The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler by Gene Kemp

First published: 1977; illustrated

Type of work: Social realism

Themes: Gender roles, coming-of-age, friendship, education, and family

Time of work: The late twentieth century

Recommended Ages: 10-13

Locale: Cricklepit School, England

Principal Characters:

• Tyke Tiler, an energetic, independent, caring twelve-year-old
• Danny Price, an insecure and impetuous boy, with an angelic face, a speech defect, and learning disabilities
• William Merchant, a well-liked, creative teacher at Cricklepit School
• The Headmaster, or
• “chief Sir”, a disciplinarian whom Tyke and Danny see often
• Jenny Honeywell, an attractive student teacher who believes in Danny
• Edward Tiler, Tyke’s father, who is running for a seat on the British Council
• Mary Phyllis Tiler, Tyke’s mother, a night nurse
• Beryl “Berry” Tiler, Tyke’s older sister, a college student
• Martin Kneeshaw, Tyke’s enemy, the son of her father’s rival
• Crumble, a lovable shaggy dog, Tyke’s constant companion
• Fatty, a large piebald mouse, Danny’s constant companion

The Story

When Danny, a self-confessed kleptomaniac, steals a ten-pound note from a teacher, Tyke climbs into the old school attic and hides it, thinking to return it later. The Headmaster finds the money and knows that Tyke put it there, for only Tyke can climb the high loft without a ladder. When Danny lets his pet mouse loose during morning opening, Tyke tries to catch it, but chaos results. When Danny convinces Tyke to go into the river to get a sheep’s skeleton, Tyke barely escapes injury, and Danny gets “house points” at school. Repeatedly, both get warnings from the Headmaster and notes sent home, but Danny, with his sincere apology and sad eyes, is taken to tea and receives more “child guidance.”

Sent to the Headmaster’s office for giving Martin Kneeshaw a bloody nose, Tyke overhears the faculty discussing transferring Danny to a boarding school for slow learners. Spotting the Verbal Reasoning Tests on Chief Sir’s desk, Tyke takes a copy of the questions. After Tyke’s older sister, Beryl, helps work out the answers, Tyke spends hours tutoring Danny, hoping to ensure their attendance at the same school.

The turning point for Danny comes when Ms. Honeywell, while teaching a lesson about King Arthur, picks Danny to play Sir Galahad, who had the strength of ten because his heart was pure. Inspired by Sir Galahad, Danny, with new confidence, decides to live a pure and honorable life.

All is well until Danny and Tyke are separated. On the night of Mr. Tiler’s political victory over Mr. Kneeshaw, Tyke comes down with influenza and must then miss many days of school. Martin Kneeshaw and friends steal a teacher’s gold watch and place it in Danny’s schoolbag. The police are called in, and Danny, innocent and frightened, spends a hungry night alone waiting for Tyke in their secret spot—an abandoned paper mill. Deciding to trust the Headmaster, Tyke convinces him that Danny was set up, and Danny is rescued.

As the term ends, Tyke finds that the test plan has backfired: Danny passes, but Tyke is recommended for a special school for the gifted. Nevertheless, to celebrate the last day, Tyke shinnies up the school’s outside drainpipe to ring the old bell, last used during World War II. A teacher shouts to warn “Theodora”—revealing to the reader that Tyke is a girl. After a few brief rings, the roof collapses; Tyke and tiles fall to the courtyard. Luckily, Tyke receives only a broken arm, a concussion, and several bruises. She confesses the test episode to the understanding Mr. Merchant, who arranges for both Tyke and Danny to go to the comprehensive school. Through these experiences, Danny learns honesty, trust, and self-confidence; Tyke learns that she has some limitations, but many opportunities, and that her family and friends love her just as she is.

Context

Gene Kemp’s depiction of the conflicts, the language, and the turf of preteens makes The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler one of his best-known works; it received the American Library Association’s Carnegie Medal for an Outstanding Children’s Book and the Children’s Rights Workshop Other Award. Kemp’s works are frequently set in schools. Like his Gowie Corby Plays Chicken (1979), The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler (1977) is a departure from his Tamworth Pig series (The Prime of Tamworth Pig, 1972; Tamworth Pig Saves the Trees, 1973; Tamworth Pig and the Litter, 1975; and Christmas with Tamworth Pig, 1977). The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler has much in common with the later Gowie Corby Plays Chicken, whose protagonist is an outsider whose only friends are animals led by Boris Karloff, a pet rat. Like Danny Price, Gowie is befriended by a girl, Rosie Angela Lee, a black American. Animals are essential characters in Kemp’s stories: Gowie’s pet rat, Danny’s mouse, and Tyke’s dog play significant roles.

Kemp’s realism is evident especially in The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler. Mr. and Mrs. Tiler argue passionately and publicly over Tyke’s possible entrance into a gifted school and Tyke’s sister’s upcoming marriage. It was common in the 1960’s for young adult novels to pit adults against children and to portray the former as ogres. Kemp’s adults, however, are fairly drawn: Mr. Merchant is a favorite, trusted teacher who clearly loves his students and commands their respect. The student teacher is sincere and learns from her mistakes. The Headmaster is remarkably fair, but Mrs. Somers, the deputy head, perhaps should find some other career.

In addition to the realism that was by the 1970’s fairly common in young adult literature, The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler challenges typical gender roles. Some readers might be surprised to learn that the protagonist, Tyke, is female. Even with today’s rapidly changing roles, often it is assumed that it is the male who is strong, athletic, and a leader. Although Tyke’s mother pursues a typical female career, she does work outside the home, breaking the mold of the servant mother of the 1950’s. Tyke’s sister, Beryl, is active in politics, headed for a public service career, and it is Beryl, not Tyke’s brother, Stanley, who is the mathematics whiz.

Realistic, innovative, humorous, The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler evokes the tenderness and the toughness of those trying years that usher in adolescence. Little wonder that Kemp says, “Tyke Tiler is my most interesting book.”