AUGUST 2017 - AudioFile
Nicholas Guy Smith is an unobtrusive narrator. He lets the second adventure of the School Ship TOBERMORY unfold on its own. This time the boat is bound for the Caribbean, where 12-year-old twins Ben and Fee MacTavish, along with their school- and shipmates, befriend a local boy, experience modern-day pirates, and come to appreciate more fully the bonds of family and friendship. Smith provides voices with adequate distinction for the various students, including optimistic Fee, modest Ben, newcomer Mike, and the leering trio of bullies. His rich, full timbre and dash of a Scottish accent bring authenticity and compassion to the captain and the first mate. Smith’s pacing is leisurely or fast, as the action dictates. A.R. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine
From the Publisher
" . . . instilled with wholesome values, intelligence, and action. A comfortable, wise tale that is more than anything a story of friendship." —Kirkus Reviews
School Library Journal
05/01/2017
Gr 4–6—School-age readers who dream of attending classes full-time on a boat that sails around the world will appreciate the second book in this series by the author of the popular adult mystery titles "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency." In this sequel, the brother/sister duo Ben and Fee lead their schoolmates on yet another adventure, this time to the Caribbean. The book begins by reintroducing all the main characters from the first entry (making it easy for readers to jump into the series) and explaining all the details of the ship and its crew. The first adventure takes place on land during the schoolmates' two-week vacation when they rescue Tanya from being retaken from her cruel aunt and uncle (a story from the first book). Then they set sail for the Caribbean Islands. Each day is filled with regular school lessons in the morning and afternoon sessions on seafaring. It's almost perfect except for clashes with William Edward Hardtack and his gang, who always seem to get away with bullying and cheating. When the Tobermory docks in Green Bay Island, a new mate, Mike, comes aboard, and the crew are led into more dangerous journeys. Readers will love the fast-paced tale and fascinating locations. As an added bonus, instructional details of seafaring are woven seamlessly into the plot. Graphic-style illustrations by McIntosh supplement the text. VERDICT New readers and students familiar with the first volume will enjoy this sequel and be eager for the next installment.—Anne Jung-Mathews, Plymouth State University, NH
Kirkus Reviews
2017-03-29
The second School Ship Tobermory installment finds the MacTavish twins cementing friendships and solving mysteries in the Caribbean.The book opens at the beginning of a school holiday for the diverse student body of the School Ship Tobermory—a sailing ship based in Scotland that is also a boarding school. Twelve-year-old white twins Fee and Ben MacTavish are preparing to spend their holiday at home with their marine-scientist parents when they realize that three of their friends live too far away to go home. In their warmhearted fashion, the twins invite the three to their home. A dangling storyline that will no doubt be picked up in a further installment ensues. Back onboard Tobermory post-holiday, the students and their teachers set sail for the Caribbean. In Antigua, they meet Mike, a black, 13-year-old islander who has had to give up his education to help support his family after his fisherman father mysteriously disappeared two years previously. A cozy mystery instilled with wholesome values, intelligence, and action follows. While Ben and Fee figure prominently, McCall Smith, in his assured third-person narration (with the occasional second-person popping up) branches out and lets other characters drive the plot. McIntosh's black-and-white illustrations follow the same format as the first book and are just as effective. A comfortable, wise tale that is more than anything a story of friendship. (backmatter) (Fiction. 8-12)
