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TBR Challenge #3 - Julia and the Shark by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

 


SYNOPSIS 

The shark was beneath my bed, growing large as the room, large as the lighthouse, rising from unfathomable depths until it ripped the whole island from its roots. The bed was a boat, the shark a tide, and it pulled me so far out to sea I was only a speck, a spot, a mote, a dying star in an unending sky... 

Julia has followed her mum and dad to live on a remote island for the summer - her dad, for work; her mother, on a determined mission to find the elusive Greenland shark. But when her mother's obsession threatens to submerge them all, Julia finds herself on an adventure with dark depths and a lighthouse full of hope... 

REVIEW

I have such an affection for this book. It is pretty perfect and not to forget the illustrations are absolutely stunning. There is not really anything that I can say which I didn't like. The only criticism is that I wish I had a book like this when I was a child because I know that I would have loved it. But really I don't think that is a valid criticism and a bit trivial.

I love the underlying themes of the story, how there are aspects of the environment, making new friendships, the importance of family tied up with the theme of mental illness and how we should not fear and be open to talking about how we feel. It is an amazing piece of literature that should be in the hands of all children who are beginning to understand more about the world or don't know their place just yet and need that reassurance.

The illustrations are absolutely top-notch and probably the best I have ever seen in a children's book or in fact any sort of book. If you are just a reader who loves to collect a gorgeous book, well you should definitely add this one to your library.

There is also another point that I wish to make which doesn't necessarily include anything about this book per se. I was first brought to the attention of this book by a wonderful and passionate bookseller who was keen for me to read this book because they believed in it. If we didn't have booksellers like this I don't think that I would be reading as religiously as I do today. So I thank you to all the booksellers that do this and to this particular one, it is really appreciated and makes me want to go back even more. You guys are the true backbone of the book industry and I love you all so much.

RATING: ***** (FIVE STARS)

BUY LINKS

Amazon: Julia and the Shark : Hargrave, Kiran Millwood, de Freston, Tom: Amazon.co.uk: Books

Waterstones: Julia and the Shark by Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Tom de Freston | Waterstones


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