The Things That Matter Most

The staff of St Margaret's Primary School is teetering on the brink of collapse. Under the weight of impending litigation, pressing school registration deadlines, and the unwelcome watchful eye of a powerful and opinionated parent, Janet Bellevue, the teachers are doing their utmost to maintain professionalism. However, the relentless pressures threaten to unravel their personal lives as well. Each character is battling their unique struggles, forming a tapestry of human resilience and vulnerability.

Tyson, fresh out of university, is grappling with nerves and self-doubt in his first year of teaching. Derek, the Assistant Principal, has lost his grip on administrative duties, and Bev from the office is facing the intimidating ordeal of a serious diagnosis. Sally-Ann, with an aching desire for a child of her own, finds herself spiralling in a world that seems determined to test her limits.

Amidst this turmoil, there's a beacon of hope: Lionel Merrick. Lionel is the kind of student who makes teaching feel rewarding. He’s cheerful, likeable, and devoted to his little sister, Lacey. Despite his bright exterior, Lionel harbours a secret, one that precariously teeters between vulnerability and danger. As Lionel's situation becomes increasingly perilous, it leaves the staff of St Margaret's questioning if they will recognise the signs before it’s too late.

As secrets begin to surface and professional demands intensify, each staff member at St Margaret's must navigate their crises and remember the things that matter most.

'Gabbie Stroud is a teacher whose classroom has expanded to embrace an entire nation. First in non-fiction and now in moving, powerful fiction, Stroud educates us all about the tender, excruciating burden on the hearts of teachers today.' - Annabel Crabb

'Lionel Merrick stumbled into my heart like a kid late for class, then the whole book swept in after him ... gut-wrenching and important.' - Trent Dalton, bestselling author of Boy Swallows Universe

A gripping and empathetic novel by acclaimed author Gabbie Stroud, the bestselling writer of Teacher and Dear Parents. The Things That Matter Most is a poignant and heart-wrenching exploration of the lives of teachers and their students, magnifying the everyday battles and triumphs within a contemporary school setting.

'A real page-turner and heartbreaker, it will leave you aching with appreciation for the work good teachers do.' - Alice Pung, author of One Hundred Days and Laurinda

'Gabbie Stroud has written a powerful novel that captures the raw, the real, the heart-wrenching and the absolute beauty of teaching in a community ... I couldn’t put it down. Stroud captures the raw and real truth of the life-changing challenges of teaching in today's test-focused, document-driven schooling system.' - Maggie Dent, author, educator, and parenting & resilience specialist

'In this emotionally charged debut, Gabbie Stroud gives us characters we care about, instantly drawing us into the school community of a tough farming town. We feel the pain of these characters as they each face their own challenges and they're unable to focus on what matters most. This heart-wrenching story made me laugh and it made me cry. Poignant and compelling. A riveting, thought-provoking debut.' - Petronella McGovern, author of Six Minutes and The Liars

'A bittersweet love song to those who educate and care for our children, The Things That Matter Most is a profoundly moving novel. Brimming with love and heartache and anger and hope, this is a raw and passionate work, its characters so vividly and tenderly drawn, I keep wondering how they are and hoping that life is good to them.' - Suzanne Leal, author of The Teacher's Secret

'A rollicking ride through the gamut of emotions - laughter, sorrow, rage, outrage, joy. The Things that Matter Most lifts the lid on social injustice and the unreasonable demands we make of teachers while we abdicate responsibility ourselves.' - Joanna Jenkins, author of How to Kill a Client

'An unflinching and deeply moving account of the complex tapestry of human lives woven into and around a school community.' - Brendan James Murray, author of The School