The long class goodnight by Sammy J

Five Mile Press, 2018. ISBN 9781760409531
(Age: 9-12) Recommended.
Sammy J, comedian, musician and author takes us on a whirlwind ride in his debut novel The long class goodnight. Imagine if the school bell doesn't ring at the end of the first day and the students of Mount Willow Secondary are forced to stay overnight. What a night it becomes!
Justin Monaghetti learns he comes from a long line of losers at breakfast on his first day of high school. Armed with a pair of 'German-made,' reinforced wedgie-proof underpants he sets out to break the family's losing streak. All Justin wants to do is survive, find a chess club and make some friends. Unfortunately Principal, Dr Featherstone, runs a tightly controlled school, every rule must be followed; they are outlined in the Mount Willow Secondary School Handbook. For Justin there are more lows than highs, he endures being bullied, meets with the principal, barely survives a gym lesson and he's given detention. He meets Eliza who is cunningly planning to escape at the end of day one by creatively following the school rules and has a chance encounter with the school gardener also helps Justin in understanding how to survive at school. To avoid detention and keep Eliza from escaping, Justin uses his lucky pawn to stop the school clock. No-one is allowed to go home, staff, students and principal. What happens next is an afternoon and night filled with crazy antics, desperately hungry students, cunning escapes and laugh-out-loud scenes, this is a rollercoaster ride of hilarity and drama!
The long class goodnight is a fast-paced funny story, just right for middle grade readers who will sympathise with Justin's determination to make his own destiny. Read aloud to a class, this novel explores friendships, dealing with bullies, developing resilience and unique ways to solve problems.
Rhyllis Bignell