Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham
Candlewick Press 2010. ISBN 9780763646271.
(Ages 12+) This verse novel tells the story of blossoming artist, Jane
Arrowood, snatched from the jaws of a shark by her brother, while out
swimming with her family. She loses her arm and faces the
potential loss of friends, her talent for drawing and painting and her
sense of belonging. Told in the first person, Kelly Bingham
captures a strong and absorbing voice.
After a long convalescence, cared for by a loving mother and
challenging brother, Jane faces her return to school. The journey
to some sort of normality is long and difficult and she realises that
her life is changed forever. Frustrated, she wants life to be as
it was, but, gradually she comes to an understanding of what life
now means - she is the one who needs to face the reality and adjust,
accepting the love and support of friends and family members, even if
they don't always respond as she would hope. She discovers that
Max, the school heart-throb may even be interested in her as a person;
herself as she is now!
Jane finds comfort in Justin's friendship, a young boy she meets in
hospital who has lost his leg. Her confidence is boosted by his
pragmatic acceptance of life's disappointments.
He friends respond to her in different ways - as is only natural - but
she comes to understand the pressures they place on themselves, too, in
confronting her accident.
She learns to understand the responses of her family, though often
exasperating.
Her talent for drawing is not lost as she grows in determination and
courage. She comes to accept the fact that family photos now reveal a
new Jane, but not any less of a person.
Though somewhat long, and at times repetitive, Shark Girl
reveals a
young girl's journey through life after a tragic accident.
The choice of verse narration works well as her inner thoughts are well
explored. The narration is interrupted at times with news media
articles, and letters from readers of these, but this clever device
widens the interest level of Jane's story.
The language is realistic and often evocative, and, despite its length
and reiteration of responses, this novel is very readable.
Julie Wells