Release: February 4th, 2021
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Usborne Publishing
Source: Amazon
Find it at Goodreads, Amazon, Audible, TBD.
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The Shark Caller by Zillah Bethell is a remarkable debut of grief, friendship, family, revenge. It is ultimately an acceptance as Blue Wing and newcomer Maple slowly become friends. They then journey together to the bottom of the ocean to brave the deadliest shark of them all.
Blue Wing is desperate to become a shark caller to avenge the death of her parents. Instead, she ends up befriending infuriating newcomer Maple. At first, they are angry and out of sync with the island and each other. But when the tide breathes the promise of treasure, can they overcome their differences and brave the deadliest shark in the ocean?
This is the story of a blossoming friendship born after mistrust and forged in empathy. Also, this is about adventure and shared experiences of grief and loss and its power to repair emotional damage.
About the Author:
Zillah Bethell’s birth was in a leprosy hospital in Papua New Guinea. She spent her childhood barefoot playing in the jungle. And she didn’t own a pair of shoes until she came to the UK when she was eight. Her education was at Oxford University. She now lives in Wales with her family.
Her first children’s book, A Whisper of Horses, is a lyrical journey of discovery across a reimagined Great Britain, ruled by the menacing Minister. When her mother dies, Serendipity sets out on a quest to find the beautiful horses of her dreams, but the journey is hard beyond imagining and will test her endurance, her will, and her beliefs.
Zillah has written three adult novels (SEAHORSES ARE REAL / LE TEMPS DES CERISES / GIRL IN PROFILE) and three children’s novels (THE SHARK CALLER / A WHISPER OF HORSES / THE EXTRAORDINARY COLOURS OF AUDEN DARE)
The Shark Caller Review:
“The Shark Caller” is an unforgettable tale of friendship and moving on, and I adored it!
Firstly, I must say I loved the setting of the tale. I didn’t even know that Shark Calling was a thing and that New Ireland in Papua New Guinea was famous for it. I thought the author did a brilliant job in bringing out people and their lifestyles into this book. Reading this book made me further research Shark Calling’s topic, and I found it fascinating.
The characters stand out in the tale! Blue Wing and Maple shine on their own in the story. Both of them grieve for the loss of a loved one and try to move on. I also loved the way the author wrote Blue Wing and Maple’s friendship. The two of them don’t precisely get along well in the beginning. However, after spending time with each other, they start to see common traits that bond them. Even Siringen warmed my heart, and I loved the life messages he imparts on Blue Wing. Similarly, I also liked Mr. Hamelin. He was an unpredictable character and made the story more interesting.
Moreover, the ending shocked me entirely! I honestly did not expect the twist at the end of the story, making it even more memorable. On a side note, I also appreciate the author for providing a glossary of the native terms that made the story feel authentic. I feel like I learned something new from getting the hang of reciting the “Nambas.”
Overall, “Shark Caller” is easily one of the best middle-grade novels I have read this year, and I cannot wait to read some of the author’s other works.
