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The Teacher's Secret: All Is Not What It Seems in This Close-Knit Community...
'Packed with heart and suspense; I absolutely loved it'- Jenny Ashcroft Things aren't always as they seem... A small town can be a refuge, but while its secrets are held, it's hard to know who to trust and what to believe. The Teacher's Secret is a tender and compelling story of scandal, rumor and dislocation, and the search for grace and dignity in the midst of dishonor and humiliation. Suzanne Leal draws us into a public school in the intimate town of Brindle, Australia in which vice principal Terry comes to generational loggerheads with stand-in principal Laurie concerning teachers and their treatment of their pupils. Told over four semesters, this conflict will slowly change their lives. Perfect for fans of The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas, Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty and A Song for Issy Bradley by Carys Bray What Reviewers and Readers 'Delicately woven ... a big-hearted book, ' Joanne Fedler ' Elegantly structured , unsettling, yet with moments of surprising wit, ' Kathryn Heyman 'Masterfully constructed, this moving novel warns us of our capacity to make or break the lives of those around us... Drawn with wit and clear-eyed affection, the inhabitants of this wonderful novel will remain with you long after you have put it down.' Mark Lamprell 'A rich interweaving of beautifully drawn characters told so gently and in such exquisite detail that they grew on me until I was lost in their world.' Robin de Crespigny 'The Teacher's Secret is a gutsy yet intricate examination of one of society's nightmares, filled with strong characters and relationships interwoven in a storyline that has the reader engrossed to the last page , ' Robert Wainwright 'Suzanne Leal writes with her hand on her heart, writing according to its beat... translating the ordinary into the extraordinary . An Australian talent, universally understood.' Charles Waterstreet 'Suspenseful, moving and full of heart . I couldn't put it down.' Richard Glover 'An eloquent story of a life thrown into disarray; it drew me in and held me, page after page .' Rachel Seiffert 'Suzanne Leal is a writer of unusual sensitivity , with a rare ability to shed light on the dark tangle of emotional attachments which lies just below the surface of everyday life.' John Colle ' What a great read! I could not put it down. I can imagine this book being talked about and passed around from teacher to teacher in the school staff room and from parent to parent in the school car park ...' Schooldays Magazine
368 pages, Hardcover
First published May 25, 2016
30 people are currently reading
574 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Leal
9 books64 followersI'm the author of novels THE WATCHFUL WIFE, RUNNING WITH IVAN, THE DECEPTIONS, THE TEACHER'S SECRET and BORDER STREET.
A regular interviewer and presenter at literary events and festivals, I was the senior judge for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards from 2017 to 2019 and am now a board director of BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival. I'm also a lawyer with a background in child protection, criminal law and refugee law. I'm also the weekly host of Thursday Book Club, a relaxed, friendly place to chat about books online, To join us, sign up (for free) on my website:www.suzanneleal.com.
I live in Sydney, Australia with my husband, David, my four children, a Japanese Spitz called Milly and a cat we accidentally acquired called Leo,
A regular interviewer and presenter at literary events and festivals, I was the senior judge for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards from 2017 to 2019 and am now a board director of BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival. I'm also a lawyer with a background in child protection, criminal law and refugee law. I'm also the weekly host of Thursday Book Club, a relaxed, friendly place to chat about books online, To join us, sign up (for free) on my website:www.suzanneleal.com.
I live in Sydney, Australia with my husband, David, my four children, a Japanese Spitz called Milly and a cat we accidentally acquired called Leo,
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
August 9, 2017
When a new principal, Laurie, is instated temporarily, Terry must try to grapple with her and her insistence on following the rules to a T. The two constantly clash on how much contact with students is appropriate and eventually Laurie insists on Terry being investigated, leading to a revelation of his past that ends up getting him fired. I personally didn't like the book, I don't see what the point of the constant change in POV was and found the plot line boring. It was boring to read about teacher's personal lives, like who cares that Nina's husband is cheating on her. The other character's plot lines just took away from the central story which was promising but the execution just didn't work for me. I didn't sympathize with Laurie at all because she was clearly overreacting and did Terry really need to keep being so accommodating to the students. The only person I felt sorry for was Terry but again he could have just stopped pulling kids into his lap and going to their house, there were other solutions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2018
With thanks to the author, publisher and also Goodreads for my copy via the First Reads initiative.
In keeping with the school theme I feel I must award a bell curve rating of 3.5 industrious stars. I felt the middle section was the stand out, whilst the beginning and end meandered, or just didn't deliver like the middle.
This book isn't about paedophilia, but there is a character in the middle of a sensitive, hyped up and dangerous accusation involving a teacher, which makes things worse, doesn't it? That pose questions about the day to day actions of said teacher.
Along with this are bits of writing that are designed to manipulate or trick us either way. This is an example, and reading these types of passages over and over again were frustrating me. A lot.
“Her waist, too, had narrowed and her hips are curved now… It’s happened so quickly, he thinks, quickly enough for her swimming costume to have suddenly become too small. Even if the shade is beautiful on her lovely brown body.”
Told by various characters by chapter, it was a clever way to introduce characters from a small coastal Australian community, and to watch as these characters crossed paths.
Characters I liked were Sid, Nina, Joan and Rebecca (what were Mel and Adam thinking of swearing like troopers with a son that's likely to get in trouble at school) and those I found distasteful were the horrible Steve and of course, the prickly headmaster, Laurie. I think it would have been better to know more about her, actually.
Liked this one, not loved and I was left wanting at the end. On the upside, another AWW to come across. Bonus!
In keeping with the school theme I feel I must award a bell curve rating of 3.5 industrious stars. I felt the middle section was the stand out, whilst the beginning and end meandered, or just didn't deliver like the middle.
This book isn't about paedophilia, but there is a character in the middle of a sensitive, hyped up and dangerous accusation involving a teacher, which makes things worse, doesn't it? That pose questions about the day to day actions of said teacher.
Along with this are bits of writing that are designed to manipulate or trick us either way. This is an example, and reading these types of passages over and over again were frustrating me. A lot.
“Her waist, too, had narrowed and her hips are curved now… It’s happened so quickly, he thinks, quickly enough for her swimming costume to have suddenly become too small. Even if the shade is beautiful on her lovely brown body.”
Told by various characters by chapter, it was a clever way to introduce characters from a small coastal Australian community, and to watch as these characters crossed paths.
Characters I liked were Sid, Nina, Joan and Rebecca (what were Mel and Adam thinking of swearing like troopers with a son that's likely to get in trouble at school) and those I found distasteful were the horrible Steve and of course, the prickly headmaster, Laurie. I think it would have been better to know more about her, actually.
Liked this one, not loved and I was left wanting at the end. On the upside, another AWW to come across. Bonus!
September 18, 2017
3★
“I’m sure the system has worked well enough in the past, but I think you’ll find that we’ll be in a better position to meet our strategic direction and student outcomes with the proposed configuration.”
Asleep yet? Eyes glazing over? Mr P’s reaction is a bit different. “He’ll explode if he hears another word of bloody management-speak rubbish. His neck has tightened up—he can feel it—and his hands are clenched into hard little balls.”
Everybody’s favourite principal is on leave and the new broom that is the Acting Principal is sweeping through and cleaning out all the inefficiencies. And she’s laying down the law. Laws. She’s full of them. Don’t touch a child, don’t visit families outside of school, don’t this, don’t that. Plus, she’s shifted teachers to different classrooms and not the ones they’ve had for years. We don’t like her. We like Mr P (Terry) and his friends.
And there’s my problem. There are so many similar names for the staff and friends that I had trouble remembering a character’s back story when their name came up as a chapter heading. There were two husbands who worked late; there were a couple of girls who needed extra help, there was another whose figure was developing.
Some of the women are Michelle, Melinda, Belinda, Tania, Miranda, Nina. There’s one whose speech is a little rougher which makes her more distinctive, otherwise, the similarity in names and speaking styles made it hard for me to distinguish them.
There are side stories everywhere because anything revolving around a primary school necessarily has a lot of people from many walks of life. It’s a small coastal community where people know each other’s secrets. Except for this one. But the new broom of a Principal finds it and sweeps it out of the shadows and confronts the guilty party.
We don’t know what the issue is until near the end, just that there was one, and it’s changed things at the school. Meanwhile, there’s also a cheating spouse, a slightly simple girl being raised by her grandmother, a shy older woman who imagines her mother telling her what to do, the school GA (General Assistant – which is usually a combination gardener and handyperson), and even an asylum seeker later on.
