Ishmael Leseur, of the title, is a fourteen-year-old boy attending St Daniel's College. Apart from the usual problems associated with being fourteen and attending school: bullies, embarrassment, schoolwork and a little sister - he has the added burden of a name that guarantees ridicule. After some preliminaries covering Ishmael's home and name, the story settles into a tale of school life. Ishmael is having trouble with the class bully, Barry Bagsley, the school is facing defeat in the only rugby match of any importance and the English teacher, Miss Tarango, is keen for the school to become involved in competitive debating.