The Heroic Truths of Neil Peel

“Neil Peel. What the hell?” snarled Ottilie. “Of all the sad sacks in this school, I get stuck sitting at a desk next to the saddest of them all…again!”

Neil Peel is about to start his first year at Titfield School, and this is his welcome.

Best friends Stephen and Grub will be at his sides as he faces bullies, takes part in a football match for the uncoordinated, tries to survive a visit from a devilish cousin who’s determined to ruin his Christmas, and even faces a brush with crime.

At least Neil’s evil genius older sister Lemony is on hand to trip him up and kick him when he’s down.

Approaching adolescence is not easy for anyone, but life can be even harder when you always tell the truth. At least everybody knows where they stand with Neil, but will his honesty turn out to be a blessing or a curse?

Ben Dixon is a father of four children, teacher of French and the author behind the world of Neil Peel. He grew up in Yorkshire, grew up a bit more in Leicestershire before moving to settle in Surrey. The Heroic Truths of Neil Peel is his first novel. He lives in Guildford with his wife, Sarah, and children, Sophie, Isabelle, Max and Kiera.

Customer Reviews

4.9

8 reviews

Mike Howard

"Enjoyable" sounds a bit damning by faint praise but I couldn't think of a better adjective on the spur of the moment. The characters are credible and draw one into the narrative which is strong and bursts into life particularly about half way through the book when a cunning plan is hatched. Neil's family are a rum bunch especially his sister and I can't wait to read what happens to the Peels come the summer hols. Well done Ben.
Hannah Edmonds

The Heroic Truths of Neil Peel is such a fun read! I found it had a really nostalgic feel to it, despite being a girl, and a pretty girly girl at that, I really identified with Neil and his friends. I also always have and always will find farts hilarious and there are so many fart jokes in this book, it had me laughing aloud a few times. Like all good books for a younger audience, there are some very funny double entendres that children won't understand, but adults will get a kick out of. The fact that the author, Ben Dixon is a teacher really shows; he clearly just gets that age group, right down to the fact that some kids develop faster than others. The book starts with Neil preparing to start his first year at Titfield school in Lower Piercing; along the way he makes new friends, tackles bullies and tries to tolerate his big sister, Lemony. Neil is a really likeable character; he never lies, which can land him in trouble, but also makes for some really funny moments, particularly when his new teacher pops round to introduce herself! I was also very excited to see a nod to Stephen King early on. Dixon's writing style is easy and engaging, meaning both adults and kids will get a kick out of these books. I wish I'd had a Neil Peel in my year at school!
Julia

I enjoyed this book. I bought it for a friend's son and I am glad I decided to read it to see what it was like. The opening lines of "Come on, Neil. Own up. Honesty is the best policy" sets the scene for the laugh out loud funny story of Neil Peel, an 11 year old who always tells the truth and who is just about to start at a new school. Carefully observed relatable moments of Neil's home and school life are interwoven with memorable characters, adventure and a playful, cheeky edge. I hope there's more books planned.
Book Lover

Perfect for fans of the Wimpy Kid series, had my sons laughing pretty hard and then following me around the house telling me the funny parts :)
EB

I remember when I was a teenager, a book came out entitled The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 ¾ by Sue Townsend. The book was an instant hit because for once teenagers could identify with a character, who spoke as teenagers did, who acted as teenagers did and was able to express the same emotions and anxieties experienced by just about every teenager on the planet. Readers loved Adrian Mole since he was a flawed character. He never got what he wanted. The book was a perfect mix of comedy and pathos. Readers cried with Adrian, they felt his frustration with his family and friends but more than anything, they laughed with Adrian. As the years passed, Sue Townsend would update Adrian’s life so that readers could grow up with him. When Sue died in 2014, we mourned not just the passing of an outstanding writer, but also the fact that there would never be another glimpse into Adrian’s life. Reading The Heroic Truths of Neil Peel reminded me of my experience of reading Adrian Mole. Like Adrian, Neil is far from perfect, yet he is relatable and has an authenticity that will attract readers of all ages. Neil has an incredible knack of putting his foot in things and being a little too honest. He has neuroses like everyone and is constantly tormented by his evil older sister, Lemony. He has two good friends, Stephen and Grub, who attempt to help him navigate his way through the first year at his new secondary school, Titfield. Neil also has to deal with some worrying bullying incidents and there is a serious message here, which will undoubtedly help other young people going through a similar experience. All the characters are realistic and memorable, and the dialogue is particularly astute. The snippets of family life are pure genius. I feel that the main strength is the comedy, a cheeky and relatable comedy, which runs throughout the entire book, with much of it leading to laughs-out-loud. This aspect is something that secondary school students will absolutely love. You can really tell that it is written by a teacher and a teacher who is an adept observer of school life, as well as the relationships between teachers and pupils and pupils and their peers. In-keeping with the short attention span of most 11+ students, the action flows swiftly with short chapters and the language is appropriate for the age group since it does not patronise or confuse. Reviews on Amazon frequently relate how reluctant readers have finally found a book that they cannot put down and I think this is one of the key strengths of the book. It is good enough to encourage the most unwilling student to read. Although, an initial read of the book’s blurb might suggest that it is more appropriate for boy rather than girl readers, I have to say that I think girls will be able to identify with many aspects of the book, especially the comedic element. My daughter is 14 and usually sticks to High School teen dramas or thrillers. She was reluctant to read the book at first, until she discovered how funny it was. I would thoroughly recommend this to any reader over the age of 11 whether still at school or a school leaver from thirty years ago. I don’t think it will be long before we have an entire generation hooked on Neil Peel’s adventures. I am already looking forward to the sequel.
Claire

Bought this for my nephew for Christmas, excited to see what he thinks. I had a quick read before wrapping it and loved the cheeky jokes. The stories and characters are relatable for teens, with many laugh-out-loud moments. Would definitely recommend.
Victoria

I bought this book for my 12 year old son, who despite my best efforts, is a very reluctant reader. However, this book worked its magic and for once my son read without me having to prompt him. When it came to finishing the book, he couldn't put it down and crept downs stairs a couple of hours after bed time, proudly announcing he had finished the lot!
I highly recommend this book to any fun loving, cheeky school boy - the humour really appealed. We're both now hoping for a sequel!
Heather MacDonald

If your tween or young teen is looking for a book that will make them laugh, this is it! There's an authenticity to The Heroic Truths of Neil Peel which might make some parents raise their eyebrows, but therein lies the book's real strength. Kids recognize the characters.

Kids know that most kids are not nearly as sweet as they might appear to adults, particularly some kids. Lemony, Neil's older sister, is diabolical; a thoroughly unpleasant character no one would want to live with, (I remember a couple of friends' older sisters who fit that bill), and his pals and their tormentors are boys who will probably remind you of some of the kids you knew growing up.

The author is a teacher, I believe, so he's got first hand knowledge of children, and I think it shows. He does a great job of making the story about the kids, instead of focusing too heavily on parents and other adults, (which a lot of tween and young teen books seem to do).

If your child isn't keen on reading and you're looking for ways to spark their interest, this book is a a good bet. The Heroic Truths of Neil Peel might be enough to convince them that there is a lot of fun to be found between the pages of a book. There are lots of jokes, (which are often crude but not offensive), and it's easy to read. If they like this book, they might decide to check out others. Win! Win!

The cover won't appeal to everyone, but I suspect it will appeal to kids. It's reminiscent of the way the boys, (who aren't tops in art class), depict themselves and their friends in their drawings. Again, it's all about the kids.