A Girl, a Smock and a Simple Plan is a novel written by Chris Daffey that follows the life of Julian Crower through his final year of primary school, where he was voted the second most frightening sight in the playground.
The blurb of this book reads, “Julian Crower was a large child. Not large enough to be considered fat, but fat enough to be considered large. At five feet and three inches, he towered above your average sixth grader and represented the kind of shambling, slow-witted menace that no primary school could be without.” Julian is on a quest to win Jenny, the love of his life’s heart. Although, throughout the year, he encounters strange teachers and school bullies, and has terrifying moments outside the principal’s office, he never gives up on his dream to be Jenny’s girlfriend.
As this book is told through the perspective of a young boy, the language is informal and conversational. This helps the book appeal to a young audience, as it is easy to connect with it. Readers have deemed this novel hilarious and easy to read. One reader announced, “I just loved the simplicity of it, and the conversational tone.” A Girl, a Smock and a Simple Plan has received many five-star ratings.
Chris Daffey worked as a lawyer for many years before pursuing his interest in writing. This is his first book. It appears that it is basically a dramatised version of Daffey’s own grade six. When asked why he wrote the book, Daffey simply said, “Because primary school is funny.”
Chris Daffey has been able to perfectly capture the thoughts and experiences of a sixth grader. This is why A Girl, a Smock and a Simple Plan is such a hilarious, brilliant book. Read it!
Thankyou to Abbey for this great review. Read a good book recently? Send your reviews here.