All of the school scenes ring very true for the NSW (Australia) schools I’ve been associated with. I don't think we're told exactly where this takes place, but it seems like a NSW coastal village. I can see the demountables, the covered verandahs, the rugs on the floor for storytime. And I’m familiar with the mad dash in the morning to get kids out the door on time. A handy tip I didn’t know, but could probably have used was this one:
“Because gym gear solves everything. Running late dropping the kids to school? No problem, so long as you’ve managed to swap your PJs for a pair of leggings and some sort of zip-up sports top. That way everyone thinks you’re only late because you managed to fit in a run before breakfast. Why spoil a good story by admitting you just slept in again?”
I’d have preferred fewer side stories with loose ends and more depth to the ones I liked. There are a couple of characters I'd have liked to know better.
Thanks to NetGalley and Legend Press for the copy for review from which I’ve quoted.
“I’m sure the system has worked well enough in the past, but I think you’ll find that we’ll be in a better position to meet our strategic direction and student outcomes with the proposed configuration.”
Asleep yet? Eyes glazing over? Mr P’s reaction is a bit different. “He’ll explode if he hears another word of bloody management-speak rubbish. His neck has tightened up—he can feel it—and his hands are clenched into hard little balls.”
Everybody’s favourite principal is on leave and the new broom that is the Acting Principal is sweeping through and cleaning out all the inefficiencies. And she’s laying down the law. Laws. She’s full of them. Don’t touch a child, don’t visit families outside of school, don’t this, don’t that. Plus, she’s shifted teachers to different classrooms and not the ones they’ve had for years. We don’t like her. We like Mr P (Terry) and his friends.
And there’s my problem. There are so many similar names for the staff and friends that I had trouble remembering a character’s back story when their name came up as a chapter heading. There were two husbands who worked late; there were a couple of girls who needed extra help, there was another whose figure was developing.
Some of the women are Michelle, Melinda, Belinda, Tania, Miranda, Nina. There’s one whose speech is a little rougher which makes her more distinctive, otherwise, the similarity in names and speaking styles made it hard for me to distinguish them.
There are side stories everywhere because anything revolving around a primary school necessarily has a lot of people from many walks of life. It’s a small coastal community where people know each other’s secrets. Except for this one. But the new broom of a Principal finds it and sweeps it out of the shadows and confronts the guilty party.
We don’t know what the issue is until near the end, just that there was one, and it’s changed things at the school. Meanwhile, there’s also a cheating spouse, a slightly simple girl being raised by her grandmother, a shy older woman who imagines her mother telling her what to do, the school GA (General Assistant – which is usually a combination gardener and handyperson), and even an asylum seeker later on.
All of the school scenes ring very true for the NSW (Australia) schools I’ve been associated with. I don't think we're told exactly where this takes place, but it seems like a NSW coastal village. I can see the demountables, the covered verandahs, the rugs on the floor for storytime. And I’m familiar with the mad dash in the morning to get kids out the door on time. A handy tip I didn’t know, but could probably have used was this one:
“Because gym gear solves everything. Running late dropping the kids to school? No problem, so long as you’ve managed to swap your PJs for a pair of leggings and some sort of zip-up sports top. That way everyone thinks you’re only late because you managed to fit in a run before breakfast. Why spoil a good story by admitting you just slept in again?”
I’d have preferred fewer side stories with loose ends and more depth to the ones I liked. There are a couple of characters I'd have liked to know better.
Thanks to NetGalley and Legend Press for the copy for review from which I’ve quoted.
June 2, 2016
Three and a half stars.
Firstly thanks to the author and publisher for an ARC won as a Goodreads Giveaway. This is a thought provoking novel. It starts with Terry Pritchard, acting principal of Brindle Public School. He is looking forward with a new year with the kids in his classroom. Terry comes across as an enthusiastic and creative teacher who really cares about his class. I was looking forward to hearing Terry’s secret. The second chapter introduces the reader to Nina Foreman also a teacher who deals with children with learning difficulties and who need one to one attention. This is followed by another chapter about Terry, one from his mate Sid, and back to Terry again. By the time it came back to Nina I had just about forgotten what her story was. The story continues between Terry and Nina and the reader knows that at some point the connection will become obvious. But then come other chapters about Joan and Mel and one from Laurie the acting principal. Laurie is a woman who cares more about rules than people. She views Terry’s easy relationship with the children with suspicion. But then she has her own agenda and is looking for something sinister. Though at times I got frustrated by the chapter in other voices, wanting to get back to Terry’s story, those chapters in other voices build up the tension and give the view of others at the school. Not sure all of them needed to be included though. By the end of term two, Terry’s world falls apart as the secret from his past is exposed.
I loved the small coastal town setting of this novel. It really came alive and the characters came across realistically. I loved the way the story made me think. It raised issues about mistakes made when young and their consequences, but also whether one youthful mistake should have consequences for life. There is some use of the f word, in particular in one chapter about a fight between two children. I assume its overuse in this chapter was meant to be amusing. It is not and didn’t add anything to the story. All in all, I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read but on that raised a lot of questions. It was easy to empathise with Terry. Well worth reading and thinking about afterwards.
Firstly thanks to the author and publisher for an ARC won as a Goodreads Giveaway. This is a thought provoking novel. It starts with Terry Pritchard, acting principal of Brindle Public School. He is looking forward with a new year with the kids in his classroom. Terry comes across as an enthusiastic and creative teacher who really cares about his class. I was looking forward to hearing Terry’s secret. The second chapter introduces the reader to Nina Foreman also a teacher who deals with children with learning difficulties and who need one to one attention. This is followed by another chapter about Terry, one from his mate Sid, and back to Terry again. By the time it came back to Nina I had just about forgotten what her story was. The story continues between Terry and Nina and the reader knows that at some point the connection will become obvious. But then come other chapters about Joan and Mel and one from Laurie the acting principal. Laurie is a woman who cares more about rules than people. She views Terry’s easy relationship with the children with suspicion. But then she has her own agenda and is looking for something sinister. Though at times I got frustrated by the chapter in other voices, wanting to get back to Terry’s story, those chapters in other voices build up the tension and give the view of others at the school. Not sure all of them needed to be included though. By the end of term two, Terry’s world falls apart as the secret from his past is exposed.
I loved the small coastal town setting of this novel. It really came alive and the characters came across realistically. I loved the way the story made me think. It raised issues about mistakes made when young and their consequences, but also whether one youthful mistake should have consequences for life. There is some use of the f word, in particular in one chapter about a fight between two children. I assume its overuse in this chapter was meant to be amusing. It is not and didn’t add anything to the story. All in all, I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read but on that raised a lot of questions. It was easy to empathise with Terry. Well worth reading and thinking about afterwards.
March 9, 2018
I liked this book well enough its written well, however, it took me quite a while to understand it and place it all in my head.
There are several women in this book, some are more distinctive than others by the way they speak. I the heading of the chapters were not telling me who was talking next I'd have been totally floored.
There's a cheating spouse, a shy older woman being told what to do, and even an asylum seeker.
Its based around a school year in a small Australian coastal school.
A new principal comes into play which stirs up a lot of interest.
She has strict rules. No hugging a child it may be misunderstood by others, this is what happened to Terry. He didn't think twice, he was just comforting a child knowing their circumstances.
Based in such a small community you need to realise things get around faster than a bullet from a gun.
I liked it well enough but too many chapters of different POV which became a little overwhelming for me.
My thanks to Legend Press via Net Galley
There are several women in this book, some are more distinctive than others by the way they speak. I the heading of the chapters were not telling me who was talking next I'd have been totally floored.
There's a cheating spouse, a shy older woman being told what to do, and even an asylum seeker.
Its based around a school year in a small Australian coastal school.
A new principal comes into play which stirs up a lot of interest.
She has strict rules. No hugging a child it may be misunderstood by others, this is what happened to Terry. He didn't think twice, he was just comforting a child knowing their circumstances.
Based in such a small community you need to realise things get around faster than a bullet from a gun.
I liked it well enough but too many chapters of different POV which became a little overwhelming for me.
My thanks to Legend Press via Net Galley
July 20, 2019
The Teacher's Secret is by Suzanne Leal is her first novel and if you love a scandal this is a novel not to be missed.
I loved the character teacher Terry Pritchard. He was an interesting character one that you want to shout at and stop, please don't. But in the eyes of teacher of Mr P, he didn't do any thing wrong, he only felt sorry for the young girl. Maybe he knew more about his girl student that no one else could possibly know.
