What an astonishing book this has been! I read it through the night in one setting, unable to put it down even when I was yawning my head off. Related by four main characters, The Things That Matter Most, gives readers an insightful look inside a school where the pressure of too much work and too many competing responsibilities lead to one crisis after another. Year one teacher Sally-Anne and assistant principal Derek are clearly stressed and struggling as the story opens. Sally-Anne desperately wants a baby so she can leave her classroom and become a full-time mother while Derek is burdened with managing his year six class and complete the mountains of administrative paperwork on his desk. He envies his recently retired wife Jill and longs to join her as a retiree. In the office, it’s clear that school administrator Bev, also burdened by paperwork, is also stressed, though in her case it’s a medical concern. Into this mix comes young, enthusiastic new teacher Tyson, who can’t wait to get his first class under way … until his students arrive and trash his plans and his beautiful classroom. The thread that links these four very different individuals is endlessly cheerful and likeable student Lionel, who is like a ray of sunshine in their chaotic world. It’s the characters that carry this story. They are so real that it’s like watching a docudrama. The plot drew me in immediately and took me through the full gamut of emotions. As I said at the beginning, this is an extraordinary and compelling book. I loved it.

As a teacher, I had been wanting to read this book. I just could not put it down. Some amazing characters and the battle teachers face everyday between wanting to help students and getting stuck in beaurocracy. This novel literally had me sobbing non stop for quite a while and has left me with questions that still linger abouot how the system became so flawed and why are teachers now responsible for everything.
A brilliant read, my heart still aches for Lionel and all those students like him.

The Things That Matter Most is the first adult novel by former teacher and Australian author, Gabbie Stroud. As the students, teachers and admin staff arrive at St Margaret’s Catholic Primary School for the start of another year, most have only the vaguest idea of the challenges they will face.

Young Tyson Cole, fresh from Uni, is filled with enthusiasm and ideas for his kindergarten class. Boltford in central NSW is a long way from the break-up with his boyfriend, but he’ll soon be too busy to think about it.

After eight years at St Margaret’s, Sally-Ann Lin still loves teaching, but would welcome a break in the form of a baby, if only a pregnancy would stick.

Assistant Principal Derek Benson loves teaching, loves seeing his students absorb knowledge, but he hates the paperwork, the admin. In fact, his neglect of that dreaded task may well come back to bite him.

Nova Castell is back as Principal for the new year, but still grieving the loss of her husband to cancer. But she and Derek have plenty to keep them occupied over the next few months: not only is the school due for registration, meaning an intensive external audit of the last four years, but the parents of a former student are suing the school for breach of contract. “Educational outcomes had not been met.”

On that first day, they are unaware that a tabloid journalist (the demanding, needy, micro-managing mother of one of their students) will be invading their classrooms to observe the teachers in action for an article she plans to write.

School receptionist, Bev Donald’s cranky manner belies the love she has for this place that her pragmatism, productivity and proficiency have kept efficiently running for forty years. But an adverse diagnosis has her wondering for how much longer…

And Lionel Merrick, about to start Year Six, is excited to bring his cherished little sister, Lacey for her first day at the school he loves. With dad away driving trucks, and mum working two jobs to make ends meet, he has to shoulder quite a bit at home, but he’d never complain.

The tragedy that gradually unfolds over the next few months is the product of many unfortunate sets of circumstances: a small country town in denial about their social divide; a desperate young mother in whom fear, shame and pride lead to poor choices; and the personal problems on top of an unreasonable workload that distract devoted teachers from their usual vigilance and care.

Stroud gives the reader characters with depth and appeal, and a wholly credible plot that clearly demonstrates the challenges faced by these dedicated men and women who are charged with teaching our children: their enormous workload; the lack of support they receive from the bureaucracy; the complaint and criticism they face from students, parents and the general public; and all for a meagre wage.

