School Ship Tobermory

The School Ship Tobermory #1

by Alexander McCall Smith, Iain McIntosh (Illustrator)

Follow the exploits of the children who go to a most unusual school – the sail-powered training ship Tobermory. When a film crew arrives in Tobermory Bay, Ben and Fee are invited to be extras. But their suspicions are soon aroused – is the film crew genuine, or are they up to
something sinister? Ben and Fee soon discover the truth when they uncover a dastardly plan masterminded by a South American businessman.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Adventure, Audiobook, Young Adult

224 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2015

About the author

Alexander McCall Smith is the author of the international phenomenon The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, the Isabel Dalhousie Series, the Portuguese Irregular Verbs series, and the 44 Scotland Street series. He is professor emeritus of medical law at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and has served on many national and international bodies concerned with bioethics. He was born in what is now known as Zimbabwe and he was a law professor at the University of Botswana. He lives in Scotland. Visit him online at www.alexandermccallsmith.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter.

Reviews

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Middle Grade Mystery, and this is the first book in the School Ship Tobermory series. I love the mystery in this book, and the characters was so fun to follow. I loved the school ship setting. This book was a fun and quick read. This book was well-written and will take you on a great adventure. (*)

[The Library Lady · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just wrote a review of an adult book filled with nothing but gloom, doom, and meanness, and added at the end that I probably needed to cleanse my palate with a book by Alexander McCall Smith. But in doing so, I should have specified one of his adult books about Patience Ramotswe, or one of his "Scotland Street" books:

Dearest Alexander McCall Smith:

You have written a series I treasure in the books about Mma Ramotswe, and it's what you do best. Sweetness without saccharine, believable people with a fine balance of the good and the bad. But generally, your children's books, you should pardon the expression, suck pond water.

This is a cardboardy "Harry Potter Goes to Sea, But There's No Magic" sort of book. Everyone is good and wonderful and kind except for the 3 bad boys and the villains of the piece. There's no depth, the writing is flat, and the plot is utterly predictable.

Please stop. Don't keep writing these books. Please leave the kids alone. Not everyone can do kids books, and you are proving that point.

Take us back to Botswana and Scotland Street. I can do without Isabel Dalhousie (yawn), but even she is better than this tripe.

Sorrowfully yours,
The Library Lady

[Katy Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Петър Панчев · Rating 4 out of 5]

Морски приключения на кораб
(Цялото ревю е тук: https://knijenpetar.wordpress.com/201...)

Напоследък наситих свободното си време с детско-юношески книги. Да ви кажа, никак не ми беше зле. „Учебен кораб ‘Тобърмори’“ („Ергон“, 2017, с превод на Мирела Стефанова) също спада към тази категория. Ако ще чета детски книги, гледам да съдържат смислена история и да са забавни/увлекателни. Онова, което привлича хлапетата към четенето, е приключението, отговорите на някои интересуващи ги въпроси и забавните моменти, така че да си прекарат чудесно извън училище. Е, модерните напоследък книги буквално превръщат училището в арена на своеволията, но това е друга тема, с която няма да ви занимавам сега. Алегзандър Маккол Смит се е постарал да привлече любопитството на младите с типична приключенска история, макар на места тя да е малко постна. Но ако те интересуват пътешествията с кораб, който в същото време е и училище, пълно с правила за безопасност (как иначе?), тази книга е изключително добро попадение. Освен типичните закачки покрай свободомислието на децата, човек би научил много подробности за живота на моряците и проблемите, съпътстващи ги в открито море.
(Продължава в блога: https://knijenpetar.wordpress.com/201...)

[Terris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, recommended for ages 9-12, is a fun adventure of children who go to school on a ship. They study regular subjects as well as learning to sail a ship. The story starts with twins, a boy and a girl, who are starting as new students at this school, making new friends and learning about the ship. Of course, there is some mystery and high adventure on the sea that make for excitement and friendship bonding.
This is Book #1 of this series. Book #2 The Sands of Shark Island, came out in September, 2016. I am not planning to read any further in this series, but was interested in it as I am a big fan of Alexander McCall Smith. However, if I had children at home or classroom that I could read to, I would definitely enjoy the fun and excitement along with the children!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hooray -- another A McCall Smith series begins! This one promises wonderful adventures and travels, aboard the Tobermory, a floating school for seagoing students (probably mid-school-agers). There are new friends to get to know, and a few bad-actors among the students to be avoided as well -- a lot like normal school, except that Ben and his twin sister Fee will be doing their lessons sailing off the coast of Scotland (at least for now). This wonderful author can write for all ages!

