I had seen lots of enthusiasm for this book on Twitter, and got intrigued enough to buy and read it. And, my goodness, yes, it really is special. It is fresh and different, beautifully told, full of wonder, excitement and interest, and with twists that take your breath away. I’m not going to give spoilers for those twists, but I will say that it really is worth getting hold of this book, and reading to discover them for yourself at the right time, whilst you’re within the story.
This story is very much about time. And about place and love and friendship and different realities. It’s set in Papua New Guinea, and written by Zillah Bethell who grew up there, swimming and canoeing in the sea just as the heroine of this story, Blue Wing, does.
Blue Wing tells her own story, telling it in the present tense and using some Papuan Pidgin English words that we learn by becoming familiar with them in context. Blue Wing lives with her adoptive waspapi elderly father who is the village Shark Caller, Siringen, and Blue Wing longs to learn his secrets so that she can call and kill the shark that killed her parents. But he won’t teach her, and we wonder why. Meanwhile an American academic comes to the island and employs Siringen in order to explore the sea around the island. His angry, grieving, daughter, Maple, is put into Blue Wing’s care. They don’t like each other … until they learn more about each other’s pasts. There’s a thriller element to this story too. And more than one major surprise. It’s fast-paced, utterly human and relatable, different from any other middle grade book I know, full of interest, and altogether highly recommended.
Look at this gorgeous cover image by Saara Katariina Soderlund –
1 comment:
Thanks, Pippa.
The Shark Caller goes on my reading list right now.
Post a Comment