A Load of Old Tripe

by Gervase Phinn

For eleven-year old James Joseph Johnson (or Jimmy for short) life is not always straightforward. In fact, things can be quite complicated, and don't always turn out as he'd planned ...Born in 1946, Jimmy lives with his Mum and Dad in a shiny red brick terraced house in South Yorkshire near the steel works. Sometimes the air is thick and metallic tasting, with bits of soot floating around like little black snowflakes. Despite all this, Jimmy wouldn't want to live anywhere else. His very best friend, Ignatius Plunkett, is a scrawny boy with a sharp beak of a nose, ears like jug handles and a mop of jet black hair. Micky is his rather 'posh' friend from the big houses down the road. The boys get into a few scrapes in the year leading up to the eleven-plus exams, but will they come out on top in the end? Will Jimmy survive a week looking after Butch, the temperamental, barrel-bodied bull terrier? Will the truth about the trip to buy Dad's tripe ever come out? What really happens to Jimmy's Mum's coffee and walnut cake, and will the mystery of the missing locket ever get solved?

112 pages, Hardcover

First published November 5, 2009

About the author

Gervase Phinn (born 27 December 1946, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England) is an English author and educator. After a career as a teacher he became a schools inspector.

He is now a freelance lecturer, broadcaster and writer, a consultant for the Open University, Honorary Fellow of St. John's College, York, Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) of the University of Leicester, Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) of The University of Hull and the Fellow and Visiting Professor of Education at The University of Teesside.

In 2005 the highest academic award of Sheffield Hallam University, Doctor of the University (D.Univ.) was conferred upon him by the Chancellor, Professor Lord Robert Winston. In 2006 he became President of The School Library Association.

He has published five volumes of memoir, collections of poetry and a number of books about education. He has a particular interest in children's literature and literacy.
He is married with four grown-up children.

Reviews

[Josie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thank this book for the term "jam crazed wasp".

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in a sweepstakes on BookCrossing for my Little Free Library. Since I had no idea what "tripe" is - and after reading about it, rather wish I still didn't (ew!), I decided to give it a try. The book is a collection of short stories or unrelated chapters featuring 5th grader Jimmy Johnson and his friends and family in the 1950s. The very "Britishness" of the conversations between the characters was amusing to me and I really enjoyed reading about Ignatius Plunckett, Jimmy's genius friend whose kind character could serve as a role model for us all.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

a good lighthearted read suitable for children, young adults and any adult wanting a little short story.

written about an 11yr old, hi interaction with school friends, parents, teachers an other adults

[Beth Clancey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a brilliant read! especially around Christmas time!Gervase Phinn is a great and cheerful character, as is the characters her writes about! I love reading his books because there is always something in it which makes you laugh!

[Gwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is suitable for children and adults - very light hearted reading about a boys experiences of school and his family and friends.

[G · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by Gervase Phinn. It was a lovely quick read and I will certainly look out for more of his works.

[Helen Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure if this was written for children or adults, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, like most of Gervase Phinn's books it was heartwarming, touching and entertaining.

[Lennyriver · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet, old fashioned book

[Peter Bowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good 👍

The first place and it will have a good laugh and I don't think you will have to put down until you have read it.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Load Of Old Tripe by Gervase Phinn is a most delightful children’s historical novel and perfect for ten years and over. Whatever your age, this is another gem from Gervase Phinn.
The story is set in 1957 as we follow Jimmy who’s eleven and his friends Micky and Iggy.
Told in a wonderfully down-to-earth style and with much humour, we follow Jimmy as he prepares for his eleven plus.
Jimmy is a likable lad and a good friend to Iggy who is clever but has a poor home life and is a social misfit. We drop in on their class as they have various activities including a trip to Whitby.
Jimmy is an ordinary lad who gets into scrapes – dropping the tripe for his dad’s tea, and eating a whole coffee and walnut cake to name but a couple.
The whole book is very charming. I did have a favourite chapter – where the family look after Buster the dog who finds a pet rabbit – I was literally laughing out loud at the end of the chapter – it was totally unexpected and easy to picture the scenes with Gervase Phinn’s words.
A Load Of Old Tripe is wonderfully entertaining, as are all Gervase Phinn’s books.

[Tinker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gervase Phinnin kauniisti kirjoitettu lastenkirja yksitoistavuotiaasta James Joseph Johnsonista, eli Jimmystä, joka asuu vanhempiensa kanssa punaisessa tiilitalossa Yorkshiressa. Kirjan tapahtumat sijoittuvat 50-luvun loppuun. Jimmyn isä työskentelee terästehtaassa ja äiti kulmakaupassa. Kirjassa seurataan Jimmyn elämää ja sen tapahtumia. Mitään varsinaista juonta ei ole. Jimmy käy koulua ja viettää aikaa kavereidensa (mm. Michael Sidebottom ja Ignatius Plunkett) kanssa, on koiravahtina, mukana hyväntekeväisyysmyyjäisissä ja juoksee vanhempiensa asioilla. Kerronta on lämmintä ja humoristista, mutta rehellistä.

Minusta tämä oli oikein hauska kirja. Lopussa kirjailija onnistui yllättämään. Lastenkirjoilta odottaa yleensä sellaista optimistista kaikki järjestyy-loppua, mutta Phinn päätyy realistiseen (muttei silti onnettomaan) ratkaisuun. Pidin tavasta, jolla kirjassa tutustuttiin 50-luvun elämään kaunistelematta, myös aikakauden epäkohdat näkyvät kirjassa. Tästä huolimatta A load of old tripe on hauska ja kevyt lastenkirja.

Kirjan opetus: maailma ei ole aina reilu paikka.

[Paul Woodhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished too soon

This is only a short book and brings us into the world of schoolboy James.
Almost a collection of short stories seen through the eyes of a pre teen.
Brings a smile to your face as you remember your school days.

I am sure we all have our own Ignatious Plunkett in our school.

Like a warm cuddle on a cold day.

I just wanted the book to be longer and enjoy more stories from these young schoolboys.

[Haley Craig]

Such a nice book!! And I mean nice in the best way!! This is a book I would have picked to read to the children when I was working in schools.. appearances can be deceptive and I think it's important to teach children that. But more so, to teach them not to judge others and the only time we should look down on someone is when we are helping them up!!

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick little re-read, I originally read this as a teen and enjoyed it and still do now!

Jimmy is a nice boy who is occupied by all the usual 11 year old boy things; football, hanging out with his mates and yummy food, among other things. He has good, sensible parents who love him and a nice home life and it was pleasant to pop in and visit with them for a little while.

[Irene Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abrupt end

I could relate to some of the characters, as I grew up in Barnsley; it was like looking through my memories.
The reason I gave it 4, was because it seemed to stop abruptly. I was expecting the transition of the friendship of the three to be next.

[sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wholesome little palette cleanser which has a lot to say about class and friendship in post war England. Iggy and James are the sweetest.

With that being said, Michael, Kevin and Barry are definitely bald and racist now.

[donna craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this author by accident while looking for books .I have now read quite a few and have bought more .I enjoyed this book coming from a child's eyes how the see things and people

[Melanie Moss-burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

lovely book

[Janet Wiggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, quick read ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[liza mayley · Rating 3 out of 5]

very charming

[Juno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this as a child and read it again in 2026 and god damn we all need a friendship like Ignatius and JJ

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very different strange book, nothing is quite like it