Terry and Michelle tried for a baby the natural way and the medical way, sadly nothing worked. For a while they talked about adopting, but nothing became of it.
Teacher Terry Pritchard stopped a mother slapping her child. He comforted the young girl student by putting his arm around her.
Teacher Mr P is in trouble it is departmental regulations for a prohibit physical contact with a student.
Teacher Mr P accidentally breaks a pair of glasses belonging to a girl student. He takes her after school to get a new pair.
Once again Terry Pritchard is trouble. To transport a child in a teachers car in out of school hours is in contravention of the regulations.
After 18 years of teaching the final teaching days are over, he has been given immediate retirement.
March 15, 2018
Actual rating 3.5 ☆
3.5☆ A Thought Provoking Read
The Teachers Secret is a story about a deputy head teacher who was passionate about teaching and his students.
When I see the blurb for this book I was super excited. I was settling down for a gritty story full of juicy secrets. However I felt slightly let down and a little confused.
Firstly I want to start by saying The Teachers Secret has Huge Potential if it focused on one thing instead of introducing lots of side characters and their stories.
My reasoning for a 3.5☆ is the side stories just confused me and didn't really add much depth to the story.
I found myself getting slightly disorientated as to what role they played within the main story.
I found there was just too many characters being introduced for me to keep up.
I did appreciate that Suzanne was creating the small village lifestyle where everyone knows everything and everyone and secrets are never a secret for long.
I want to talk about the main character Terry!
Now for me Terry was a complex character.
Right from the start it's completely obvious he is very passionate about his job and his students. Which I applaud as it's not easy for Male teachers in the younger ages.
Now here is where I find his behaviour somewhat inappropriate.
You see as much as i could see he had the children's best interest at heart.
I felt very uncomfortable in the way he sexually objectified the young 11/12year old girls.
For example, making a mental note at how much a particular students breasts have grown! Or how she needs a bra!
For me this is a NO NO!!
Ok he doesn't say it aloud but not the point!
Now we come to his contact with the children. When one of his close students mum makes a disgraceful scene in the playground he comforts her by cuddling her very closely.
Now she was distraught yes! I get that!
But the safeguards are in place for a reason.
So when head teacher Laurie reports him. I don't blame her in a way as she tried to talk to him first.
I am a qualified nursery nurse and Terry's need for contact did make me cringe, innocent or not headteacher Laurie has a duty of care and his behaviour did come across as inappropriate.
There is alot of red tape when it comes to safe guarding children but it's crucial.
It's so hard for male teachers to teach 2-11 year olds so I applaud Terry for that but he should of been more aware.
In some ways this book has made an impact on me as I was shouting at Terry to stop!
I think if the story was focused more on him and the students it would of been amazing.
This was hard for me to review as I was so torn.
Overall these are just my own personal feelings.
I didn't Dislike it at all I just wanted more! It was just lacking some depth.
The pace of this story is a slower character driven story.
I would recommend this book to others.
Thank you to Legend Press for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my blog website:
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
3.5☆ A Thought Provoking Read
The Teachers Secret is a story about a deputy head teacher who was passionate about teaching and his students.
When I see the blurb for this book I was super excited. I was settling down for a gritty story full of juicy secrets. However I felt slightly let down and a little confused.
Firstly I want to start by saying The Teachers Secret has Huge Potential if it focused on one thing instead of introducing lots of side characters and their stories.
My reasoning for a 3.5☆ is the side stories just confused me and didn't really add much depth to the story.
I found myself getting slightly disorientated as to what role they played within the main story.
I found there was just too many characters being introduced for me to keep up.
I did appreciate that Suzanne was creating the small village lifestyle where everyone knows everything and everyone and secrets are never a secret for long.
I want to talk about the main character Terry!
Now for me Terry was a complex character.
Right from the start it's completely obvious he is very passionate about his job and his students. Which I applaud as it's not easy for Male teachers in the younger ages.
Now here is where I find his behaviour somewhat inappropriate.
You see as much as i could see he had the children's best interest at heart.
I felt very uncomfortable in the way he sexually objectified the young 11/12year old girls.
For example, making a mental note at how much a particular students breasts have grown! Or how she needs a bra!
For me this is a NO NO!!
Ok he doesn't say it aloud but not the point!
Now we come to his contact with the children. When one of his close students mum makes a disgraceful scene in the playground he comforts her by cuddling her very closely.
Now she was distraught yes! I get that!
But the safeguards are in place for a reason.
So when head teacher Laurie reports him. I don't blame her in a way as she tried to talk to him first.
I am a qualified nursery nurse and Terry's need for contact did make me cringe, innocent or not headteacher Laurie has a duty of care and his behaviour did come across as inappropriate.
There is alot of red tape when it comes to safe guarding children but it's crucial.
It's so hard for male teachers to teach 2-11 year olds so I applaud Terry for that but he should of been more aware.
In some ways this book has made an impact on me as I was shouting at Terry to stop!
I think if the story was focused more on him and the students it would of been amazing.
This was hard for me to review as I was so torn.
Overall these are just my own personal feelings.
I didn't Dislike it at all I just wanted more! It was just lacking some depth.
The pace of this story is a slower character driven story.
I would recommend this book to others.
Thank you to Legend Press for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my blog website:
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
May 31, 2016
What a captivating book and so wonderfully written. It's not easy to master an interwoven story told from multiple perspectives but Suzanne Leal does it brilliantly. I simply could not put this book down as j had to know. This is a book about friendship and the power to be found in the truth even when it's heart breaking.
March 13, 2018
This was a much more emotional and thought provoking book then I was expecting it to be. It was surprisingly gripping and I soon found myself immersed in the book and unable to put it down.
I love books that discuss a moral issue and The Teacher’s Secret does that using the subject of pupil-teacher contact as an issue for one its characters. As a parent I’m a little on the fence about this issue. Whilst I understand that guidelines need to be in place I don’t see why teacher’s can’t used their discression and determine when hugs etc can be used. It breaks my heart when my son fall over at school as I know that all he wants is a hug and yet no one on site is allowed to give him one. I think sometimes this lack or affection or sympathy could cause more harm to the child then a hug could, especially as this could be the only time children get any love or affection from anyone.
The issue of pupil-teacher contact is one that puts veteran teacher Terry and Acting Principle Laurie against each other. Terry, like me, thinks there are times when contact is necessary and comforting for a child. He uses it when he feels the situation calls for it and his pupils will benefit from such interaction. Laurie is very strict and likes things by the book. The rules say absolutely no contact is allowed, so I Laurie’s world that means anyone disobeying this rule should be punished. It was very interesting to find out about the tow ides of the argument through these characters.
My favourite character was Terry and I wish that all children were lucky enough to have a teacher like him in their lives. His energy and relationships with his pupils was so lovely to read about, as was his efforts to change his lessons and assemblies to get all the children involved and ensure that they excel. I really felt for him with his continued arguments with Laurie as it was obvious he was really a nice guy just trying to do the best for his pupils. As the novel progresses and the reader becomes more aware of what Laurie is like I did start to find some of his interactions with pupil’s unsettling, This wasn’t because he was doing anything wrong but rather because you knew that it would get him into trouble with Laurie and I really didn’t want him to.
I hated Laurie, what an interfering horrible women! I could never understand why she felt the need to change so much and get so involved when she was only the acting principle and therefore not there for very long. It seemed that she took an instant dislike to terry and wanted to make things as difficult as possible for him. As the book goes on I did begin to wonder if there was a reason for this, which definitely kept me intrigued and wanting to read more. The revelation when it came did surprise me, which is always great as I do like being kept on my toes. The ending was very heart warming and uplifting and helped to bring the story to a satisfying conclusion.
The only reason this book isn’t 5 stars for me is that I felt it was a little slow to start and the introduction of multiple characters quite quickly was a tad confusing and I did initially struggle to work out who was who and their relation to each other. If you are finding this too, I do urge you to continue as the book soon picks up and becomes very interesting and gripping.
This is Suzanne’s debut book and I really look forward to reading more from her in the future. If you enjoyed books like The Slap then you will really enjoy this one.
Huge thank you to Imogen from Legend Press for my copy of this book and for inviting me onto the blog tour.
