JULIA AND THE SHARK

A 10-year-old girl from Cornwall faces the truth about her mother.

Only child Julia is spending the summer with her parents at the Unst lighthouse in the Shetland Islands. Her father was hired to automate the lighthouse’s light, and her mother, a scientist, wants to find the rare Greenland shark, a species that can live up to 400 years. On a trip into the village, Julia meets Kin, whose family owns the combined laundromat/library. Julia soon realizes that Kin is being bullied by the local boys because his parents are from India. No stranger to bullying herself, as she was targeted by girls because of her weight, Julia (who is White) and Kin develop a friendship based around looking at the stars through Kin’s father’s telescope. Then Julia’s mother, who’s been repeatedly turned down for grants to fund her shark expedition, begins exhibiting more erratic behavior. Even as her father tries to reassure Julia that it is just a phase, she senses her mother’s withdrawal and thinks that if she can find the shark by herself, her mother will get better. Written in the first person with a compelling dry wit, this story addresses the tough topics of bullying and bipolar disorder with poise and empathy. The potent illustrations, rendered starkly in black, white, and yellow, put it in a class by itself. Often spanning double-page spreads, these masterpieces of design create a powerful atmosphere that deepens, enriches, and fortifies the narrative.

Outstanding.