As a child I fantasised about being allowed to go to Malory Towers - so when we came across these books I thought the concept of a boarding school on a ship was just brilliant.....Blyton-esqe in it's lack of realism, but with wider appeal, and just so much fun! When Ben and Fee are dropped off by their submarine-dwelling parents for their first term abord the School Ship Tobermory, they can't believe their luck....but they soon discover that the school has its villains and its heroes like any other, and get spotted all too soon by the bullies of the class. To add to this, before long they get sucked into solving the mystery behind the actions of a seemingly innocent film crew whose intentions turn out to be more sinister than at first supposed. This first story in the series majors on the challenges of making good friends in a new school environment - but the narrative, full of intrigue, adventure, and excitement, as well as all sorts of nautical knowledge casually imparted to the reader, is light hearted and perfectly pitched for confident readers 8+.