I love books that discuss a moral issue and The Teacher’s Secret does that using the subject of pupil-teacher contact as an issue for one its characters. As a parent I’m a little on the fence about this issue. Whilst I understand that guidelines need to be in place I don’t see why teacher’s can’t used their discression and determine when hugs etc can be used. It breaks my heart when my son fall over at school as I know that all he wants is a hug and yet no one on site is allowed to give him one. I think sometimes this lack or affection or sympathy could cause more harm to the child then a hug could, especially as this could be the only time children get any love or affection from anyone.
The issue of pupil-teacher contact is one that puts veteran teacher Terry and Acting Principle Laurie against each other. Terry, like me, thinks there are times when contact is necessary and comforting for a child. He uses it when he feels the situation calls for it and his pupils will benefit from such interaction. Laurie is very strict and likes things by the book. The rules say absolutely no contact is allowed, so I Laurie’s world that means anyone disobeying this rule should be punished. It was very interesting to find out about the tow ides of the argument through these characters.
My favourite character was Terry and I wish that all children were lucky enough to have a teacher like him in their lives. His energy and relationships with his pupils was so lovely to read about, as was his efforts to change his lessons and assemblies to get all the children involved and ensure that they excel. I really felt for him with his continued arguments with Laurie as it was obvious he was really a nice guy just trying to do the best for his pupils. As the novel progresses and the reader becomes more aware of what Laurie is like I did start to find some of his interactions with pupil’s unsettling, This wasn’t because he was doing anything wrong but rather because you knew that it would get him into trouble with Laurie and I really didn’t want him to.
I hated Laurie, what an interfering horrible women! I could never understand why she felt the need to change so much and get so involved when she was only the acting principle and therefore not there for very long. It seemed that she took an instant dislike to terry and wanted to make things as difficult as possible for him. As the book goes on I did begin to wonder if there was a reason for this, which definitely kept me intrigued and wanting to read more. The revelation when it came did surprise me, which is always great as I do like being kept on my toes. The ending was very heart warming and uplifting and helped to bring the story to a satisfying conclusion.
The only reason this book isn’t 5 stars for me is that I felt it was a little slow to start and the introduction of multiple characters quite quickly was a tad confusing and I did initially struggle to work out who was who and their relation to each other. If you are finding this too, I do urge you to continue as the book soon picks up and becomes very interesting and gripping.
This is Suzanne’s debut book and I really look forward to reading more from her in the future. If you enjoyed books like The Slap then you will really enjoy this one.
Huge thank you to Imogen from Legend Press for my copy of this book and for inviting me onto the blog tour.
March 21, 2018
Set in Brindle Public School, a primary school in Australia and spanning four terms in the year, Suzanne Leal slowly builds her story. Chapters are not numbered, they are headed with character names and each one is told from the viewpoint of that character.
I'll admit that there were times that I found it fairly difficult to remember just who was who, and did get a little frustrated as one character's story ended, and another began in the next chapter. On reflection though, this is a clever way to structure the story as it keeps the reader's interest, and I soon became immersed in the new character's point of view.
Terry Pritchard is the lead character and he is the glue that sticks the story together. Terry is a much-loved teacher at Brindle Public School. Admired by his colleagues, loved by his pupils; he knows the school like the back of his hand. He has taught hundreds of children over the years, and he's now teaching the offspring of his former pupils. He's content and enjoys his job. The story begins on the first day of a new term, Terry is eager to get back to work, to find out what his pupils have done over the holidays and to return to what he loves doing.
Brindle Public School has a relief Principal this term and this is where Terry's problems begin. It becomes clear that Laurie, the caretake Principal has her own ideas about how the school should be run, and they are very different to Terry's.
Suzanne Leal's legal expertise in child protection and refugee law shines through in her writing. Her characters and the situations that are described are incredibly believable. There are some serious issues dealt with in The Teacher's Secret, and whilst I was a huge fan of Terry, there were times when I could understand Laurie did some of the things that she did.
This is not just Terry and Laurie's story though. There are supporting characters whose own stories are relayed throughout the book, interweaving with the main plot and adding layers to the story.
I enjoyed The Teacher's Secret despite what really is quite a slow start. The multitude of characters do feel a little overwhelming at the beginning but this author's skilful writing soon allows the reader to settle nicely into her story.
https://randomthingsthroughmyletterbo...
I'll admit that there were times that I found it fairly difficult to remember just who was who, and did get a little frustrated as one character's story ended, and another began in the next chapter. On reflection though, this is a clever way to structure the story as it keeps the reader's interest, and I soon became immersed in the new character's point of view.
Terry Pritchard is the lead character and he is the glue that sticks the story together. Terry is a much-loved teacher at Brindle Public School. Admired by his colleagues, loved by his pupils; he knows the school like the back of his hand. He has taught hundreds of children over the years, and he's now teaching the offspring of his former pupils. He's content and enjoys his job. The story begins on the first day of a new term, Terry is eager to get back to work, to find out what his pupils have done over the holidays and to return to what he loves doing.
Brindle Public School has a relief Principal this term and this is where Terry's problems begin. It becomes clear that Laurie, the caretake Principal has her own ideas about how the school should be run, and they are very different to Terry's.
Suzanne Leal's legal expertise in child protection and refugee law shines through in her writing. Her characters and the situations that are described are incredibly believable. There are some serious issues dealt with in The Teacher's Secret, and whilst I was a huge fan of Terry, there were times when I could understand Laurie did some of the things that she did.
This is not just Terry and Laurie's story though. There are supporting characters whose own stories are relayed throughout the book, interweaving with the main plot and adding layers to the story.
I enjoyed The Teacher's Secret despite what really is quite a slow start. The multitude of characters do feel a little overwhelming at the beginning but this author's skilful writing soon allows the reader to settle nicely into her story.
https://randomthingsthroughmyletterbo...
April 23, 2016
Having being described as a cross between Liane Moriarty's "Big Little Lies" and Christos Tsiolkos's "The Slap" I was intrigued to read "The Teacher's Secret". I was immediately drawn in to the community of Brindle, with each section of the book divided into school terms. Each chapter followed one of the many endearing characters, who in one way or another become connected to Brindle Public School.
One reason I loved this book so much was the love and compassion that the members of this community showed each other, and particularly towards the school children, who were often flawed and from difficult backgrounds, but shown the caring and respect I believe we would all like to see displayed towards our children. Yet many questions were raised, and left to the reader to decide, as to where the line is crossed in the professional relationship between teacher and pupil.
This was not a challenging read and I finished it in a few days, suitable for those who enjoy an Australian novel without overly dark themes.
One reason I loved this book so much was the love and compassion that the members of this community showed each other, and particularly towards the school children, who were often flawed and from difficult backgrounds, but shown the caring and respect I believe we would all like to see displayed towards our children. Yet many questions were raised, and left to the reader to decide, as to where the line is crossed in the professional relationship between teacher and pupil.
This was not a challenging read and I finished it in a few days, suitable for those who enjoy an Australian novel without overly dark themes.
May 30, 2017
https://anaslair.wordpress.com/2017/0...
The Teacher's Secret was tough to get into. There were so many characters that I could never remember who was who anymore. Let's just say I was happy to have read this on my Kindle, where I could do a quick search to remind me. But yes, I did not find it very engaging and was beginning to wonder if I would finish it before the end of the month.
Not only are there a lot of characters but also many perspectives, too many. I think we follow at least 5 or 6 characters as main ones, learning about who they were, their routines and the people in their lives. I found that very exhausting and several of them did not add anything to the story.
Rebecca for instance, as well as her family and background, are utterly pointless to the narrative. Don't get me wrong, I thought her characterisation was very well done and think she would be fine in a separate book, not just this one. As it is, it feels that the character was added to the book just so the author could write about what she knows (she specialises in refugee law) and to provide a twist that is not even related to the story.
Not remembering who was who for a big enough part of the read, aligned with the fact that nothing interesting actually happened, often caused my attention to drift. The events mentioned in the blurb do not take place until well after half of the book (and I feel cheated in that sense, I hate spoilers) and the ending is quite abrupt. The big teacher's secret is anti-climatic and there really isn't anything I could hang on to.
I almost wish and we had had some form of twist to make it all worth while.
The strength of this book is the portrayal of a small coastal town, which is quite vivid and engaging, and each character, who has their own stuff to deal with, if you can keep up with the plethora of them.
However, as I finish the book I am left clueless as to what it was supposed to achieve and just a 'well okay then' feeling.
Disclaimer: I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The Teacher's Secret was tough to get into. There were so many characters that I could never remember who was who anymore. Let's just say I was happy to have read this on my Kindle, where I could do a quick search to remind me. But yes, I did not find it very engaging and was beginning to wonder if I would finish it before the end of the month.
