Don't Call Me Ishmael

Do not call me Ishmael! is a young adult novel by the Australian author Michael Gerard Bauer. The original was released in 2006, the German translation in 2008. In the 300 -page novel, the experiences of a Neuntklässlers be shown.

Action

The 14 -year-old Ismael Leseur was named after the first-person narrator of Herman Melville's novel Moby Dick. Ishmael hates his name and believes that he on " Ismael Leseur syndrome " suffer, which make a normal life impossible. At his school, the St Daniel 's Boys College, he is being bullied by a classmate names Barry Bagsley also because of his name. Ishmael accepts this without defending themselves.

Ishmael situation only improved when he makes friends with the new boy James Scobie. This engages successfully with words against Barry. Scobie claims, have no fear can. Barry is testing this by placing insects and spiders in Scobie's desk, whose appearance actually seem to mind this. Scobie worked out by the fact a good reputation in the school, which even grows, when he leads the otherwise unsuccessful rugby team at school by a rousing speech to the victory.

Scobie founded a debating club and convinces Ishmael to join it. Ishmael speaks reluctant in front of other people, but to take over the written preparation for the other group members. Other members of the club are the extraverted Razza, the sci-fi and fantasy fan Bill as well as the highly intelligent Ignatius. The Debattiermannschaft competes against other schools and is proving to be very successful. Ismael has to step in and failed, as he must compete in direct speech duel against Kelly Faulkner, in which he is secretly in love with the last round as a replacement. Nevertheless, it creates the team to the semifinals, but where they will be without Scobie, because the doctors may have discovered a brain tumor at him. Despite good performance - even by Ismael - separates from the team.

Ishmael is addressed by Kelly Faulkner. This thanks him, because Ishmael has previously supported her little brother to Barry, without knowing who he helped. Kelly convinces Ishmael to read the novel Moby Dick. Ishmael believes to recognize that he had many similarities to Captain Ahab - with the difference, that Ishmael is not fighting against a whale, but against Barry.

Since then Scobie no longer goes to school due to his illness, Barry harassed again classmates, especially Bill. When Barry Bills smeared certificate for successful participation in the debating society decides Ishmael, to take revenge on Barry. Ismael is to hold on the traditional event of the school year end a speech. In his speech draft, he builds a conclusion as a prayer which would humiliate Barry before his parents and the whole school. Barry receives a copy of this design and get while Ishmael speech panic. At the end of his speech spared Ishmael Barry, so as not to ruin his parents and the other people in the evening. When, after the event, Barry threatening consequences for the next school year, Ismael was holding him with words and remains calm.

Ishmael learns that the allegation has not been confirmed on a brain tumor in Scobie. Kelly invites Ishmael to a party and gives him her phone number.

People

Ismael

Ismael Leseur has little self- confidence, but a lot of imagination. He feels inferior to his successful family members. Ismael is in love with Kelly Faulkner, whom he knows from debating. His friends are the members of his debating, especially Scobie and Razza. Ishmael suffers from the behavior of his classmate Barry Bagsley.

Barry

Barry Bagsley is slightly older than the other students in class 9 His preference is to bully other young people. It is his specialty, twisting name or provided with foul language. Most classmates are either Barry's supporters or suffer silently this behavior. Because of his behavior, Barry regularly in trouble with the teachers and the school management. Scobie presents for Barry is a problem, because this can not be intimidated.

Scobie

James Scobie was once operated on and claims that he has since been able to feel no more fear because of a brain tumor. He is short and wears unfashionable clothes. Due to his intelligence and his courage, he claims in the school against the mobbenden Barry. He is an excellent orator, which will benefit him in the Debattiermannschaft and against Barry.

Razza

Orazio Zorzotto, usually called Razza is smart and has a great sense of humor. He is a know- and are Ismael unsolicited advice about love, especially so to Kelly. Himself he missed several nicknames such as Razzman or Big Z. Occasionally, he also is affected by Barrys bullying, this can be in contrast to Ishmael, but not come to be. In the course of the novel he and Ishmael become good friends.

Bill

Bill Kingsley is overweight and is only interested in science fiction and fantasy. Ishmael under his escapist tendencies here because Bill liked refuge in thoughts in fantastic worlds. Bill believes that fantastic literature have a benefit for the problems of the present and represents this position also successful in debating. He is able to do not to stand up against bullying Barry, suffers greatly, but do not want to seek help.

Topics

The novel is concerned above all with the theme of " bullying ". The people of the book go very different approaches to this problem. Ismael endured the bullying for the greatest time of the action while Scobie defends himself using the power of language. In the course of Ishmael learned this through the debating society. The reference to the classic novel Moby Dick and the example of Ahab is however shown that revenge can not be a sensible solution.

The successful argumentation is another theme of the book. It is shown clearly by several examples how confronts a contrary position and his own point of view.

Reception

The novel received consistently positive reviews. He was nominated for the Children's Book of the Year Award 2007. The novel won the Children's Peace Literature Award 2007 and the South Australian Festival Award for Children 's Literature in 2008.

" A little dramaturgical masterpiece that transports a serious topic to where it belongs:. In the heart of the reader "

" A highly amusing novel for young people. Hard to imagine to find in a German youth book such a wonderful victory speech over violence. "

Continuation

The novel drew two sequels:

• Ishmael and the presence of manatees: Hardcover (2009); Paperback (2010)
• Ishmael. Being prepared is everything: Hardcover (2012 ); Paperback (2013 )

Text output

Hardcover:

• Michael Gerard Bauer: Do not call me Ishmael! . Carl Hanser, 2008 ( Original title: Do not Call Me Ishmael, translated by Ute Mihr ).

Paperback:

• Michael Gerard Bauer: Do not call me Ishmael! . dtv, 2009 ( Original title: Do not Call Me Ishmael, translated by Ute Mihr ), ISBN 978-3-423-62435-0.