Cirrus@Austlit

By the time ninth grade begins, Ishmael Leseur knows it won't be long before Barry Bagsley, the class bully, says, "Ishmael? What kind of w'ussy-crap name is that?” Ishmael's perfected the art of making himself virtually invisible. But all that changes when James Scobie joins the class. Unlike Ishmael, James has no sense of fear—he claims it was removed during an operation.

Now nothing will stop James and Ishmael from taking on bullies, bugs, and Moby Dick, in the toughest, weirdest, most embarrassingly awful . . . and the best year of their lives.' (Publication summary)

'Ishmael is back at St Daniel's for another year of misadventure, with his best mate Razz determined to set him up with dream-girl, Kelly. But before Ishmael can win her heart, he has to overcome a mortifying pool incident, a nasty knock-out and getting caught red-handed with Kelly's diary. Ishmael's only hope lies with his Dad's rock band, but can the Dugong's set everything right?' (Publication summary)