[Verity W · Rating 4 out of 5]

School stories have always been one of my favourite things (even though, or may be because, I didn't like school very much) and so I was excited to read a school story by Alexander McCall Smith. And whilst it's not quite perfect, it's very close to it.

Ben and Fi are sent to school by their parents. But it's not a normal school. This boarding school is on a sailing boat. The children learn all about life at sea and do lessons as well. And there's a big dash of adventure too, after Ben and Fee and their friends get suspicious about another ship that seems to be turning up at the same places as School Ship Tobermory.

This is a great start to the series, with a lot of engaging characters and some good villains too. McCall Smith does a good job of making life on board ship understandable for a young audience by explaining all the special terminology to the new pupils. I learned a lot - even if I am a grown-up!

I'll keep an eye out for book two - and I've sent my copy of this book to my niece, who likes school stories and the Famous Five and so I think this might really appeal to her!

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twins Ben and Fee MacTavish feel a little nervous about starting their first school term on the School Ship Tobermory, an actual ship based on the Scottish isle of Mull, where children learn sailing and navigation while also taking regular classroom subjects. It's like a boarding school that doesn't stay put; but it is full of new experiences for the siblings, even though they have spent part of their childhood on a submarine with their scientist parents. They get to make new friends, such as an American boy named Badger and an Australian girl named Poppy. Surprisingly fast, they also make some new enemies, with such sinister names as Hardtack, Flubber, and Shark. They get to test their nerve against heights, seasickness, diving, and uncharted rocks. And before they have sailed out of Scottish waters, they are already embroiled in a mysterious adventure.

The twins and their friends smell a rat on board a nearby ship, the Albatross, where a movie is supposedly being filmed. Several Tobermories, including Ben, are invited over to serve as background extras in the film. The press even comes aboard to shoot a news story about them. But something just doesn't feel right about the Albatross. The Tobermory's captain's dog Henry senses it. But what could be hiding in plain sight, on a ship that has so many visitors tromping over its decks? The question, as the Tobermories find aboard their own vessel, may be misleading; the answer lies below. Even though Captain Macbeth doesn't believe the kids, with a little initiative and a little luck, they hope to find out.

This is a rare children's novel by the author of many, many charming books for grown-ups, such as the "Number One Ladies' Detective Agency" series, the Isabel Dalhousie mysteries, and more. Its tone has an innocence and wholesome straightforwardness that seems to place it in an earlier generation - like the teen adventure novels I used to find at my grandparents' house, lining the shelves of rooms my parents and their siblings grew up in. On the other hand, it has some up-to-date technology in it, like digital video cameras; up-to-date social ideas, like a co-ed boarding school; and a strain of facetiousness in such details as the naming of characters, hinting at a layer of self-deprecating fun. It's a gentle thriller, with almost-too-intelligent animals, almost-too-silly adults (one of them, for example, has a mustache that can be used to gauge wind direction), almost-too-silly background details (like the dog that caught a mermaid), and nobody getting seriously hurt in spite of some moments of deadly peril.

It is, in short, like a lot of Alexander McCall Smith's stuff, except it is designed specifically for kids. And in spite of the solidly G-rated dialogue, the endearing over-literalness of its heroes, and the bland comeuppance for its villains (also hallmarks of AMS's writing), it never seems to talk down to the younger reader. It patiently guides its main characters, and the reader with them, through some elementary lessons in seamanship and nautical vocabulary. And it leaves room open for a sequel - which, in the U.K., already exists; its title is The Sands of Shark Island. In the U.S., however, this first book in the series is scheduled for release Oct. 11, 2016. This review was based on a pre-publication Kindle proof made available through Netgalley dot com.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alexander McCall Smith is the best selling author of many series, most notably the "#1 Ladies Detectives Agency". This new series, for the younger set, will have them dreaming of attending boarding school on the " School Ship Tobermory". Certainly, I would have much preferred boarding on this sailing ship than the Catholic school 🏥 run by nuns where I boarded as a youth. The camaraderie, bonding and the experience of learning to sail an ocean going ship while learning about the environment and history of the places visited would have been a dream come true & an adventure of a lifetime. The author's characterization & descriptions of life amongst boarders brings back memories both good and bad of the years I spent in this type of social environment. There are always some interpersonal conflicts, loneliness, breaking of rules, skipping chores, discipline (kp duty 🍪 & bathroom cleaning 🚽😂 ), sports events, and other after school activities reserved just for boarders that made life as a boarder unique. He does a great job of painting what this type of school would be like and I think most youths from 9-14 will enjoy this book. Although I cannot recall its name, there is a sailing ship, in Norway, that provides training for 16-20 year olds for five months and they're away at sea the entire time that they are learning. What a great experience that would be. This will be an interesting series for younger readers who enjoy adventuresome characters. The author covers some issues that are relevant to this age group like bullying, lying, environmental infractions that can be discussed with parents or teachers in reading groups.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This children's book wasn't that bad, and maybe it might be a hit with the middle school readers, but honestly I found it a little dull and have read better middle grade series (for example, Lemony Snicket's All the Wrong Questions). But I'm a fan of Alexander McCall Smith and his adult series, and thought the premise of this book was interesting: twins Ben and Fee, whose parents are marine scientists living in a submarine, choose to attend a boarding school on the sailing ship Tobermory. The kids mix lessons with sailor duties, making friends with most of their schoolmates and teachers (the headmaster is the Captain), and try to steer clear of the ship bullies. In this book the ship comes across another ship that is filming a movie, but soon Ben & Fee find that all is not what it seems.

