Another winner that should be better known outside of its home country. By the author of Emil and the Detectives, this story is just as enjoyable.

Bookended by a writer trying to come up with a Christmas story, the book is then set in a boarding school in Germany, with a period feeling of Tom Brown's Schooldays, Morpurgo's The War of Jenkins' Ear and Kipling's Stalky and Co as well as the fun of Harry Potter and Matilda.

It's a little adventure of the boys there, with stolen exercise books, a play to perform, Masters with secrets, and Christmas holidays to look forward to (or not). The characters are very likeable though it took me a while to distinguish one from another.

I was actually quite moved near the end, and thoroughly enjoyed the quite naive and innocent style of the story. I also liked the distinctly traditional illustrations.

Very nice period school tale, I can see myself reading this with my son in a few years time. For solo readers of 9 and above, good for bedtime with parents from around age 7.