Suitabook

Ocean Squid Explorers’ Club

Alex Bell

Reading: If your child has not read earlier instalments, briefly explain that this is the fourth explorers adventure. Pause after frightening encounters to discuss choices, then invite them to predict how the club might change.
Themes: Belonging and exclusion: Ursula is part-mermaid and wants to become an explorer, but the Ocean Squid Explorers’ Club remains committed to boys-only membership and treats her kind as enemies. The book takes a critical view of this.
Friendship under pressure: Ursula, Max, Genie and Jai form the Blowfish’s crew and begin wary of one another before depending on each other during the expedition. Friendship, bravery and growing trust are presented as central, while the children’s mistakes are treated as an unusual and important part of the story.
Inventiveness and exploration: Ursula is a skilled submarine engineer, Max an inventor, and the expedition moves through a richly imagined underwater world aboard the Blowfish. The book presents this favourably.
Worth knowing: Some scenes may feel intense: the crew encounters a terrifying storm maiden, sea gremlins, a giant jellyfish and a threatening Collector. The ending may also leave unresolved questions.