It's a quick read, so I might give the next installment a try, but not one I'd bother recommending to kids unless they are huge nautical fans.

[Jeannie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a unique take on boarding (literally) schools. Ben and Fee are enrolled in this unusual sailing school as their parents are away researching on their submarine. Living on a submarine is entirely different than a sailboat. Ben and Fee have to adapt, but are quick learners. First one must make friends. Second one must avoid bullies and thirdly one must learn lessons: ropes, vocabulary and the duties. It gets a bit more adventurous when some of the students are cast as extras in a movie. Something fishy is going on. There doesn't seem to be any actual filming. There is danger as they investigate. There are accidents and life threatening situations. American children will be exposed to so British and naval culture. It may not have lots of action, but it is an enjoyable book.

[Kylie Westaway · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are interesting, if very plot driven, middle school books.

The characters have zero personality and the different countries they are from is their only individuality, all of the adults are lovely, understanding and fair (which is an odd, but slightly refreshing change of pace) and there are three stereotypical bad kids.

What makes these books are the safe and fun adventures the kids go on, and the adventurous lives they lead (adults will need to put aside their doubts about leaving a huge sailing ship to be crewed by 11 year olds).

An unknown number of children go to school on the school ship Tobermory, which sails all over the world. The children have very clean and moral adventures, all of them tell their teachers whenever something goes wrong, and everything always turns out well.

Good, clean fun, if very basic. 7-10 year olds will enjoy these stories.

[Detski Knigi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Главното умение на Алегзандър Маккол Смит, спечелило му множество читатели (малки и големи) по цял свят, е четивният, уютен и ненатрапчив стил, съчетан с близки до ежедневието и не прекалено динамични сюжети. Книгите му почти винаги включват и лека криминална загадка, която не е водеща, нито пък прекалено заплетена, но придава гъделичкащ загадъчен привкус на четенето. И на фона на всичко това, сякаш между другото, успява да подтикне читателите си към размисъл по общочовешки теми – морал, приятелство, лъжа, неувереност, смелост. Всичко това присъства и в “Учебен кораб “Тобърмори”, което прави книгата увлекателна и приятна за читателите на възраст 12-15 години: http://detskiknigi.com/ucheben-korab-...

[Jill Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine going away to school on a sailing ship? New adventures and discoveries. Twin brother, Ben and his sister, Fee are beginning the new school year on the ship Tobermory. Their parents are marine scientists and will be gone on exploration and their aunt will be unable to watch them. Ben and Fee have lived onboard a mini sub for short periods of time but being on a sailing ship will be a new experience. They make new friends and of course there are a few bullies on board. This first book involves an environmental mystery. I actually enjoyed the second book more, as it had more action. Another fun book by Alexander McCall Smith.

[Mary Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful story by McCall Smith, There isn't a boring moment to it. We begin with twins who are sent to school on a ship - the Tobermory. They meet some interesting folks as well as the school bully and his minions. Throughtout the book are wonderful lessons cloaked in the plot of the story so that a kid reading the book wouldn't know that they are presented with a teachable moment. My recommendation is to read this aloud with your children. It is exciting, mysterious, and moment by moment captivating. I enjoyed this as an adult but can only imagine how a kid would love it as well.

[Gayle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad book and I really liked the idea of the school ship, but it's definitely not, as a reviewer mentions below, a book that can be equally enjoyed by adults. The constant explanations of seafaring words was annoying, even more so when I discovered a glossary at the back! And the parent in me was horrified at how the inexperienced children were expected to climb the rigging and do all manner of other dangerous duties. But for younger readers looking for a seafaring story, it could fit the bill.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quaint and bit of an old-fashioned book. The kids are good and want to do good. I like the overall story. There is a mystery in it as well.