Not only are there a lot of characters but also many perspectives, too many. I think we follow at least 5 or 6 characters as main ones, learning about who they were, their routines and the people in their lives. I found that very exhausting and several of them did not add anything to the story.
Rebecca for instance, as well as her family and background, are utterly pointless to the narrative. Don't get me wrong, I thought her characterisation was very well done and think she would be fine in a separate book, not just this one. As it is, it feels that the character was added to the book just so the author could write about what she knows (she specialises in refugee law) and to provide a twist that is not even related to the story.
Not remembering who was who for a big enough part of the read, aligned with the fact that nothing interesting actually happened, often caused my attention to drift. The events mentioned in the blurb do not take place until well after half of the book (and I feel cheated in that sense, I hate spoilers) and the ending is quite abrupt. The big teacher's secret is anti-climatic and there really isn't anything I could hang on to.
I almost wish and we had had some form of twist to make it all worth while.
The strength of this book is the portrayal of a small coastal town, which is quite vivid and engaging, and each character, who has their own stuff to deal with, if you can keep up with the plethora of them.
However, as I finish the book I am left clueless as to what it was supposed to achieve and just a 'well okay then' feeling.
Disclaimer: I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
March 19, 2018
The Teacher’s Secret is set in a close-knit community in Australia. Terry has been teaching at the local school for years. Some of the children he teaches are the children of parents he taught when they were children. Some of them need more help than others. Pupils and colleagues adore him but when Laurie arrives to stand in as school head she doesn’t like his ways. She sees his closeness and time he spends with the children in his own time as a threat to their safety and against the rules. And Laurie is adamant that all rules need to be adhered to by everybody. She soon makes it impossible for him to carry on working at the school.
The novel focuses on Terry but also other members of the community. We meet Nina, the teacher who replaces Terry and one of the few who doesn’t really know him. We also meet parents and grandparents of pupils, close friends and a family who want refuge.
At first, when the novel focused on Terry I found if quite difficult to read. I did have sympathy for him, he did a lot of good things for the kids, especially the ones who needed extra care. But I don’t think he helped himself at all with his refusal to accept the rules that were in place. I warmed to him more after he was forced to leave his job, when you could see how much the children needed him. And how much he needed them.
My favourite character was Nina, how she had to accept the way her life had changed and how she had to make the children accept her as their new teacher. She was the only one who had any liking or sympathy for Laurie, a feeling I didn’t share. I thought she was a cold person who would manipulate a situation so she could put her rules in place. I liked Grace and her family, I felt her fears over not being granted refuge and how hard it was to fit into a new way of life. And how it was made easier for them by a misunderstanding.
I liked reading about this little community of people and Suzanne Leal is an author who I would happily read again.
The novel focuses on Terry but also other members of the community. We meet Nina, the teacher who replaces Terry and one of the few who doesn’t really know him. We also meet parents and grandparents of pupils, close friends and a family who want refuge.
At first, when the novel focused on Terry I found if quite difficult to read. I did have sympathy for him, he did a lot of good things for the kids, especially the ones who needed extra care. But I don’t think he helped himself at all with his refusal to accept the rules that were in place. I warmed to him more after he was forced to leave his job, when you could see how much the children needed him. And how much he needed them.
My favourite character was Nina, how she had to accept the way her life had changed and how she had to make the children accept her as their new teacher. She was the only one who had any liking or sympathy for Laurie, a feeling I didn’t share. I thought she was a cold person who would manipulate a situation so she could put her rules in place. I liked Grace and her family, I felt her fears over not being granted refuge and how hard it was to fit into a new way of life. And how it was made easier for them by a misunderstanding.
I liked reading about this little community of people and Suzanne Leal is an author who I would happily read again.
March 22, 2018
This is a clash of two very different generations. When the Head Teacher at Brindle Public School has to take a year out, a new Head steps in. Laurie arrives with her own set of action plans and rules for the staff and pupils alike. The school has been run the same at least over a couple of generations. It was stuck in a time wrap of the good old days when children that hurt themselves, when they fell over, could have a cuddle better without a twisted mind making more of it! And a school sing-song, with actions of course, wasn’t deemed as an accident waiting to happen and sheer waste of time. Things were going to change. Thing is you can change the rules but can you change the people?
Set in a small Australian town, Terry is a bit of a Marmite character that took me back to my own days at school. I had teachers like him and still remember them very fondly by name fifty-five years later. Terry is the schools Deputy Head and only male teacher. Laurie dislikes him instantly and just sees him as danger to the children’s well-being. She is determined to get him out of the school for good, even if she has to ruin his reputation.
Oh my! What a story this is. I wanted to shout at Laurie to get her head out of the rules and regulations manual and just see the register numbers as children. I really did not like this Head Teacher. Terry has a secret though and Laurie is a proper little blood hound.
This story is told by a number of people and it doesn’t all centre round the school or Terry but the community in an indirect way. I liked these stories that gave the teachers and pupils a bit of background and depth. The further I read into the book the more I loved it. The last quarter of the book just turned me into a blubbering mess, requiring a box of tissues rather than a packet. Every page just set me up to cry again.
I really am not one to comment much on the end of a book but this is pretty special. I am in tears again just thinking of it.
Set in a small Australian town, Terry is a bit of a Marmite character that took me back to my own days at school. I had teachers like him and still remember them very fondly by name fifty-five years later. Terry is the schools Deputy Head and only male teacher. Laurie dislikes him instantly and just sees him as danger to the children’s well-being. She is determined to get him out of the school for good, even if she has to ruin his reputation.
Oh my! What a story this is. I wanted to shout at Laurie to get her head out of the rules and regulations manual and just see the register numbers as children. I really did not like this Head Teacher. Terry has a secret though and Laurie is a proper little blood hound.
This story is told by a number of people and it doesn’t all centre round the school or Terry but the community in an indirect way. I liked these stories that gave the teachers and pupils a bit of background and depth. The further I read into the book the more I loved it. The last quarter of the book just turned me into a blubbering mess, requiring a box of tissues rather than a packet. Every page just set me up to cry again.
I really am not one to comment much on the end of a book but this is pretty special. I am in tears again just thinking of it.
December 30, 2018
The Teacher's Secret by Suzanne Leal
The story opens with Terry, one of the senior staff members who knows alot about the students. He has been asked to resign by the new Principal, Laurie Matthews who goes by the Child Protection Handbook. He has been replaced by Nina whose husband has an affair with one of her parents. Then Joan comes along, Nina's sweet yet lonely neighbor. In the midst of these, an African family seeks refuge in this Brindle Community.
The story is told in present tense from the point of views of the adults- teachers, parents and Community members.
The use of present tense shows the reality of life portrays in the story. There are ongoing issues in our communities like divorce, single parents, abuse, having refugees; that end up in the classrooms simply because children are involved.
As a teacher, I have seen and experienced similar situations.
I taught in a school where i had refugees from Iran, Iraq and Bangladesh. They do face discrimination but the teachers play tremendous role in maintaining racial harmony in the class. I guess that's where Nina's roles tick!.
A lesson learnt is of Laurie Matthews' professionalism. She goes by the Code of Ethics; fine but does she have concrete evidence to sack Terry? Does she know the history of all of her students? This is one of the blunders of the teaching profession. How competent and knowledgeable teachers are in addressing sensitive issues.
Tania seems to be my like!!
I would encourage teachers to read this novel. They will definitely learn one or two things from here.
The story opens with Terry, one of the senior staff members who knows alot about the students. He has been asked to resign by the new Principal, Laurie Matthews who goes by the Child Protection Handbook. He has been replaced by Nina whose husband has an affair with one of her parents. Then Joan comes along, Nina's sweet yet lonely neighbor. In the midst of these, an African family seeks refuge in this Brindle Community.
The story is told in present tense from the point of views of the adults- teachers, parents and Community members.
The use of present tense shows the reality of life portrays in the story. There are ongoing issues in our communities like divorce, single parents, abuse, having refugees; that end up in the classrooms simply because children are involved.
As a teacher, I have seen and experienced similar situations.
I taught in a school where i had refugees from Iran, Iraq and Bangladesh. They do face discrimination but the teachers play tremendous role in maintaining racial harmony in the class. I guess that's where Nina's roles tick!.
A lesson learnt is of Laurie Matthews' professionalism. She goes by the Code of Ethics; fine but does she have concrete evidence to sack Terry? Does she know the history of all of her students? This is one of the blunders of the teaching profession. How competent and knowledgeable teachers are in addressing sensitive issues.
