By Justin Somper Teo Skaffa
Pirate academies, missing parents, and hidden enemies—this isn’t your grandma’s pirate tale.
Justin Somper’s “New Kid On Deck” (Pirate Academy #1) is a fast-paced middle-grade fantasy adventure set in 2507, where rising sea levels have transformed the world into a pirate-dominated society. The story follows three protagonists: Jasmine Peacock, a determined student whose parents vanish during a school event; Jacoby Blunt, her loyal friend struggling with trust issues; and Neo Splice, a mysterious newcomer whose arrival triggers chaos. The plot unfolds at the Coral Sea Province’s elite Pirate Academy, where students train in sailing, combat, and knot-tying under legendary pirate captains. As tensions rise with the emergence of the rival League of True Pirates, the trio must rely on teamwork and pirate skills to uncover traitors and protect their school.
Middle-grade language learners will love the accessible language and engaging structure. Teo Skaffa’s cartoon-style illustrations break up text, aiding visual learners in tracking emotions and plot twists. Short chapters create natural reading breaks, reducing overwhelm for struggling readers. The simple sentence structures and contextual explanations of nautical terms (e.g., “knots class”) make this a great choice for readers ready to “walk the plank” towards independence.
The educational pack from UCLan Publishing further enhances classroom use, offering lesson plans on themes like teamwork, environmental stewardship, and mindfulness. For example, students can debate the academy’s motto—“Wound one Barracuda and you wound us all”—to explore collective responsibility. Pre-teaching pirate vocabulary (e.g., “avast,” “Jolly Roger”) and using the included drama activities (e.g., role-playing pirate court scenes) can deepen comprehension. The futuristic setting and universal themes of friendship also minimize cultural barriers, making it ideal for diverse classrooms. Teachers seeking a text that blends action with curriculum-aligned themes will find New Kid On Deck a valuable addition, particularly for students needing motivation through high-stakes adventure.
