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The Wreck Of The Zanzibar
A gripping children’s story from War Horse author and former Children's Laureate Michael Morpurgo.
“We all knew what was going to happen. We’d seen it before. A ship about to founder staggers before she falls. A huge wave broke over her stern and she did not come upright again.” Life on the Scilly Isles in 1907 is bleak and full of hardship. Laura’s twin brother, Billy, disappears, and then a storm devastates everything. It seems there’s little hope. But then the Zanzibar is wrecked on the island’s rocks, and everything changes . . .
The Wreck of the Zanzibar is a gripping historical adventure from the author of An Eagle in the Snow, Listen to the Moon, Shadow, and An Elephant in the Garden.
Michael Morpurgo is the master storyteller of such modern classic children's books as War Horse, Friend or Foe, Private Peaceful, and Kensuke's Kingdom. He has written more than one hundred books for children and won the Whitbread Award, the Smarties Award, the Circle of Gold Award, the Children’s Book Award and has been short-listed for the Carnegie Medal four times.
“We all knew what was going to happen. We’d seen it before. A ship about to founder staggers before she falls. A huge wave broke over her stern and she did not come upright again.” Life on the Scilly Isles in 1907 is bleak and full of hardship. Laura’s twin brother, Billy, disappears, and then a storm devastates everything. It seems there’s little hope. But then the Zanzibar is wrecked on the island’s rocks, and everything changes . . .
The Wreck of the Zanzibar is a gripping historical adventure from the author of An Eagle in the Snow, Listen to the Moon, Shadow, and An Elephant in the Garden.
Michael Morpurgo is the master storyteller of such modern classic children's books as War Horse, Friend or Foe, Private Peaceful, and Kensuke's Kingdom. He has written more than one hundred books for children and won the Whitbread Award, the Smarties Award, the Circle of Gold Award, the Children’s Book Award and has been short-listed for the Carnegie Medal four times.
112 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1995
43 people are currently reading
1098 people want to read
About the author
Michael Morpurgo
630 books3,019 followersSir Michael Andrew Morpurgo, OBE, FRSL is the author of many books for children, five of which have been made into films. He also writes his own screenplays and libretti for opera. Born in St Albans, Hertfordshire, in 1943, he was evacuated to Cumberland during the last years of the Second World War, then returned to London, moving later to Essex. After a brief and unsuccessful spell in the army, he took up teaching and started to write. He left teaching after ten years in order to set up 'Farms for City Children' with his wife. They have three farms in Devon, Wales and Gloucestershire, open to inner city school children who come to stay and work with the animals. In 1999 this work was publicly recognised when he and his wife were invested a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to youth. In 2003, he was advanced to an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (FRSL) in 2004. He was knighted in the 2018 for his services to literature and charity. He is also a father and grandfather, so children have always played a large part in his life. Every year he and his family spend time in the Scilly Isles, the setting for three of his books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews
March 22, 2023
A poignant, but also slightly underwhelming Victorian tale of how a remote group of islanders (in the South West of England) were saved by the wreck of the Zanzibar, as recounted after the funeral of an island family's matriarch. 6 out of 12, Three Stars
2014 read
2014 read
May 1, 2023
3.5 rounded up to 4
September 4, 2018
I really enjoyed this. It's been a long time since I read any Michael Morporgo and really enjoyed it.
December 1, 2025
I like these kind of sad, middle grade historical novels. They always feel age aporopriate but not dumbed down and work very well for me as an adult, too.
This drew me in fast and was very atmospheric. It tells its story effectively in very little pages. Maybe it ends a bit too optimistic, but that's ok.
This drew me in fast and was very atmospheric. It tells its story effectively in very little pages. Maybe it ends a bit too optimistic, but that's ok.
December 9, 2012
Michael’s Great-aunt Laura has just passed away and the family are on their way home to the Isles of Scilly for her funeral. In her will, Great-aunt Laura has left him her precious diary and he later finds out why it was so dear to her. The diary dates back to when Laura was a young girl and of her troubled family life, which led to her twin brother running away to sea. This event devastated young Laura as she felt alone and lost without the closest person in her life.
