Archie is a very mature child - some would say far too mature! Having grown up with his gran, he seems to have acquired some adult ways - and the kids at his new school find them unbearable. Especially Miranda - the class troublemaker. At first she absolutely can't stand Archie but then she starts to see him as a bit of a project- could she really make Archie into a Troublemaker Extraordinaire? Their unlikely friendship really gets going when Archie needs help to scare off his dad's new girlfriend...

Told through the narrative device of Miranda Jones’ letters to Aunty Prue a problem solver at the magazine Wow, her replies and Archie’s diary entries, Trust Me I'm a Troublemaker is a funny and sometimes touching novel.

Archie describes himself as ‘exceptionally mature for his age’ and his habit of coming to school with an umbrella, a newspaper tucked under his arm and a grey scarf with bobbles does not endear him to the other pupils and in particular Miranda Jones. Neither does his habit of sticking his nose into everybody’s business and giving the other children his mature advice! However, as the plot develops the reader learns that Archie’s mother has died and, after living with his gran, he now lives with his dad and practically runs the household, so his circumstances evoke some sympathy. Archie’s life is turned upside down when dad meets a girlfriend and Archie is relegated to second place. His reaction to this is to engage Miranda’s assistance to transform him from a ‘bod’, as he is described by the other pupils, into a troublemaker to scare off dad’s ghastly new girlfriend.

This is a very accessible novel which could be used as the basis for a variety of discussions about one parent families, establishing relationships with other children and appropriate behaviour at school.

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2008-08-10