Stroud’s own background puts the stamp of authenticity onto every aspect of this story., and the frustration born of the frequently onerous requirement to document actions, often at the expense of actually doing them well, will resonate with those in many professions. As Nova Castell says: “‘Our professional responsibility to these vulnerable children is being crowded out by an agenda set by politicians and parents and the media.”

This superbly-written novel should be required reading for every new teacher, every parent and every education bureaucrat. Do have the tissues ready, though: only those with the hardest of hearts won’t exercise their tear ducts. Stroud does manage to include some good doses of humour, and a certain punch will have most readers cheering. Topical, moving and thought-provoking.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Allen & Unwin.

Being a teacher and, might I add a teacher at the end of her career, I have read and been impressed with everything Gabbie has written thus far about the teaching profession. Her books, Teacher and Dear Parents, were must reads. Gabbie has now extended her repertoire to a fiction novel and gosh! It is everything you could wish for and makes for compelling reading that will break your heart.

‘You will fall in love in ways you didn’t even know … And you will fail. They should teach you that too. Somewhere very early on in the course. They should prepare you for it, make you do an assignment about it or write an essay. You will fail as a teacher. It is inevitable. Describe five ways you will deal with your certain and ongoing failure. Cite references. Three thousand words.’

Gabbie takes all her knowledge and experience from writing the previous two books and steps into the arena of molding it into a fictional tale that ticks all the boxes. This is a book for teachers, for parents, for the media and for society in general. This is a book with a plot that captures all the love and the loss, all the stress and the success - everything that encapsulates this profession.

‘Forget the theorists and the child development. They should make it known that teaching is an emotionally exhausting way to make money. You should live with others so you can talk about your day and take it in turns to cook. That should be the very first thing at the very first lecture on the very first PowerPoint slide that they show you.’

Gabbie continues to pursue her advocacy for this wondrous profession and although the circumstance may be extreme and difficult to presume in reality, it's this hard stance and strong words and actions that have made Gabbie into the fighting voice she is for this embattled profession. All the topics and themes covered in her previous two books are here, wrapped around a fictional tale that shines a new and heartbreaking consequence of the strains on this current system.

‘He’d been teaching for forty years, but suddenly now he had to prove he was accredited - accountable. He had to produce evidence to show he was doing his job, had to have data to justify his choices.’

There are a few debut fictional novel flaws. The main school stereotypical characters are there - graduate teacher, experienced teacher, empathetic teacher, the annoying parent …. even the grumpy office lady. Yet on top of that she endowed each of them with further personal issues which, for me, was just that one step too far. I would have preferred to concentrate on the many, many issues schools face on a daily basis without the marriage or health issues which pulled away from the main message. Yes, they are connected but I did not want to lose focus from the main school based message.

‘He also hated the change of plans. It happened all the freaking time. The one constant thing about teaching was change, he decided. Constant change. It messed with his head.’

Is this book perfect? No. Does she push the limits of what could really happen? Most certainly. But gosh it is a great effort and I hope Gabbie continues to pen further fictional tales along similar themes as it will take some time for her message to get across. Keep fighting the good fight Gabbie!

‘Teaching and caring are one and the same thing. People don’t realise that. They’re squeezing out the time we need for caring. It’s all documenting and accounting and data. It makes the job something else, takes away from the caring.’








This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Words from a young teacher I know…..I love teaching, I hate the profession.
And after reading this book I can sympathise with them.
What a brilliant heartfelt book, I could feel myself tearing up but hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel. We have to stop expecting schools to fix societies problems.
All these characters come to life, I can see them all, even the troublemaking parent. It is an easy reading novel but it certainly packs a punch.
I’m not going to rehash the synopsis because it says it well but this is a book that should be read and taken note of.
Five big stars from me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read.

This novel is definitely a #brilliantreads title. I rarely cry in a book but this one made me swallow hard!! It's so deeply affecting and so honest in its portrayal of all that is not right within our schools, and the wider community attitudes towards schools, particularly teachers, and where the burden of responsibility for caring rests. A must read!