The children in James' new school in Little Tooting have been terrorised by the local bully, Roger Grimes, and his gang of trouble-makers ever since Roger started school. As the newest arrival, James is having a whole new set of problems devised by Roger Grimes, which inevitably land him in trouble.
The last straw comes when his art teacher has blue paint poured down the back of her shirt and yet again James is blamed. Roger has most of the children terrified, so no-one will stand up to him when he and his friend Edward blame it all on James.
This is also the last straw for the headmistress who calls James' mother. He is suspended for one week. While suspended James meets some very special friends: Bella and Old Fella, two very special dogs. James is shocked to discover that they understand him and that he can talk to them. Between them, they hatch more than one plan to put a stop to Roger Grimes reign of terror over the schoolyard, with the most unexpected consequences.