Tania seems to be my like!!
I would encourage teachers to read this novel. They will definitely learn one or two things from here.
June 6, 2016
Australian author Suzanne Leal is a lawyer experienced in child protection and refugee law, which are just two of the themes reflected in her latest novel, The Teacher's Secret.
Leal's first-hand experience of both means she's not afraid to tackle the tough subjects, and she does so with pragmatic realism and sensitivity.
Leal introduces an array of characters in the novel and we follow a number of them. In addition to deputy principal Terry, of particular note were Nina, who's initially teaching elsewhere until forced to make some mammoth life changes. And then there's Rebecca - still in her homeland when we first meet her - while her academic husband's working in Australia.
I loved the way Leal wrote all three of these major characters. They very much inhabited the story evolving around them and I was easily drawn in. She also did a great job with the kids in the book. They felt very real and I could practically see and hear their exploits.
There's a lot of depth in this novel. As well as the obvious issues around refugees and child safety, Leal deals with relationships, parenting, aloneness and considers the notion of family. The microcosm of the small Brindle community - its lack of pretence and soft-lighting - helped amplify those elements.
Read the full review on my blog: http://www.debbish.com/books-literatu...
3.5 stars
Leal's first-hand experience of both means she's not afraid to tackle the tough subjects, and she does so with pragmatic realism and sensitivity.
Leal introduces an array of characters in the novel and we follow a number of them. In addition to deputy principal Terry, of particular note were Nina, who's initially teaching elsewhere until forced to make some mammoth life changes. And then there's Rebecca - still in her homeland when we first meet her - while her academic husband's working in Australia.
I loved the way Leal wrote all three of these major characters. They very much inhabited the story evolving around them and I was easily drawn in. She also did a great job with the kids in the book. They felt very real and I could practically see and hear their exploits.
There's a lot of depth in this novel. As well as the obvious issues around refugees and child safety, Leal deals with relationships, parenting, aloneness and considers the notion of family. The microcosm of the small Brindle community - its lack of pretence and soft-lighting - helped amplify those elements.
Read the full review on my blog: http://www.debbish.com/books-literatu...
3.5 stars
April 11, 2016
I received this book as an advanced copy for review. I found it interesting in that each chapter is written from a different characters perspective. The story is built as each chapter unfolds, and even though very few of the characters actually interact their lives touch and merge and a single incident has an impact on them all. The story is thought provoking and proves you really don't know the story unless you hear it from the person involved. Even if you think you know the facts sometimes a little context changes the reality. The Characters in this book a lovely (for the most part) I guess there has to be a villain and in this book it is the acting principal. An enjoyable read.
June 21, 2016
Wow what an amazing book, it had me captivated from the first page it was fantastic :)
June 20, 2016
The Teacher’s Secret (Allen & Unwin, 2016) is a moving and compelling story about shifting perspectives and misconceptions.
I’ve got to be honest, with its title and tagline: ‘Only one person knows the truth’, I expected The Teacher’s Secret to be more of a thriller. I’ve also heard it likened to Christos Tsiolkas’ The Slap (Allen & Unwin, 2008), which makes sense: both stories centre on an arguably inappropriate interaction between adult and child and raise questions around what is and isn’t appropriate behaviour for adults with a duty of care. Both stories also follow a different character in each chapter, offering the reader deeper insight into each character’s perspective on the events that unfold. But I’d argue that this is where the similarities end. Tsiolkas’ fiction pulses with barely restrained aggression. His narratives are unrelenting, and his prose is a punch to the gut. That’s not a criticism; I’m a huge fan. But when I pick up one of his books, I know I have to brace myself. By contrast, The Teacher’s Secret is a book with a big heart. Yes, it poses some difficult ethical questions, but ultimately it’s a story of compassion and healing and the extraordinary resilience of small communities.
At 421 pages, it’s a reasonably hefty read, and I surprised myself by zipping through it in two days (I’d normally take a week with a book that long). Leal has a flowing, easy prose style that carries the reader through the story. Also, I’ve been reading a lot of British and US titles of late, and it was a delight to return to a more familiar landscape. Brindle is fictional, and from the way it’s described, it sounds like it might be on the NSW coast. However, Leal’s descriptions of the small beach and tidal rock pool where the residents swim had me reminiscing about family holidays at our old shack in Coobowie, SA, and trips to the tidal pool in the neighbouring town of Edithburgh.
I went to school in the city, but like Brindle Public, my primary school was small with an active community attached. My mum helped out with crafternoons and school excursions and even filled in as a relief teacher on occasion. Parents and teachers were friendly with one another and, with so few students (there were only twelve or so in my graduating class) everyone was close. So, The Teacher’s Secret felt like a homecoming, and I suspect many other Australian readers will also find much that’s familiar in the Brindle community. And the story, or rather stories, that unfold within this community are compelling.
Leal takes the time to develop her characters so that the reader is deeply invested in what happens to them. I was eager to know if Nina would be able to move on from her marriage and make a place for herself in Brindle. I wanted to learn why Rebecca had to flee her homeland and whether she and her family would be granted asylum. I had my fingers crossed that Joan would find the courage to speak to Sid. And even though the story belongs to the adults, I also wanted to know whether the kids would be alright after everything that happens.
However, there were two characters I found problematic. Laurie and Terry. Leal gives Laurie two chapters—significantly less than the rest of the principal cast—and she lacks depth. There are a few small moments where she shows the tiniest hint of vulnerability: ‘her hands are trembling’ when she addresses the school for the final time, and the other teachers make a point of not inviting her to the pub when she wishes them a good weekend one Friday afternoon. For the most part, though, she’s depicted as a one-dimensional killjoy out to get Terry at any cost and with seemingly little motivation.
'Reorder, refile, rearrange. This is Laurie’s forte. It’s what she was known for at head office: her attention to detail, her sense of order. The systems guru, that’s what they called her, and that’s what she likes to call herself. Privately, of course.'
The reader never finds out why she’s so uptight or who she is outside her work. She reads more as a device for ousting Terry than a fully fleshed out character.
Terry, on the other hand, is complicated. One of the key questions of the book is: does Terry’s punishment fit his crime? And Leal wants readers to mull over that. Terry is an excellent teacher who goes above and beyond the call of duty with his students, and they love him for it. The fact that Leal withholds his original crime until right near the end of the book had me suspecting early on that it wasn’t going to be something expected, and I got the impression that Leal wants us to feel at least a measure of sympathy for him, after all, he does good work. Sure, he’s not shy about giving the kids a cuddle or rubbing them on the back when they’re upset. And it’s a small town where everyone knows everyone. It’s not a big deal if he helps out a friend by driving her granddaughter home and babysitting her on occasion. Is it? Terry huffs a lot about the bureaucracy interfering with good teaching, at one point he complains to Sid of Laurie:
'She made me sound like a paedophile … told me that my behaviour was inappropriate. In breach of the code of conduct or some rubbish. You know what I should have said to that? I should have asked her what the code of conduct says to do when a kid’s falling apart on the first day of school because her mother’s just got stuck into her. No, no, better than that—I should have just left it to the bloody code of conduct to sort the whole thing out.'
I had sub-zero sympathy for Terry. Whether you agree with the rules regarding what is and isn’t appropriate conduct between teachers and students is irrelevant: if you want to work in a school, you have to abide by them. No exceptions. Everyone who works with children in this country knows that. I resented Terry’s arrogance in thinking that because he is a good teacher in many respects and because he’s popular among the students and has been at Brindle Public longer than almost anyone that he is somehow exempt from the rules. It’s typical ‘good guy’ mentality. Laurie pulls him up on his behaviour on several occasions before she reports him, but Terry refuses to modify his behaviour. This isn’t necessarily a criticism of Leal; a large part of Terry’s role is to get the reader debating where they stand on this issue. Mission accomplished.
The overall narrative hangs well, although following seven characters is overwhelming at times and I’m not convinced they all played an essential role. There’s also what feels like a mad scramble to tie up all the loose threads in the final chapters. Still, I was intrigued by each character’s story and ultimately found The Teacher’s Secret an entertaining and heartfelt read.
Very keen to hear other reader’s thoughts on this one. I think it would make for an excellent book club choice!
Thank you to Allen & Unwin for providing a copy of The Teacher's Secret in exchange for an honest review.
For more bookish bits, head on over to Lectito, or get the latest Lectito reviews delivered to your inbox.
