Sandy Fin: Operation Splash Landing

By Author / Illustrator

Martin Stewart, illus Santy Gutierrez

Genre

Adventure

Age range(s)

Publisher

Zephyr

ISBN

9781035913855

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

05-06-2025

Synopsis

Meet ocean explorer Sandy Fin, silver-scaled diver of the deep, puzzler of puzzles and hero of a new madcap middle grade series from Martin Stewart, illustrated by Santy Gutierrez.

Sandy Fin lives in the Museum of Seaside Stories with the famous explorer Emile du Pont and their collection of treasures. Sandy and his best friend Lily are being taught the art of ocean exploration by Emile, aided by his ingenious inventions.

When the museum's future is in peril, it is up to Sandy and Lily to save it. But then Albo Start arrives! Start plans to turn Portwhistle Bay into a Seaworld-style theme park named Splash Landing, locking up Portwhistle's cherished marine life in tiny tanks. Sensing skulduggery, Sandy and Lily set out to stop Start, armed with banana sandwiches, moonlit sneezes and noses for danger.

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Reviews

Jennifer

Sandy Fin: Operation Splash Landing is a lively and exhilarating adventure that takes the reader from the rickety, old (but beloved) Museum of Seaside Stories in the seaside town of Portwhistle to below the surrounding ocean's surface and even down to the forbidden depths of the Deepitydeep Trench.

Young ocean explorers and protectors Sandy Finn and best friend Lily are intrepid underwater treasure hunters and sealife saviours. When a "conservation" company, Splash Landing, arrives and creepy, oily, green-suited boss Albo Start claims to have plans to save the Museum and rejuvenate the town, Sandy and Lily smell something very, very fishy … The duo dive headfirst into a daring and dynamic quest to find out what Start is really in town for - and to hunt down the legendary lost Golden Lobster treasure that is said to be the true key to restoring the weather-worn Musuem. Start needs to be stopped.

Delightfully imaginative and creative throughout, this story is vividly created with a cast of engaging characters who help and hinder Sandy and Lily as they spy on sneaky Start. Harpoon-wielding Rear Admiral Straker and son are mixed up in the Machiavellian plot too and are on the hunt against the duo and also (the endearing) Frumpus, the Grumpus Walrus.

Fast-paced, fun, warm and inventive, Sandy Fin: Operation Splash Landing is a fantastic and action-packed summer read. Drama, witty exchanges, perilous dives down deep and baddies getting their just desserts. Heart-warming entertainment!

224 pages / Reviewed by Jennifer Caddick, teacher

Amanda

Sandy Fin: Operation Splash Landing is the amazing first book in the new series by Martin Stewart. This story has all the ingredients of an award-winning story which is well thought through and put together in a way which will engage the reader from beginning to end. It has humour, emotions, challenges and a clear message about the responsibility we have for caring for our planet and the creatures that live on it.

The black and white illustrations by award-winning cartoonist Santy Gutierrez are minimal but the addition of the map at the beginning add real clarity for the setting, and we referred to it as we read the story. Martin's use of descriptive language creates images for the reader; phrases such as 'Pearls of water dotted the moss that sprang, furry and green, between the rockpools' set the standard from the very first page.

The story development is logical and exciting, ensuring that the pace is consistent throughout. The plot is carefully chunked into chapters of a length appropriate for the target reader. This would make a fantastic read-aloud book in the class or individual reader for reading for pleasure.

In school, we would use this story to focus on the use of language, description, character description and plot development. I look forward to reading more in this series; Martin Stewart has such a talent for writing for this age group.

224 pages / Reviewed by Amanda Shipton, teacher