, and at a reading age of about 7 for reading alone.
Nothing flagged
We have not flagged any content in this one that a parent would usually want warning about.
Part of a series
This is book 1 of the The Worst Class in the World series, so there is more to read if it goes down well — which is worth a great deal with a reluctant reader.
Our take on this book
Stanley and Manjit are absolutely not the worst class in the world, whatever Mr Nidgett and the fearsome Mrs Bottomley-Blunt say — and they will prove it, in two stories that go so spectacularly and hilariously wrong that they rather make the case for the prosecution. Joanna Nadin narrates in the aggrieved, unshakeably confident voice of Stanley, whose brilliant plans collapse in ways the reader sees coming a mile off and he never does, which is where all the comedy lives. Short, illustrated and briskly paced, it is built for a child who has just cracked reading and wants something that feels like a proper funny book rather than a reader. Nothing in it is remotely frightening; the stakes are detentions and dignity. For a six- to nine-year-old, especially one who likes their humour on the chaotic side, it is a reliable laugh and the doorway to a popular series.
If they like this, try these
Chosen by matching age, reading age, tone and subject — not by what is selling.
The Worst Class in the World Gets WorseJoanna Nadin
Diary of a Wimpy KidJeff Kinney
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick RulesJeff Kinney
Mr MajeikaHumphrey Carpenter
The Magic FingerRoald Dahl
Or let them write their own.
Nothing gets a child reading like a story they invented themselves. Your child plans the characters and the plot, and we write, illustrate and print it as a real book with their name on the cover as the author.
Find another book
Tell us the age, the reading age and what they like, and we will suggest a handful.