I’ve got to be honest, with its title and tagline: ‘Only one person knows the truth’, I expected The Teacher’s Secret to be more of a thriller. I’ve also heard it likened to Christos Tsiolkas’ The Slap (Allen & Unwin, 2008), which makes sense: both stories centre on an arguably inappropriate interaction between adult and child and raise questions around what is and isn’t appropriate behaviour for adults with a duty of care. Both stories also follow a different character in each chapter, offering the reader deeper insight into each character’s perspective on the events that unfold. But I’d argue that this is where the similarities end. Tsiolkas’ fiction pulses with barely restrained aggression. His narratives are unrelenting, and his prose is a punch to the gut. That’s not a criticism; I’m a huge fan. But when I pick up one of his books, I know I have to brace myself. By contrast, The Teacher’s Secret is a book with a big heart. Yes, it poses some difficult ethical questions, but ultimately it’s a story of compassion and healing and the extraordinary resilience of small communities.
At 421 pages, it’s a reasonably hefty read, and I surprised myself by zipping through it in two days (I’d normally take a week with a book that long). Leal has a flowing, easy prose style that carries the reader through the story. Also, I’ve been reading a lot of British and US titles of late, and it was a delight to return to a more familiar landscape. Brindle is fictional, and from the way it’s described, it sounds like it might be on the NSW coast. However, Leal’s descriptions of the small beach and tidal rock pool where the residents swim had me reminiscing about family holidays at our old shack in Coobowie, SA, and trips to the tidal pool in the neighbouring town of Edithburgh.
I went to school in the city, but like Brindle Public, my primary school was small with an active community attached. My mum helped out with crafternoons and school excursions and even filled in as a relief teacher on occasion. Parents and teachers were friendly with one another and, with so few students (there were only twelve or so in my graduating class) everyone was close. So, The Teacher’s Secret felt like a homecoming, and I suspect many other Australian readers will also find much that’s familiar in the Brindle community. And the story, or rather stories, that unfold within this community are compelling.
Leal takes the time to develop her characters so that the reader is deeply invested in what happens to them. I was eager to know if Nina would be able to move on from her marriage and make a place for herself in Brindle. I wanted to learn why Rebecca had to flee her homeland and whether she and her family would be granted asylum. I had my fingers crossed that Joan would find the courage to speak to Sid. And even though the story belongs to the adults, I also wanted to know whether the kids would be alright after everything that happens.
However, there were two characters I found problematic. Laurie and Terry. Leal gives Laurie two chapters—significantly less than the rest of the principal cast—and she lacks depth. There are a few small moments where she shows the tiniest hint of vulnerability: ‘her hands are trembling’ when she addresses the school for the final time, and the other teachers make a point of not inviting her to the pub when she wishes them a good weekend one Friday afternoon. For the most part, though, she’s depicted as a one-dimensional killjoy out to get Terry at any cost and with seemingly little motivation.
'Reorder, refile, rearrange. This is Laurie’s forte. It’s what she was known for at head office: her attention to detail, her sense of order. The systems guru, that’s what they called her, and that’s what she likes to call herself. Privately, of course.'
The reader never finds out why she’s so uptight or who she is outside her work. She reads more as a device for ousting Terry than a fully fleshed out character.
Terry, on the other hand, is complicated. One of the key questions of the book is: does Terry’s punishment fit his crime? And Leal wants readers to mull over that. Terry is an excellent teacher who goes above and beyond the call of duty with his students, and they love him for it. The fact that Leal withholds his original crime until right near the end of the book had me suspecting early on that it wasn’t going to be something expected, and I got the impression that Leal wants us to feel at least a measure of sympathy for him, after all, he does good work. Sure, he’s not shy about giving the kids a cuddle or rubbing them on the back when they’re upset. And it’s a small town where everyone knows everyone. It’s not a big deal if he helps out a friend by driving her granddaughter home and babysitting her on occasion. Is it? Terry huffs a lot about the bureaucracy interfering with good teaching, at one point he complains to Sid of Laurie:
'She made me sound like a paedophile … told me that my behaviour was inappropriate. In breach of the code of conduct or some rubbish. You know what I should have said to that? I should have asked her what the code of conduct says to do when a kid’s falling apart on the first day of school because her mother’s just got stuck into her. No, no, better than that—I should have just left it to the bloody code of conduct to sort the whole thing out.'
I had sub-zero sympathy for Terry. Whether you agree with the rules regarding what is and isn’t appropriate conduct between teachers and students is irrelevant: if you want to work in a school, you have to abide by them. No exceptions. Everyone who works with children in this country knows that. I resented Terry’s arrogance in thinking that because he is a good teacher in many respects and because he’s popular among the students and has been at Brindle Public longer than almost anyone that he is somehow exempt from the rules. It’s typical ‘good guy’ mentality. Laurie pulls him up on his behaviour on several occasions before she reports him, but Terry refuses to modify his behaviour. This isn’t necessarily a criticism of Leal; a large part of Terry’s role is to get the reader debating where they stand on this issue. Mission accomplished.
The overall narrative hangs well, although following seven characters is overwhelming at times and I’m not convinced they all played an essential role. There’s also what feels like a mad scramble to tie up all the loose threads in the final chapters. Still, I was intrigued by each character’s story and ultimately found The Teacher’s Secret an entertaining and heartfelt read.
Very keen to hear other reader’s thoughts on this one. I think it would make for an excellent book club choice!
Thank you to Allen & Unwin for providing a copy of The Teacher's Secret in exchange for an honest review.
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June 23, 2017
Laurie is the new temp principal who shows up at Brindle Public School with a new set of rules. She is hell-bent on changing how things are done in the school. Naturally, this leaves a number of the other teachers disgruntled. In particular, Terry struggles to get along with Laurie. One incident led to an investigation of Terry hence leading to a discovery about his past which now threatens everything that he holds dear especially his job as a teacher.
What I liked about this book were the themes. I thought the portrayal of the themes was very realistic. The ability of rumors to not only ruin a person’s reputation but also career is something that occurs too often. I also liked the angle about being judged for past mistakes. I mean, should people be judged based on something that they did decades ago? The book covered a lot of thought-provoking issues. I also liked the setting. The school set up in a small town added to the drama in the story. I loved the characterization especially Terry. He is the kind of character that is easy to like. Of course, Laurie is the opposite hence easy to dislike.
My only issue with this book was the alternating POVs. I usually don’t mind two or three narrators but this book had more than that. There was Terry, Nina, Sid, Laurie, Mel and at some point, Joan. I started getting frustrated by shifting POVs through the chapters. I l kept losing track of the storyline and it was confusing at times. So I have nothing against the book, the narrative style is what didn’t work for me. However, I think readers who don’t mind multiple POVs and character-driven stories will enjoy this one.
What I liked about this book were the themes. I thought the portrayal of the themes was very realistic. The ability of rumors to not only ruin a person’s reputation but also career is something that occurs too often. I also liked the angle about being judged for past mistakes. I mean, should people be judged based on something that they did decades ago? The book covered a lot of thought-provoking issues. I also liked the setting. The school set up in a small town added to the drama in the story. I loved the characterization especially Terry. He is the kind of character that is easy to like. Of course, Laurie is the opposite hence easy to dislike.
My only issue with this book was the alternating POVs. I usually don’t mind two or three narrators but this book had more than that. There was Terry, Nina, Sid, Laurie, Mel and at some point, Joan. I started getting frustrated by shifting POVs through the chapters. I l kept losing track of the storyline and it was confusing at times. So I have nothing against the book, the narrative style is what didn’t work for me. However, I think readers who don’t mind multiple POVs and character-driven stories will enjoy this one.
March 21, 2018
Boring. Boring reading about the characters and their lives and it often the writer went into too much detail about what things looked like and what the kids were doing. Took me a long time to get into the book and then in later chapters caught me a bit and then nothing.... the end is boring. There is a bit of suspense but don’t expect to be wowed. I just didn’t understand why some parts were explained at all - for example Sid’s brother - he features significantly in one chapter and then never again.
I did like how all the characters were brought together though.
I did like how all the characters were brought together though.
August 9, 2017
Leal juggles a large cast of characters in this psychological and social drama set in a small Australian coastal town. The travails of her main character schoolteacher Terry and his interactions with his colleagues and students are shown in painstaking and plausible detail as he faces a major challenge to his comfortable routines and uncritical even brittle self-esteem.
