The School Run [Paperback]

Sophie King (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2005

This book presents a week in the lives of seven people—all on the same route to school. Harriet is waiting for her husband to tell her if their marriage is on or off, while Pippa is about to receive some potentially devastating hospital results. Evie has one week to save her career, and Nick's wife died two years ago, leaving him with a troublesome teenage daughter. Martine, a French au pair, is about to run off with a married man while Kitty accepts a bet to find a man in a week. And Betty watches by the roadside, looking for the driver who killed her son. Little do any of them know that by the end of the week, the school run will have become a collision course, connecting their lives in more ways than one.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"* 'A lovely debut - warm and engaging' - Catherine Alliott * 'There is a lot for women to relate to here' - Katie Fforde"

About the Author

Sophie King is a pseudonym for journalist Jane Bidder, who writes the regular Family Matters page in Woman magazine and contributes regularly to national newspapers and other women's magazines. She was runner-up in the Harry Bowling Award in 2002 and she also recently won the Elizabeth Goudge short story award. While she has had short stories and works of non-fiction published, THE SCHOOL RUN was her debut novel.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton (November 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0340921552
• ISBN-13: 978-0340921555
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,879,981 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Three and a half stars, September 23, 2007

By 

Helen Simpson (Leeds, England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The School Run (Paperback)

The story is written from the point of view of the seven main characters; Home-loving Harriet, Working mum Pippa, Widower Nick, School-teacher Kitty, Step-mum Evie, French au pair Martine and distraught Betty. Betty makes it her purpose in life to warn others of traffic dangers whilst closely watching the cars by the school in the hope of spotting the driver who 2 years ago fatally hit her 16 year old son then drove off.

It was an enjoyable and pleasant read which focuses on relationships many of us can relate to; Man and wife, lovers, best friends, parents and children. Through the characters we hear about their worries, hopes and regrets and how they deal with them.

I found the 'reminders' on the back cover of who each person was very useful and referred to it a few times. Not because I can't remember seven people but because I could forget which person was dealing with what and who all the lesser cast members were (children, step children etc.)

Like another reviewer I still don't know who Maurice and Hugo are OR Thérèse. Maybe if I went back through the book this would be revealed but I feel that really shouldn't be necessary.