Headmaster's Wager, The

This historical novel, set in Saigon during the Vietnam War, tells of Percival Chen, the headmaster of a respected English academy, who is of Chinese heritage but was quick to spot business opportunities in Vietnam. Accustomed to bribing officials to maintain the elite status of his school, he ignores all news of the fighting that swirls around him, and it is only when his son gets in trouble with the Vietnamese authorities that Percival faces the limits of his connections and wealth. This novel, suitable for grade 12, raises the themes of colonization vs. settlement, racism, relationships between parents and children, friendship and loyalties, and the effects of the Vietnam War.