I agree with another review I read - this would make a SPECTACULAR audiobook; I can hear the characters' voices so well in my head and it would be such fun to hear them out loud - adding to the hilarity.

Each chapter is a standalone vignette, as they were originally published as newspaper segments, so there is no overall story arc, but you just have to take it for what it is. Of course, it's completely exaggerated and stereotypes are played on; of course, malapropisms are not THAT frequent in speakers of English as a second language; of course people don't behave quite as extraordinarily... in short, it's just too silly - but it's great! And even stereotypes are based on something...

Having taught ESOL for over a year, I can definitely say that the tropes that the teacher, Mr Parkhill, found problematic in his students are real - just perhaps not so overwhelming! XD

Writing dialect can sometimes be quite cringey to read but Ross has it perfect so you can hear the accents and mispronunciations of the various students but it doesn't interfere with the flow of reading. Being a Jewish migrant himself, and then a teacher of ESOL students, Ross' easy read is charming. Full of over the top realism, touching moments, and hilarious sketches of outlandish characters, it's great fun, particularly if you have had anything to do with english as second language speakers. Definitely recommend!