Patch - Assumption Is a Crime

by Mucheru Njaga

Prince of Wales Boarding School, nestled in a serene countryside, fondly nicknamed "Patch" was responsible for turning young boys into esteemed gentlemen who would one day occupy the hallways of world government power and authority. Behind the high walls lay a secret, a secret not told until now. Led by a group of students leaders known as "Prefects" the students were subjected to untold physical and verbal abuse, intimidation, fear and bullying. No one ever questioned their authority ... until Gabriel, a freshman transfer, a "rabble", forever changed what it meant to be in PATCH.

240 pages, Paperback

First published September 4, 2010

Reviews

[Sheree · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books with a great premise that would have benefited from further editing and polishing. Patch is a quick read so my frustration with spelling errors and incorrect word usage was short lived and the underlying message of courage and hope wasn't lost.

The story is loosely based on the personal experience of the author which raised my already heightened levels of compassion and horror at the unimaginable abuse students experienced at the hands of Prince of Wales Boarding School prefects. For a culture of abuse to be tolerated in a school and perpetrated to such a degree it must be condoned by someone of higher authority than student leaders and that is certainly the case in this 'elite' boarding school.

Gabriel is a very likeable character, he's a beacon of hope that a system can be changed, he stands up for what he believes in and I teared up the day he "found himself". A poignant ending that I wasn't expecting, well worth the read.

[Lois · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raised on a diet of beatings and thrashings from his alcoholic father, Gabriel first wins his way into his principal’s heart in High School by telling him that, unlike the other boys, he doesn’t aspire to being the most popular boy at school, but rather to finding himself instead. Impressed by his attitude, Principal Thornton recommends him for a full scholarship at Prince of Wales Boarding School, the proverbial “best of the best,” set in East Africa. In the next scene, the vista of the internationally recognizable boarding school, grounds for the development of the wealthy and the famous from across the globe, opens out before a newcomer, Nigel, who comes from an affluent home, and who, surprisingly enough, is not at all happy about coming to the school. In front of a cheering crowd, Principal Boon introduces all present to those to whom he chooses to refer as the “guardian angels entrusted to tirelessly guide and watch over your little ones.” Most of those present are unaware that the so-called “guardian angels” will soon come to be recognized as the villains of the piece, at least by those who are subjected to their seemingly endless bullying and victimization.

Patch – Assumption is a Crime, Mucheru Njaga’s debut novel, is loosely based on his own experiences at the school. He was inspired to write the novel by a news article that he read in 2003 about a teenage boy who committed suicide in the U.S. after months of bullying. Though Njaga insists that the tale is not an exposé as such, and that none of the characters is real, he does admit that some of the events are true. He hopes, in fact, that the book will open up both national and international discourse on the root causes of bullying, by allowing its readers to consider the practice from both the perspective of the victim, as well as from that of the perpetrator.

Mucheru Njaga was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, and studied creative writing at Hunter College. Before writing Patch – Assumption is a Crime, he worked on a number of different screenplays for several independent productions. The novel was, in fact, adapted from one of his own original screenplays. He is currently based in San Francisco, California.

[Sheeroh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so well-written and packed with believable and well-developed characters! I literally read it in one sitting.
It tells the story of The Prince of Wales Boarding school, now known as Nairobi School, in Kenya, or informally, Patch. The story revolves around the freshmen and the prefects and the deranged animosity and cruelty that defines their relations.
It's a story of courage, of leadership and of unlikely heroes who don't back down even when all the odds are against them.
I don't want to spoil the story but I urge everyone, especially Kenyans who can so much relate to the senseless bullying that plagued our boarding schools in the past to read this book as they will totally relate to the story.
Mucheru Njaga has outdone himself; the book is not long, and it doesn't need to be - the whole story is packed in the mere 240 or so pages.
Get the book and tell your friends!

[Farmers Wife · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book deals with bullying; and it deals for standing up against bullying. It's based in an all boys private boarding school. Where some believe the students should police themselves. Learning to keep order. However, the manner in which this is handled it bullying. But, the 'rabbles' become inspired and less afraid thanks to the strength of one new young 'rabble'/freshman student.

The ending of the book was quite deep and makes quite the impact. This would be a wonderful read for middle school and junior high school students; as well as high school students. As a class required reading, it would promote discussion and awareness among students. It defines bullying and provides proof that it can be overcome.