The Flying Classroom

By Erich Kästner

Book Overview

Martin's school is no ordinary school. There are snowball fights, kidnappings, cakes, a parachute jump, a mysterious man called 'No-Smoking' who lives in a railway carriage and a play about a flying classroom.

As the Christmas holidays draw near, Martin and his friends - nervous Uli, cynical Sebastian, Johnny, who was rescued by a sea captain, and Matthias, who is always hungry (particularly after a meal) - are preparing for the end of term festivities. But there are surprises, sadness and trouble on the way - and a secret that changes everything.

The Flying Classroom is a magical, thrilling and bittersweet story about friendship, fun and being brave when you are at your most scared. (It also features a calf called Eduard, but you will have to read it to find out why).

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1782690565
• ISBN13: 9781782690566
• Release Date: March 2015
• Publisher: Pushkin Children's Books
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.7" x 7.7"
• Age Range: 10 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 12

Customer Reviews

A real and poignant adventure

This is one of my favorite children's novels of all time - it is absolutely unique in its portrayal of boys during adolescence. It was translated in Bulgarian along with three other of Kastner's novels and as such it comprised one of the most read collections for kids for more than 4 generations. Even today, every average Eastern European seems to know about the story and considers it close to their heart. And as for me, I was in love with Martin for a few years, at least! And as comic moments go, the little Uly sitting in the trashcan which dangles from the ceiling, as his father, the teacher, is wondering aloud what kind of parents allow their son to miss school, has to come in the top ten.