Jack of Both Sides: The Story of a School War

"Jack of Both Sides: The Story of a School War" by Florence Coombe is a novel centered around Jack Brady, a student caught in the middle of a fierce rivalry at Brincliffe School between students that live at the school and commute from home. When the arrival of new students causes tension, themes of friendship, fighting, and the desire to be accepted are explored showing Jack's experiences. The story begins with Jack and the other new day students trying to fit in with the students that live at the school, but they are quickly pushed aside.. What starts playfully soon escalates into open hostility, with Jack trying to keep friendships alive as the day pupils and those who live at the school tensions rise, resulting in a full-blown school war. The story uses humor to talk about serious issues like loyalty, bullying, and what it means to fit it.