The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler
Front cover of first edition | |
| Author | Gene Kemp |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Carolyn Dinan (1977) Kenny McKendry (1994) |
| Language | English |
| Series | Cricklepit |
| Genre | Children's adventure novel, day school story, comedy |
| Publisher | Faber and Faber |
Publication date | 7 February 1977 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Media type | Print (hardback and paperback) |
| Pages | 118 pp (first edition) |
| ISBN | 0571109667 |
| OCLC | 3224554 |
| LC Class | PZ7.K3055 Tu |
| Followed by | Gowie Corby Plays Chicken |
The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler (or Tyke Tiler) is a children's school adventure novel by Gene Kemp, first published by Faber and Faber in 1977 with illustrations by Carolyn Dinan. It is set at Cricklepit Combined School, a fictional primary school based on St Sidwell's School in Exeter where Kemp worked as a teacher from 1963 to 1979. The book inaugurated a series of further stories by Kemp set at the same school. Tyke Tiler follows the final term of Tyke, an adventurous twelve-year-old, at Cricklepit Combined School. After Tyke's best friend Danny gets into various scrapes, Tyke has to protect and stick up for him despite Danny being misunderstood by teachers and other students.
The book depicts themes that include attitudes towards disability and gender. Throughout the book, Tyke's gender is not explicitly revealed, although the character's attitudes and actions often lead readers to believe that Tyke is a boy. The story ends with the revelation that Tyke is a girl. Tyke Tiler was praised by critics and was the recipient of the Carnegie Medal for children's literature in 1977.