Leal cleverly plays with character perspective to keep the reader off kilter about where our sympathies should lie. While Leal's background as a child protection and refugee lawyer are strongly evident in the authority with which she treats certain subjects, it is her authority as a writer that brings such telling (and even darkly absurd) details to bear on the claustrophobic atmosphere and suffocating scrutiny of small town life. I was reminded at times of J.K. Rowling's 'Casual Vacancy' though this novel is not nearly as brutal or bleak.
While I enjoyed the portraits of incidental characters (particularly Nina's lonely neighbour, Joan), it is the central story of Terry and the self-righteous acting principal Laurie that is the most compelling and suspenseful.
Leal cleverly plays with character perspective to keep the reader off kilter about where our sympathies should lie. While Leal's background as a child protection and refugee lawyer are strongly evident in the authority with which she treats certain subjects, it is her authority as a writer that brings such telling (and even darkly absurd) details to bear on the claustrophobic atmosphere and suffocating scrutiny of small town life. I was reminded at times of J.K. Rowling's 'Casual Vacancy' though this novel is not nearly as brutal or bleak.
While I enjoyed the portraits of incidental characters (particularly Nina's lonely neighbour, Joan), it is the central story of Terry and the self-righteous acting principal Laurie that is the most compelling and suspenseful.
November 30, 2023
I liked the separate chapters on each character and the way their stories tied in. But finding out Terry's secret was a bit of an anti-climax.
April 10, 2020
Recommend by my mum as she ‘loved it’. Absolutely agree, I couldn’t put it down until I had finished it!
March 27, 2024
Nice intertwined story.
May 8, 2017
3.5 stars
A good read that captures life in a small Aussie town perfectly. Initially, I wasn't keen on the other stories being added(eg. Sebastian's family), feeling that were unnecessary, but looking back, I am glad they were added. It helps round out the story and highlights the differences, struggles and triumphs all communities face.
So, the big secret wasn't ground breaking stuff. It wasn't the intrigue or suspense that makes this book so readable. Rather, it's the relatable characters, the affinity we can't help but feel for them, and, for me, the snippets of school life that I experience every day in my working life.
A good read that captures life in a small Aussie town perfectly. Initially, I wasn't keen on the other stories being added(eg. Sebastian's family), feeling that were unnecessary, but looking back, I am glad they were added. It helps round out the story and highlights the differences, struggles and triumphs all communities face.
So, the big secret wasn't ground breaking stuff. It wasn't the intrigue or suspense that makes this book so readable. Rather, it's the relatable characters, the affinity we can't help but feel for them, and, for me, the snippets of school life that I experience every day in my working life.
July 5, 2025
Loved it, read it in a couple of days. Looking forward to other books now by the same author
April 21, 2016
Firstly I would like to thank the publisher for a promotional copy of this book.
I found this story quite interesting. It was unusual to have a story where each chapter is from a different characters perspective. I must admit at the beginning I found this a little confusing as I struggled to see how these characters were involved and interconnected, but as the story progressed this became clearer. I like that each character has their own story told within the greater story. The most moving for me was that of Nina. I wanted to smack Steve in the head and throw all his things out the front door. I wanted to scream at that horrible harpy Sue. Any woman that goes after a man that she knows is not only married but has a small child is a despicable human being. Regardless of whether they had shared history or not you do not go out of your way to break up a family. And Steve was just as despicable for carrying on with her then being so heartless with Nina afterwards.
The whole thing with Terry is just awful. The principal has no idea how to interact with children and what is sometimes required in order to encourage and nurture them in the school environment. While actions can easily be misconstrued (especially in today’s super vigilant world) sometimes a caring gesture is just a caring gesture – not some sinister act being covered up. Her actions not only damaged the life of the man involved but it is easy to see the knock on effect that this action has on a whole community not to mention the kids that were flourishing under his care. This is the perfect example of how one small act can haunt a person for their whole life. Just how many men have this label pinned on them for being a stupid teenager in love? A couple of years difference in age is nothing to someone over 20 but at that age it can be life altering in the most negative of ways.
I love the lovely little coastal town this is set in. It is very Australian and easy to relate to. I can picture it easily.
Emotive and well constructed.
I found this story quite interesting. It was unusual to have a story where each chapter is from a different characters perspective. I must admit at the beginning I found this a little confusing as I struggled to see how these characters were involved and interconnected, but as the story progressed this became clearer. I like that each character has their own story told within the greater story. The most moving for me was that of Nina. I wanted to smack Steve in the head and throw all his things out the front door. I wanted to scream at that horrible harpy Sue. Any woman that goes after a man that she knows is not only married but has a small child is a despicable human being. Regardless of whether they had shared history or not you do not go out of your way to break up a family. And Steve was just as despicable for carrying on with her then being so heartless with Nina afterwards.
The whole thing with Terry is just awful. The principal has no idea how to interact with children and what is sometimes required in order to encourage and nurture them in the school environment. While actions can easily be misconstrued (especially in today’s super vigilant world) sometimes a caring gesture is just a caring gesture – not some sinister act being covered up. Her actions not only damaged the life of the man involved but it is easy to see the knock on effect that this action has on a whole community not to mention the kids that were flourishing under his care. This is the perfect example of how one small act can haunt a person for their whole life. Just how many men have this label pinned on them for being a stupid teenager in love? A couple of years difference in age is nothing to someone over 20 but at that age it can be life altering in the most negative of ways.
I love the lovely little coastal town this is set in. It is very Australian and easy to relate to. I can picture it easily.
Emotive and well constructed.
June 28, 2016
I adored this book! I was particularly looking for a nice read for evenings, and something pleasant for a change. In my line of work, I read enough hard and grim stuff, and I really didn't feel like another book set in wartime Europe! By the end of "The Teacher's Secret" (I raced through it over about 3 nights), I wanted to move to the beachside suburb of Brindle, where the novel is set, and become friends with the characters! It's that kind of a book.
I really loved the characters, I felt I knew them. I have definitely come across similar 'types' in real life, and that is what made the novel so readable. None of them are perfect, yet the author writes about them with real compassion and empathy (apart from the school principal, but of course every book needs a character to dislike strongly).
As a reader, you like to think that you yourself could slip into the novel as a character. Even though it's fiction, it could be all happening around the corner from your house. I gave a copy to my sister, a teacher, who also said the whole school atmosphere was very 'authentic' and she read it in 2 days!
I would definitely recommend it, particularly if you are after a darn good read after a busy week and wanting some pleasant escapism of the more elevated kind. Did I mention the writing is superb? I didn't have that 'guilty' feeling which one sometimes gets after enjoying badly written escapism.
I would buy a hard copy, as it is the kind of book you'd like to lend a friend (which e-books aren't very good for).
I really loved the characters, I felt I knew them. I have definitely come across similar 'types' in real life, and that is what made the novel so readable. None of them are perfect, yet the author writes about them with real compassion and empathy (apart from the school principal, but of course every book needs a character to dislike strongly).
As a reader, you like to think that you yourself could slip into the novel as a character. Even though it's fiction, it could be all happening around the corner from your house. I gave a copy to my sister, a teacher, who also said the whole school atmosphere was very 'authentic' and she read it in 2 days!
I would definitely recommend it, particularly if you are after a darn good read after a busy week and wanting some pleasant escapism of the more elevated kind. Did I mention the writing is superb? I didn't have that 'guilty' feeling which one sometimes gets after enjoying badly written escapism.
I would buy a hard copy, as it is the kind of book you'd like to lend a friend (which e-books aren't very good for).
April 20, 2016
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars
This book was set in a smallish coastal town with the lovely interaction between characters of people at all different life & social stages that happens in small towns, this was depicted well through the characters in the book & the difference between the people who had been there a long time and the newer people.
Leal did a great job in showing the influence a difficult boss can make and in initially making you feel some sympathy for the boss and the quick way she was judged but also feeling for the staff members who have been there a long time, know what works and understand the unique culture of the town.
The story was told from the perspective of a variety of people in short succinct chapters. It was easy to follow along and easy to identify with almost all of the characters.
A well written book & a good read.
4.5 stars
This book was set in a smallish coastal town with the lovely interaction between characters of people at all different life & social stages that happens in small towns, this was depicted well through the characters in the book & the difference between the people who had been there a long time and the newer people.
Leal did a great job in showing the influence a difficult boss can make and in initially making you feel some sympathy for the boss and the quick way she was judged but also feeling for the staff members who have been there a long time, know what works and understand the unique culture of the town.
The story was told from the perspective of a variety of people in short succinct chapters. It was easy to follow along and easy to identify with almost all of the characters.
A well written book & a good read.
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