Satchels and Second Chances

The next BRAND NEW nostalgic, feel-good novel from Sunday Times bestselling author Gervase Phinn. 'Gervase Phinn has a unique understanding of children and a glorious sense of humour which make his books much loved best sellers. I’m a huge fan.' Esther Rantzen

Yorkshire, 1956. When Helen Mercer takes on the role of head teacher at Brightbrook Junior School, she is met with peeling paint, broken promises from the local authority, and a building that resembles a Victorian workhouse. But behind the dreary exterior are children who desperately need a champion – and Helen is determined to transform the school and the lives of her pupils.

Among them are Terry, a boy scarred by a brutal home life who finds peace in his love for pigeons; Rupert, a gifted but arrogant ten-year-old masking a desperate need for affection; and Lucy, a bright girl struggling with a baffling case of elective mutism.

As Helen and her staff battle daily challenges at work, her personal life takes a hopeful turn through her unexpected romance with the head teacher of a neighbouring school. However, Helen's hard-won peace is soon tested by the reappearance of a ghost from her past and a devastating bombshell from the Director of Education that Brightbrook is slated for permanent closure…

A poignant, heartwarming and often funny nostalgic story about the transformative power of education, resilience and community.

Praise for Gervase Phinn:

'A worthy successor to James Herriott, and every bit as endearing' Alan Titchmarsh

'Hilarious and hair-raising' Sunday Times

'Colourful, funny and honest' Sunday Express

'A natural storyteller' The Times Educational Supplement

'Gervase Phinn's memoirs have made him a hero in school staff-rooms' Daily Telegraph

'He has a marvellous ear for one-liners' Yorkshire Post

'A born raconteur' Guardian

'Uproarious and touching by turns' Daily Mail

'Enchanting' Women's Own

© 2026 Boldwood Books (Rafbók): 9781836786580

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Rafbók: 15 oktober 2026