I think kids will enjoy this, but it's something adults will have to introduce to them. At times, the writing was slightly slow and a bit clunky (ex: it sometimes described feelings instead of letting things happen naturally).

Overall, I do like this story, and it made me think of a more innocent time which is good because kids need sweetness and light. Don't we all? :)

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming story my children and I enjoyed on audio, enhanced by narrator Crawford Logan's rendition of Scottish burr (and various other accents he renders effortlessly). The elements of adventure with new classmates, on board a ship, along with nautical terms and a dash of suspense, made for a fun read during our road trip.

It's difficult to find much real literature for children and 'tweens these days that isn't rife with sorcery and other dark themes, so I appreciated this uplifting and lighter book.

[Kirstin · Rating 3 out of 5]

We listened to the second book from this series on audio from the library, so we backed up and borrowed this one next (curiously, no library in our province has it on audiobook). We enjoyed the book well enough. But it as a bit simplistic even for my wide-ranging aged audience (7-14). The bad guys are so bad, the good guys win and nothing gets too complicated. I would definitely steer this towards slightly younger readers, maybe 6-9. Otherwise, the climax and loose ends are tied up too easily to be satisfying.

[Kim Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love books set in boarding school situations and this has the quirkiness of being set aboard a ship. Ben and Fee are twins whose parents travel the world in a submarine doing research. Ben and Fee normally stay with their aunt during these times but she is unavailable and it’s decided that the children will attend Tobermory School. They soon find themselves tied up in a mystery involving another ship. What are they hiding and can the kids and their friends expose the crime before it’s too late?

I enjoyed this enough to want to continue the series.
Recommend for ages 8+

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first venture into Alexander McCall Smith’s books for young readers, likely to be my last. The story, though simple and charming, was a bit slow and didn’t spark interest for me. There’s a slight kerfuffle towards the end that picks the pace up some. The main characters consist of children who are respectfully intuitive, excepting the antagonists. Such incredibly thoughtful, kind protagonists were mildly offsetting for me.

[Ellie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing inherently wrong with this book, but there are far better books in this category. It just didn't have enough mystery to surpass The Mysterious Benedict Society, didn't have an interesting enough adults to surpass The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place and didn't have enough adventure to surpass The 39 Clues.

[Anjixoxo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is all about a set of twins a girl and a boy named Fee and Ben MacTavish have decided that they don't want to go to any old school they want to go to the SCHOOL SHIP TOBERMORY! They soon make lots of friends and a few enemies . When a film crew arrive Ben and Fee get suspicious so the decide to investigate . I really enjoyed this book as I found very interesting. It was a page turner!

[Judy E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good nautical junior novel written by one of my favorite authors, Alexander McCall Smith. This story of a brother and sister who enroll on a school that is the ship, the Tobermory. Navigation and other sailing skills are emphasized, as the students travel the seas. Mysteries that are found on board include a stow away and the possibility of poachers on a neighboring ship.

[David Rough · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5+ stars. This children's book was enjoyable. I thought it was a little corny at the beginning but as the novel progressed, the plot became more interesting. I think young readers will embrace this book. It was clean and the distinction between right and wrong was clearly made. Friendship and trust were major themes as the adventure expanded way beyond school - even school on a boat.

[Stven · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not yet ceased to be astonished at the apparently endless supply of stories Alexander McCall Smith has to share with us. This pleasant tale, made even more pleasant by the fine pen-and-ink illustrations by Iain McIntosh, of a young brother and sister getting their start on a ship that is also a school gets an extra star from me because I like sea stories so much.

[Meagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolutely lovely story! I look forward to reading this to my children when they're 7-8, maybe a bit later.

McCall Smith cleverly weaved in themes such as fear of new experiences, making friends, dealing with bullies, responding to unfair situations, etc.

I'm fairly surprised that the overall rating for this book isn't higher.

[Sadie-Jane Huff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy checking out the various titles written by one of my fave authors...

This time round it is about a pair of siblings who attend boarding school on a ship

Being one who gets seasick, i lived vicariously through ben and fee and will continue to do so as i read the rest of the series...

[Kami · Rating 1 out of 5]

To be fair we didn't finish the book. But we listened half way and none of my kids wanted to hear any more and were happy to switch to a nonfiction biography about Theodore Roosevelt exploring the Amazon....so yeah, not riveting. I fell asleep to it. My kids said it was repetitive and thus annoying.