I used to enjoy Neil Humphreys‘ musings on his life in Singapore - to the extent that I bought his “Notes from an even smaller island”. I haven’t caught up with his writing, given that my time is as packed as canned sardines these days. Hence, I feel a sense of satisfaction when I managed to devour “A Royal Pain in the Class” while my students were undergoing their level camp.

Yes, in spite of the noise and chaos and sensory overload around me, I was riveted to the book. It’s hard to say whether Neil has retained his sense of humour as a storyteller, but I was intrigued by the protagonist. Sabrina, a feisty 11-year-old Taekwondo expert who happens to be a Princess too. A Princess who is used to be waited hand on foot exhibiting self-defence moves? The contradiction is interesting.

The plot thickens when Sabrina has to go undercover in a small town because of political tension in her home country. At her new school, she meets Agatha, the residential bully whom she has run-ins with. She also acquires Charles, a meddlesome, socially awkward boy as a sidekick. Her Uncle Ernie, incidentally her Taekwondo coach, now looks after her, and children will resonate with their arguments as both parties struggle to make their point across to each other.

I particularly liked the playful language, such as munchkin, fruitcake, dimwit and nincompoop. I think they lent a distinctive flavour to Neil’s writing even though I imagine that some parents particular about proper manners would not be amused.

I also think that the resolution in which Sabrina came to develop empathy for Agatha could have been fleshed out. To make the point that we aren’t not what we appear to be, that everyone is going through a hard time, so we must be kind yadda. Having said that, I liked how Neil ended his story - with both girls settling on a truce with strict boundaries and without Agatha regarding Sabrina as a friend. IRL friendships are messy. This book honours that.

I don’t mind reading another of his books, but alas! the camp is over. Back to reality.