Book description
At the Dankmarsh School for poor orphans, the childen sleep four to
a bed and exist on watery porridge. Teachers don't last long, and so
when a new one arrives they are intrigued, especially since he has an
eyepatch a huge moustach and calls himself the Captain. Miss Scrubshaw
interviews him for the post, though he and his cousin 'Mr Mate' seem
most interested in the ancient map on her wall. The Captain introduces
new lessons: compass use, swordcraft and biscuit identification. On a
school trip to visit the Black Barnacle, a ship owned by an 'old pal',
the Captain gives Miss Scrubshaw the slip and it dawns on the children
that the ship has cast off, and they are the new crew! Bound, they
discover, for Doom Island and a perilous quest for hidden treasure, at
the mercy of the Captain and his dastardly plan…
After studying English and Drama, Alan started working life in a
travelling theatre company, visiting schools all over the country and
writing much of their material. He says it was a useful apprenticeship
- if the audience didn't like the play, they talked through it or
threw bits of paper at the actors. He very quickly learned what
children liked.
In addition to writing and directing plays, Alan trained as a drama
teacher. He has written stories and dramas for the BBC (both
television and radio), as well as many children's books.
