The Sands of Shark Island

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.