Pirate Academy: Missing at Sea

Pirate Academy: Missing at Sea

Justin Somper

Teo Skaffa

A & U Children’s, 2026

256pp., pbk., RRP $A16.99

9781761182051

The year is 2507, the oceans have risen and a new dawn of piracy led by the Pirate Federation has begun.

Eleven-year-old Jacoby Blunt and Jasmine Peacock are students at the elite Pirate Academy where, as members of already famous pirate families, they study for 10 years under teachers who are all legendary sea captains. to become pirate captains in the Pirate Federation themselves. . But this is no ordinary school because lessons range from Knots Class and Sailing to Combat Workshop.  The pressure is always on and friendship is everything. So trust is a big issue. But who can be trusted? (Indeed, can you trust anyone who chooses piracy, regardless of their motives?) 

This is the second in this trilogy for young independent readers readers -the final Sword Echoes is scheduled for June 2026 – who like fast-moving, plot-twisting adventures set in a time far beyond what they know.

This time, Pirate Academy is buzzing with anticipation about the upcoming Oceans Bound weekend – two whole days of freedom and adventure. It’s a competition that requires five crews, five ships, excellent leadership and amazing teamwork. Each crew must follow a series of clues delivered to them via a message in a bottle to complete a range of challenges that will assess what they have learned so far.   And there’ll be no teachers on board! Oceans Bound will test Barracuda Class’s BRONTE skills to the limit – only those with the right amount of Bravery, Resilience, Observation, Navigation, Teamwork and general Excellence will complete the course. 

But when the ringleader of the opposition, the League of True Pirates ,escapes from prison, the competition turns deadly serious. Unbeknownst to the Academy, for one particular crew, Oceans Bound has turned into a series of near-impossible tasks, leading Jasmine, Jacoby and Neo into terrible danger.

As much as this is a swashbuckling drama, it is underpinned by loyal and caring relationships between the main characters, and the need for co-operation, teamwork, resilience backing themselves and each other, continuing the themes of the first book, so it is a series best read in order. Even though the series might be set in a time far away, the attitudes and values are very much in the here-and-now. 

As well as being the sort of read that is going to captivate those who like high-powered adventures of derring-do, seeing themselves as the heroes, it may also inspire them to seek their own real-life adventures and so it might be opportune to help them investigate what their local Scouts Australia group has to offer, perhaps even progressing to achieve the peak Grey Wolf Award.  Who knows where reading might take you!!!