The Crimes and Punishments of Miss Payne

I enjoyed reading this, although it didn't grab me. The story was interesting, if a little bit predictable, and the characters were tending toward stock-ishness. There were some genuinely touching moments. I am looking forward to reading the sequel.

There were a number of different narrative devices, sample from school assignments, imaginary film scripts, call outs written in second person. I would have preferred less tricks - they were clever but distracting.

[b:The Crimes and Punishments of Miss Payne|1634678|The Crimes and Punishments of Miss Payne|Barry Jonsberg|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1186152810s/1634678.jpg|2117670] and
[b:The Whole Business with Kiffo and the Pitbull|1930938|The Whole Business with Kiffo and the Pitbull|Barry Jonsberg|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1356933342s/1930938.jpg|2117670]
are two different titles for the same story. I've combined them; please nobody separate them.

I can't decide if this is brilliant, or a brilliant hot mess. Is it a thriller? A satire? Is the narrator reliable, or not? It's definitely got that Australian vibe to it, like [b:Getting the Girl|19062|Getting the Girl (Wolfe Brothers, #3)|Markus show more Zusak|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328868246s/19062.jpg|878366] and [b:Have Courage, Hazel Green|1211409|Have Courage, Hazel Green|Odo Hirsch|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1312019000s/1211409.jpg|1199794] in which kids get involved in grown-ups' real-life issues. I found it refreshing and fun. But it's probably going to be dissed by lots of my friends. An acquired taste, if you will.

(edited four days afterwards - iow, it's a memorable book ;)

Another thought, the next day - a character mentions Marsden... now, I only read the first book, but iirc that famous series is about kids solving problems that grown-ups should have... so maybe the other Aussie MG/YA books I've read just kinda subconsciously emulate.... show less

An incredibly funny story which, unfortunately contains much too much profanity for me to use in a middle school. The author does a sensational job of using figurative language to paint the hilarious story of Calma and Kiffo, two teens who are convinced that their English teacher, Miss Payne, is a drug dealer. There is a second book called, Am I Right or Am I Right.

Yr 9 - Yr 10.
The witty and poignant account of the activities of Calma and Kiffo, an unlikely pair of Year 10 students. Their cavalier approach to learning is disrupted when a fierce new English teacher, Miss Payne (aka the Pitbull), enters the classroom.

Kiffo and Calma think a teacher is dealing drugs and b/g to stalk her