Publication Date: 7 March 2024

The Blurb

Welcome to Pirate Academy – once you step through the door, you won’t ever want to leave!

The year is 2507. The oceans have risen. A new dawn of piracy has begun. Jacoby Blunt and Jasmine Peacock are students at the elite Pirate Academy. This is no ordinary school! Lessons range from Knots Class and Sailing to Combat Workshop. The teachers are all pirate legends. The pressure is always on. Friendship is everything.

When a new kid, the mysterious Neo Splice, arrives, everything changes FAST. Suddenly, the dangers are no longer simply out on the oceans but right here, amongst them. In the face of real peril, the students of Barracuda class must put everything they have learned to the test against a ruthless and seemingly unstoppable new enemy.

The Review

A swashbuckling adventure that plunges readers into a world of high seas, daring escapades, and unexpected twists.

Vivid descriptions bring this world to life, immersing readers in the excitement of pirate training, the history of the pirating families, and the challenges these young students face to keep their treasured place.

The main characters are all relatable, with unique strengths and vulnerabilities. Young readers will find themselves rooting for them as they band together to confront the challenges thrown their way. I loved seeing them own their mistakes and rectify them in order to move forward as a team. This will also foster empathy and understanding for how new children in schools may be feeling as they settle into an established class.

Justin brilliantly captures the essence of friendship, highlighting its importance in times of adversity in an adventure that will leave readers wanting more.

Huge thanks to UCLan Publishing for sending me an early review copy.