The Strictest School in the World by Howard Whitehouse

Being the Tale of a Clever Girl, a Rubber Boy and a Collection of Flying Machines, Mostly Broken
The Mad Misadventures of Emmaline and Rubberbones, Book 1

5 stars
JF

I'm kind of a sucker for books with awesome subtitles like that.  I mean, really, how can you NOT want to read a book with a subtitle like that?!

And this tale does not disappoint.

The heroine is indeed clever, the school is beyond horrible, the boy bounces and there are several broken flying machines.

Add in an eccentric aunt, some gypsies, a dignified Indian colonel serving as a butler, "the birds" and a completely crazy scientist and you've got a great book.

I am certainly looking forward to the next one.  :)