Take a Bite Out of Shark Books
Can you name the book from its opening line? “The great fish moved silently through the night water, propelled by short sweeps of its crescent tail.” Did you guess “Jaws” by Peter Benchley? Some people don’t realize the story of the world’s most famous shark was a book before it became a movie. Published in 1974, this bestseller inspired people to become ocean scientists but it also instilled an unhealthy amount of fear of the ocean’s most famous apex predator; the great white shark. In the introduction to the 30th anniversary edition of “Jaws,” Benchley shares that while he knew many things about sharks before writing his novel, most of what he, and the rest of the world, knew at the time was wrong. Years later he would speak and study with scientists, fishers, and divers to learn the real truth about sharks. He called these lessons “humbling” and stated that he “could never write ‘Jaws’ today” because he “could never demonize an animal, especially not an animal that is much older and much more successful in its habitat than man is, has been, or ever will be…”
While the world knows more about sharks than ever before, people’s fascination with this group of fish hasn’t scaled back. Shark books are some of the most popular animal books checked out by children at the library (perhaps only second to dinosaurs). The movie adaptation of the famed novel is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year with a limited showing coming to movie theaters at the end of the summer. The Discovery Channel’s “Shark Week,” starts on July 20. This insanely popular television event is in its 37th year of programming. There’s nothing fishy about it, most people love to learn about sharks. Listed below are five books recommended for young readers (or curious adults) available at the Fergus Falls Public Library.
Swimming with Sharks: The Daring Discoveries of Eugenie Clark by Heather Lang and Jordi Solano.
Eugenie Clark, aka “Genie,” aka “The Shark Lady,” was a groundbreaking Japanese-American scientist best known for her research on sharks. Born in 1922, Eugenie’s fascination with sea life began at a young age with frequent trips to the New York Aquarium. A young Genie balked at her mother’s suggestion to become a scientist’s secretary and instead went to college and earned a Master’s degree in Zoology. Lang’s look at this important ichthyologist’s contributions to shark behavior is accessible and will appeal to a variety of ages. Captivating illustrations, an author’s note, and additional shark facts round out this nonfiction picture book. Recommended for kindergarten and up.
The Shark King by R. Kikuo Johnson
This bold and colorful award-winning fable, told in graphic novel format, puts an exciting spin on a traditional Hawaiian legend. Nanue is born to a human mother named Kalei, and a shape-shifting shark god called Kamohoalii. As Nanue grows older, he starts to turn into a shark himself and must learn how to protect himself from the townspeople. A tale of superpowers, finding your inner strength, and family connection. Received starred reviews from “The Horn Book” and “Booklist.” Recommended for 1st grade and up.<
Neighborhood Sharks: Hunting with the Great Whites of California’s Farallon Islands by Katherine Roy
This captivating nonfiction book takes a look at the largest predatory fish in the ocean; white sharks. Katherine Roy, a native of California’s Bay Area, worked with scientists who study the shark population near the Farallon Islands, about 30 miles off the coast of San Francisco. Every fall, a large group of white sharks will migrate to the islands to hunt the seal population that lives off the Farallon coasts. Ray’s gorgeously illustrated picture book is filled with lush marine watercolors and provides a multitude of shark data. This title has won multiple awards. Recommended for 2nd grade and up.
The Line Tender by Kate Allen
A poignant novel of loss, grief, and hope, “The Line Tender” shows us how even the young can persevere through the darkest of times. When Lucy was seven, her mother died while researching sharks. Lucy is now 12 years old and she has a fresh tragedy to contend with. When a great white shark is caught by a local fisherman in their New England town, Lucy decides to try and continue with her mother’s research as the community grieves over a recent loss. A moving story; both heartfelt and humorous. Received numerous starred reviews and a School Library Journal Best Book of 2019. Recommended for 5th grade and up.
I Survived the Shark Attacks of 1916 by Lauren Tarshis
The second book in the wildly popular “I Survived” historical fiction series for middle grade students centers around deadly shark attacks off the New Jersey shore the summer of 1916. Four people were killed and one injured in a time when most Americans didn’t believe that a shark could ever attack a human. Tarshis’ bestselling books are slight, many under 100 pages, and high interest, making them a great fit for reluctant readers and bookworms alike. This was the first “I Survived” book I read and I quickly devoured three more in the series. Recommended for 4th grade and up.
Arielle McCune is the Youth Services Librarian at the Fergus Falls Public Library.