An amiable book. I know nothing of the author, Jon Hassler; but on the evidence of this novel, I am willing to postulate an English Literature major, who focused on Trollope. He certainly likes to give each of his characters longwinded speeches, some of which, particularly those of the the officious and ineffectual school principal, Wayne Workman, are quite amusing. This novel came out in 1974 but, aside from references to the American Indian Movement, and boys with long hair, it lacks any '70's context; it might have been written at any time in the past sixty years. Perhaps the fact that only the female characters (and the randy and entirely disreputable town dentist Doc Oppegaard) seem to be able to exert any control over events marks this book as a product of its time.