Next to Alice

Alice and Ben are in the same Primary class. Ben is often distracted and doesn’t like studying. Alice is a perfectionist and follows rules. There is a broken window by Ben’s usual desk so their teacher insists that Ben sit next to Alice while the window is repaired. Ben protests that Alice is scary but his teacher gives him no choice. Shortly after his moving to sit next to Alice, Ben leaves his pencil case in Music. When the teacher returns it, she makes a joke that the pencil case belongs to Bin and not Ben. Alice has already pointed out that Ben’s ‘e’s don’t look like ‘e’s and this incident prompts Ben to ask Alice for help. Gradually, all of Ben’s work becomes neater as a result of Alice’s help and insistence.

When the window is finally fixed, Ben chooses to stay next to Alice as a friendship has been forged. This is a story to which many Primary pupils will relate, told with Anne Fine’s customary warmth and understanding of children.

Conway’s illustrations capture the range of emotions felt by children very accurately.