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When Dinah is fostered by the Hunters she thinks her biggest problem will be fitting in with her foster-brothers, Lloyd and Harvey. However, once she starts at her new school it's clear that there's more to worry about. All the children, apart from a handful including Lloyd and Harvey, are toowell-behaved - robotic almost - and oddly keen to please the creepy headmaster.The three children set out to discover the nature of his influence over everyone . . . but then Dinah finds herself saying and doing things she has no power over. Soon they uncover the headmaster's wicked plan. Controlling the school is just a practice run. He has set his sights on dominating theentire nation! The children must foil him before he succeeds . . . but with Dinah under his spell they've got a challenge on their hands.Great fun and just a little bit frightening, Gillian Cross's beloved classic still holds readers under its hypnotic spell, even after thirty years of being in print. An accessible page-turner, The Demon Headmaster is impossible to resist.… (more)
User reviews
This is an interesting exploration, in school-story format, of the conflict between order and freedom. The headmaster's motto: "The man who can keep order can rule the world," is as succinct an expression of this polar antagonism as the novel achieves. Despite its philosophical underpinnings however, I found that I didn't really enjoy The Demon Headmaster as a story. The characters felt a little flat, and I couldn't work up any sense of excitement or suspense. This may be one of those titles that doesn't translate well for adults.
A fun story with equally fun characters and a plot that would keep even reluctant young readers engaged. I'd definitely recommend this one to all sorts of kiddos.