11-year-old Nim lives on a 'South Asia Sea' island with her scientist father Jack, Selkie the Sea lion, Fred the Bearded Dragon, Chica the Turtle and Galileo the Pelican. After he disappears on an expedition (ship-wrecked), Nim, having fended off a boat load of obnoxious tourists (not quite sure how they got there), e-mails her favourite author, Alex Rover, writer of the Alex Rover children's adventure books and asks her for help. The obsessively shy and agoraphobic author eventually agrees and arrives, then Jack returns and the three live happily ever after...