It is written from the first person perspective, with Peekay narrating (as an adult, looking back) and trusting the reader with his thoughts and feelings, as opposed to a detailed description of places and account of actions.

This continues with an older boy, the Judge, and his partners who further punish him for his frequent bedwetting with verbal and physical abuse.

At the end of the year, the Judge forces Peekay to eat feces, and kills his beloved chicken.

This makes Peekay very famous among the prisoners, and they call him the great chief "Tadpole Angel" (a reference to Doc being the "Frog" for his nightly piano playing).

Ms. Boxhall, the local librarian, and a Jewish schoolteacher, Miss Bornstein, work with Doc to further encourage the blossoming of Peekay's intellect with activities such as science, literature and chess.

He passes his Royal College of Music exams and earns the title of best under-twelve boxer in the region.

At the Prince of Wales, Peekay partners with the son of a Jewish millionaire, Hymie (Morrie in American versions) Levy.

They pull off many "scams" to earn money and Peekay joins the school's failing boxing team.

He then faces Gideon Mandoma, the son of his beloved Nanny, and defeats him, cementing the title of "great chief".

Near the end of his last year of school, he must face the death of Doc and not earning a Rhodes scholarship, therefore missing his chance to join Hymie at Oxford to study law.

As a result, Peekay takes a year off of boxing and academics and goes to work in Northern Rhodesia's copper mines to "find himself" and build up the muscle to become a welterweight.

He takes on the dangerous work of a "grizzly man" as required by all new miners, but continues on to earn double wages, thereby saving enough to attend Oxford.