Set in New England, this book covers the events of one girl’s summer vacation that goes so much deeper and life-altering than one would expect. Lucy goes through so many emotions and experiences – from grief, to love, to discovery of passions unknown, to exploration of the true essence of a parent who has passed.
Grief is a central theme of this book. As part of that grief, what happens to those left behind and how they process life now and in the future, as well as what do they do with the unanswered questions that remain, is the focus. This is not a light summer read, but rather a book that sticks with you and makes you think.
Throughout this process, there is a discovery and fascination with sharks–specifically great white sharks. At the beginning of each chapter is a pencil drawing of a different species of shark. Each is well done and sets the tone for the entire book. Lucy finds out more and more about sharks, their habits, their anatomy, etc. It is part of her journey, and the reader learns a long with her.
Review of an Advance Reading Copy
This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Dutton Books for Young Readers
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: 5 religious profanities; 1 mild obscenity.
Violence/Gore: Implied death of parent; reference to hauling bodies out of the water – dead or alive; reference to people driving off bridges; guy drove truck into the harbor; people swimming in dangerous waters; scars on a shark from a potential fight; joke of being able to fit 4 bodies in a trunk; reference to sharks eating people; details of parent death – brain aneurysm; minor pronounced dead – drowning; foot crushed by tree; reference to pale scratched faced of a dead minor; hand hurts from pinching; mention of sharks attacking seals; thought of the possibility of being eaten by a wild animal; adult cut hand with a bait hook to the bone – blood; description of the process of gutting a fish; thought of dying from the flu; description of a dissection of a pregnant shark.
Sex/Nudity: Adult naked in the side yard getting dressed in scuba gear; reference to adults hairy keister; minor has an urge to kiss another minor; report of skinny dippers; discussion amongst minors regarding sharks having 2 vaginas and 2 penises; minors joking about name for shark penis; reference to sharks having sex; minors holding hands; minors kiss; reference to adult always wanting to kiss another adult.
Mature Subject Matter:
Death; Grief; Single parenting; Loss of parent.
Alcohol / Drug Use:
Underage drinking – present and past – wine and beer; adult drinking an unidentified drink implied to be alcohol; hair smelt like booze.