One day, Laura finds a leatherback turtle washed onto the shores. The turtle was injured and she tries desperately to push it back into the sea but the turtle was too heavy. She confides in the turtle and for the first time since her brother left, she is able to speak of her troubles. With the help of her Gran, she manages to push the turtle back into the sea.
Soon after, a terrible storm devastates the Scilly Isles. Houses are destroyed, livestock perished and fishermen could not go out to fish. Life became bleak for the Islanders and food was scarce, until a boat wreck saves the people of the Isles and brings Laura’s brother home.
This book fits nicely into themes my Year 5 class are learning in topic. The children are learning about Leatherback turtles, seas and islands. This book can be used for guided reading as it is short and easy to read.
One day, Laura finds a leatherback turtle washed onto the shores. The turtle was injured and she tries desperately to push it back into the sea but the turtle was too heavy. She confides in the turtle and for the first time since her brother left, she is able to speak of her troubles. With the help of her Gran, she manages to push the turtle back into the sea.
Soon after, a terrible storm devastates the Scilly Isles. Houses are destroyed, livestock perished and fishermen could not go out to fish. Life became bleak for the Islanders and food was scarce, until a boat wreck saves the people of the Isles and brings Laura’s brother home.
This book fits nicely into themes my Year 5 class are learning in topic. The children are learning about Leatherback turtles, seas and islands. This book can be used for guided reading as it is short and easy to read.
October 30, 2018
Another nice historical fiction story by Morpurgo, set during 1907 with a shipwreck on the Scilly Isles.
A simple enjoyable read.
A simple enjoyable read.
May 12, 2018
An emotional read at times. Enjoyable for all ages
May 10, 2024
Nicely written short story where all the threads come together at the end.
October 4, 2025
A lovely short story
February 13, 2019
Read to Sam over a few days. At times i found this story very moving and emotional, but a lot of the rest of the time it was somewhat dry. Maybe aimed at children a little older than he currently is.
January 13, 2020
À l'image des autres histoires de Michael Morpurgo, ce récit regorge de beauté et de sagesse. Sans être une robinsonnade, ce roman combine aventure, naufrage et état stationnaire sur les rives d'une île, des thèmes dont l'auteur m'avait déjà habitué dans "Le royaume de Kensuké". Seulement, l'angle d'approche est ici totalement différent. Nous voyageons dans les souvenirs d'enfance d'une adolescente du début du vingtième siècle, d'un village insulaire où il ne se produit rien, sauf la misère. Ici, on espère le naufrage. Sur cette île, on s'émancipe en ramant. Entre femmes, on rêve de tortue des mers.
Un récit sans tranche d'âge, qui saura émouvoir petits et grands.
Un récit sans tranche d'âge, qui saura émouvoir petits et grands.
December 9, 2021
In the novel The Wreck of the Zanzibar by Michael Morpugo the main character Luara's twin brother, Billy disappears and then the storm made everything worse. Although when the Zainziabr wrecked on the island rocks everything changed.I really enjoyed this novel since there was a lot of adventure and mystery included which I didn't really notice until I got deeper and deeper into the story. I would recommend this book to someone who wants to try something new and go with an adventure novel just like I did.
January 19, 2021
A lovely book that I read with my son. Some real tear jerking moments and a lovely ending. My first Michael Morpurgo finished and I hope it won’t be the last we read together.
December 9, 2018
Another lovely read from the fantastic Michael Morpurgo. I didn't enjoy this book as much as some of his others (Kensuke's Kingdom, Billy the Kid), but it was a nice young person's fiction to whiz through in-between some larger reads.
The story is interesting (about a young girl whose family experience turmoil when her brother leaves to sail around the world). The imagery created is excellent and Morpurgo certainly knows how to write a story of adventure, introducing sensitive themes, yet pitching it just right for young readers. It does not get too upsetting yet the storyline can be quite sad and does urge you to read on! All in all, 'The Wreck of the Zanzibar,' is a charming, easy read and one I would recommend to a friend.
The story is interesting (about a young girl whose family experience turmoil when her brother leaves to sail around the world). The imagery created is excellent and Morpurgo certainly knows how to write a story of adventure, introducing sensitive themes, yet pitching it just right for young readers. It does not get too upsetting yet the storyline can be quite sad and does urge you to read on! All in all, 'The Wreck of the Zanzibar,' is a charming, easy read and one I would recommend to a friend.
