SuitabookAuthority and autonomy
A headmaster’s influence is strengthened by school rules, routines, adult credibility and expectations of obedience.
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Book details
Gillian Cross - Author
A fast-moving school thriller that turns familiar rules, routines and adult authority into a mechanism of control. Its central tension is whether individuality and independent judgement can survive pressure to comply.
Book Brief
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Sign in for personalised guidanceA fast-moving school thriller that turns familiar rules, routines and adult authority into a mechanism of control. Its central tension is whether individuality and independent judgement can survive pressure to comply.
A headmaster’s influence is strengthened by school rules, routines, adult credibility and expectations of obedience.
Children must decide whom to trust when classmates may be seeing, saying or choosing things under pressure.
The main point to notice is psychological rather than graphic: the threat attacks will, trust and autonomy. Readers who prefer gentle school stories may want to discuss the book’s sustained atmosphere of pressure.
This is a grounded book brief while Suitabook strengthens the analysis: the current material supports only a cautious reading; another book-specific source is still needed.
Anything not established here remains open; it is not being treated as absent or safe.
These links show the original reading lists. Inclusion is not a guarantee of suitability for your child.