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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
I found this audiobook when I was scrolling through Audible trying to find a quick, fun audiobook to listen to. I've read from Alexander McCall Smith before and so I decided to pick this one up and see how his writing compares for his adult vs kids books. I really love a good kids book every now and then, and this one reminded me a lot of some of my favourite childhood books (like Enid Blyton's Famous Five). The boarding school aboard the ship was a really fun setting for the novel, and the characters were really endearing. The setup of the novel took a lot longer than the introduction of conflict and resolution of the mystery, but even with the uneven pacing I was never bored. I've heard the rest of the series is better, so I'll probably listen to those at some point too.
Picked it up because of the interesting setting. But I thought it was boring. Don't underestimate the intended audience. I don't think 8-13 year olds would like this. The characters are flat. The sailing terms are heavy handed. The conflict doesn't really arrive until nearly halfway into the book.
Ben and Fee McTavish are twins and their parents are marine scientists. When their parents go off to do some lengthy research, the twins have stayed with an aunt and gone to school there, but now her circumstances have changed and they have to go to boarding school. How fortunate they are that there's an on-board option on the School Ship Tobermory!
Although working on a sailing ship is rather different to the submarine they're used to, they're up for the challenge. They also find challenges in a bully and his lackeys, but happily they make strong friendships straight away, which stand them in good stead when a far different challenge arises.
This book puts me in mind of the Arthur Ransome [b:Swallows and Amazons|125190|Swallows and Amazons (Swallows and Amazons, #1)|Arthur Ransome|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1277148503s/125190.jpg|231599] series - we've got seafaring, adventure, and children working together. McCall Smith has a lovely way with language and is always a pleasure to read. I also really enjoy the way he gives lots of information - he gives it by way of dialogue and by way of speaking to the reader (never in a patronising fashion), and so the reader learns lots along the way.
Although working on a sailing ship is rather different to the submarine they're used to, they're up for the challenge. They also find challenges in a bully and his lackeys, but happily they make strong friendships straight away, which stand them in good stead when a far different challenge arises.
This book puts me in mind of the Arthur Ransome [b:Swallows and Amazons|125190|Swallows and Amazons (Swallows and Amazons, #1)|Arthur Ransome|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1277148503s/125190.jpg|231599] series - we've got seafaring, adventure, and children working together. McCall Smith has a lovely way with language and is always a pleasure to read. I also really enjoy the way he gives lots of information - he gives it by way of dialogue and by way of speaking to the reader (never in a patronising fashion), and so the reader learns lots along the way.
I really think this has the potential to be a popular series with 8-13 year olds. Great idea from McCall Smith, with a ship-set school story that includes adventure and intrigue.
Brother and sister Ben and Fee join the Tobermory, a school ship, when their parents need them to board. They try their best to adapt to nautical language, begin to make friends (and enemies), and along wth their classmates find excitement looming when a nearby ship turns out to be making a film.
This is almost wish-fulfilment stuff - an exciting school at sea, with secrets and parts in a movie part of the plot.
Unusually, there are full page illustrations in each chapter rehashing some of the action (with the text of the story included), which breaks it up nicely, and the drawings are good - we also get portraits of the characters as they are introduced.
It was good to see a school story in such a different setting, this could have been based on a Blyton boarding school tale in terms of basic plot, and I picked up a few usual terms to do with sailing along the way.
I did find parts of the writing a little lazy, but this is an adult reader noting this, with convenient twists in there, some unrealistic speech and actions. There is a plot strand that seems to have been placed in there to fit in with the larger one, and is wrapped up rather quickly and easily. The bullies, I thought weren't too well characterised, very flat, but I can see that they make good love-to-hate bad guys.
I have still awarded this 5 stars as I don't think a reader of the target age will notice the points I've raised. I did still really enjoy the read, and if I was still 10 I would be eagerly awaiting the next instalment from Tobermory.
Brother and sister Ben and Fee join the Tobermory, a school ship, when their parents need them to board. They try their best to adapt to nautical language, begin to make friends (and enemies), and along wth their classmates find excitement looming when a nearby ship turns out to be making a film.
This is almost wish-fulfilment stuff - an exciting school at sea, with secrets and parts in a movie part of the plot.
Unusually, there are full page illustrations in each chapter rehashing some of the action (with the text of the story included), which breaks it up nicely, and the drawings are good - we also get portraits of the characters as they are introduced.
It was good to see a school story in such a different setting, this could have been based on a Blyton boarding school tale in terms of basic plot, and I picked up a few usual terms to do with sailing along the way.
I did find parts of the writing a little lazy, but this is an adult reader noting this, with convenient twists in there, some unrealistic speech and actions. There is a plot strand that seems to have been placed in there to fit in with the larger one, and is wrapped up rather quickly and easily. The bullies, I thought weren't too well characterised, very flat, but I can see that they make good love-to-hate bad guys.
I have still awarded this 5 stars as I don't think a reader of the target age will notice the points I've raised. I did still really enjoy the read, and if I was still 10 I would be eagerly awaiting the next instalment from Tobermory.
I got this for my kid to read since I recognized the author. I read it first before giving it to him and am returning it to the library without him reading it. I may be wrong but I think there are other books he’ll enjoy more.
Good middle grade story. Not my absolute favorite, but my sailing loving daughter loved it!
What a lovely story!
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read about an unconventional school, some really lovable kids, and a little mystery to spice things up.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read about an unconventional school, some really lovable kids, and a little mystery to spice things up.
Read and reviewed for The Bookbag http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/reviews/index.php?title=School_Ship_Tobermory_by_Alexander_McCall_Smith_and_Iain_McIntosh
Cute and fun story. My seven year old loved this. Looking forward to the rest of the series.