October 20, 2019
I read this in year 6 and I would recommend it to that age group. It features some tough topics, like a sense of abandonment, isolation, and loneliness.
October 21, 2012
The island of Bryher is bleak and barren. Laura's father, a harsh and taciturn man, has turned his son Billy against island life with his incessant demands. Billy wants to see the world outside. Laura just wants to crew the island gig but her father is adamant in his refusal. No girl on any of the Scilly Isles has been an oarsman on a gig and no daughter of his is going to be the first.
When it comes to a choice between the rough, unrelenting work under his father's stern eye and the promise of adventure held out by Joseph Hannibal, a sea-faring visitor, there's no contest. Billy leaves in secret on the General Lee.
The hardship on the island deepens when a storm rips off roofs, smashes houses and drowns the few cows on which the islanders are dependent for their milk. Hope disappears. Even Laura's parents are estranged from each other because of Billy's departure.
Then Laura finds a turtle, upturned on the beach, pecked by seagulls. With immense effort, she and her granny get it back to sea. It's not long before things are so desperate Laura wonders if she'd have pity on the turtle if it were to happen again. Turtle soup might help feed the islanders and restore granny as she sinks into a state approaching death.
A miracle is needed to save the island, to save granny and to save the marriage of Laura's parents.
In the middle of a ferocious storm, a ship is spotted foundering out to sea. It's the Zanzibar...
A great story of hope restored, against all odds. The framing story of Great-Aunt Laura's will, while it works wonderfully to link the turtle with the Zanzibar, again creates that curious anomaly: a story that's more for adults than children, even though it's marketed as a children's book. Michael Morpurgo himself calls these 'crossovers' - and I wonder about them. Somehow for me, they dilute my enjoyment. I can't slip into 'one age' in the story and appreciate it at that level. I become conscious of story technique rather than the story itself. It was for this reason I marked it down a star.
When it comes to a choice between the rough, unrelenting work under his father's stern eye and the promise of adventure held out by Joseph Hannibal, a sea-faring visitor, there's no contest. Billy leaves in secret on the General Lee.
The hardship on the island deepens when a storm rips off roofs, smashes houses and drowns the few cows on which the islanders are dependent for their milk. Hope disappears. Even Laura's parents are estranged from each other because of Billy's departure.
Then Laura finds a turtle, upturned on the beach, pecked by seagulls. With immense effort, she and her granny get it back to sea. It's not long before things are so desperate Laura wonders if she'd have pity on the turtle if it were to happen again. Turtle soup might help feed the islanders and restore granny as she sinks into a state approaching death.
A miracle is needed to save the island, to save granny and to save the marriage of Laura's parents.
In the middle of a ferocious storm, a ship is spotted foundering out to sea. It's the Zanzibar...
A great story of hope restored, against all odds. The framing story of Great-Aunt Laura's will, while it works wonderfully to link the turtle with the Zanzibar, again creates that curious anomaly: a story that's more for adults than children, even though it's marketed as a children's book. Michael Morpurgo himself calls these 'crossovers' - and I wonder about them. Somehow for me, they dilute my enjoyment. I can't slip into 'one age' in the story and appreciate it at that level. I become conscious of story technique rather than the story itself. It was for this reason I marked it down a star.
October 24, 2015
I'm usually fine with not a lot happening in a story but this didn't work for me when I read it. On saying this, discussing Billy's adventures would be exciting for children and perhaps the simple and rather dull aspect of life on the Scilly Isles at the turn of the 20th century was a true reflection. I liked the idea that the story closes with Michael, just as it opened with him. Morpurgo does this A LOT - a story within a story.
I thought the opening was lovely and the chapters are brief with the first person narrative flitting between Michael and Laura. Elements of the story reminded me of Why the Whales Came which I thought to be far better.
Written as a diary entry - I like the idea of doing up the classroom like a set from the book and using maps to find out where the Scilly Isles are and what they look like.
Puzzle:
The child in the story has a bond with a turtle around half-way through the book and I couldn't help wondering whether this was the beginning of Morpurgo's slight obsession of child-animal partnerships.
I thought the opening was lovely and the chapters are brief with the first person narrative flitting between Michael and Laura. Elements of the story reminded me of Why the Whales Came which I thought to be far better.
Written as a diary entry - I like the idea of doing up the classroom like a set from the book and using maps to find out where the Scilly Isles are and what they look like.
Puzzle:
The child in the story has a bond with a turtle around half-way through the book and I couldn't help wondering whether this was the beginning of Morpurgo's slight obsession of child-animal partnerships.
October 10, 2022
I enjoyed reading this short book about the life of Laura, a girl living on a desolate island in the early 20th century.
Life on the island isn't easy, and this is repeatedly made clear throughout the book. The people of the island are constantly threatened by the forces of nature, wind and sea.
The book is written in the form of a diary. The entries are shorted on days of turmoil and frustration. The entries are longer when something remarkable has happened.
It is a book about struggle, about hope in times of desperation and a chance for readers to be grateful what they have and that we, in the western world, aren't as fragile in the face of the elements, forces outside of our control, as our ancestors were or the people living in other regions of the world.
Life on the island isn't easy, and this is repeatedly made clear throughout the book. The people of the island are constantly threatened by the forces of nature, wind and sea.
The book is written in the form of a diary. The entries are shorted on days of turmoil and frustration. The entries are longer when something remarkable has happened.
It is a book about struggle, about hope in times of desperation and a chance for readers to be grateful what they have and that we, in the western world, aren't as fragile in the face of the elements, forces outside of our control, as our ancestors were or the people living in other regions of the world.
January 14, 2009
The Wreck of the Zanzibar by Michael Morpurgo a great read. Laura Perryman lives on Bryher Island and her dream is to use a rowboat but unfortunately, it's just not the thing a girl should do in the early 1900's. But Laura is still determined to achieve her dream and when a wrecked ship and a ferocious storm give her the chance to do this and save the island, she takes it.
This book is another one of Michael Morpurgo's wonderful short reads. I recommend The Wreck of Zanzibar to someone who is fan of Michael Morpurgo, someone who wants a short read or someone who just needs a book! I give this book a four stars.
This book is another one of Michael Morpurgo's wonderful short reads. I recommend The Wreck of Zanzibar to someone who is fan of Michael Morpurgo, someone who wants a short read or someone who just needs a book! I give this book a four stars.
June 25, 2011
I was forced to read this book in Year 6. My school had two year 6 classes, and we both had to read a Michael Morpurgo book for reasons unknown. Anyway, the other class got to read Kensuke's Kingdom and we were stuck with this.
To put it simply; it's not really the most enjoyable book for an 11 year old. Pretty stale.
To put it simply; it's not really the most enjoyable book for an 11 year old. Pretty stale.
March 6, 2021
A story where they are just about to give up when they are reminded that good things come to those who wait. The time stamps as chapter names provides a reader with a sense of pace throughout the book.
I think children might enjoy coming up with their own adventure set on an island, lots of creative work could come from this book.
I think children might enjoy coming up with their own adventure set on an island, lots of creative work could come from this book.
June 10, 2013
A friend of mine has expressed interest in reading these, so I'm reading them to give to her next time I see her. I enjoyed this one! It was interesting to read one that wasn't set during a historic event as such, and it was nice having no clue what was going to happen next!
March 22, 2015
Read because I will be using this book in my classroom as part of our 'Storms and Shipwrecks' topic. I very much enjoyed this book. The main character is really interesting and very believable in her actions. Looking forward to seeing how my children will react to this book. Would recommend.
October 7, 2011
I cried.
March 4, 2016
I still love Michael Morpurgo's children's books but I was expecting more from this one, there wasn't much going on. Still a nice story though.
January 17, 2021
A book that offers hope even when it feels like there's no hope. Keep going. It will arrive. Strength 💪
December 22, 2021
I loved the form of diary that it took and I loved that everything came together at the end - the cyclical structure
December 27, 2021
Cute book, was given a set of Michael Morpurgo books so I’m just working my way through them, this one was nice. 3.9/5
September 29, 2015
A lovely tale and I like a happy ending.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews