For children grappling with grief, this poignant story explores finding a path through loss, letting go of anger, and discovering true friendship in unexpected places.
A parent might reach for this book when their child is processing a deep loss, especially if that grief is manifesting as anger or blame. Set in a magical, Papua New Guinea-inspired world, The Shark Caller follows Blue, a young girl determined to avenge her parents' death by hunting the shark she holds responsible. Her plans are complicated by the arrival of a new friend, Maple, who carries a secret of her own. This adventurous story gently explores the overwhelming nature of grief, the power of forgiveness, and how true friendship can help us heal. It's a perfect choice for mature middle-grade readers (9-12) who appreciate a mix of magical realism and heartfelt emotion.
Scenes involve being in the open ocean and interacting with sharks.
Sensitive Topics
The book deals directly and unflinchingly with the death of parents and the resulting grief. The approach is secular but framed within a rich, animistic cultural tradition that treats the natural world with spiritual reverence. The resolution is deeply hopeful, focusing on the power of forgiveness (of others and oneself), the importance of truth, and healing through community and friendship.
Ideal Reader
An emotionally mature child, aged 10-12, who is grappling with a significant loss, especially one complicated by feelings of anger, blame, or guilt. It is also excellent for a child who feels like an outsider, is navigating a difficult new friendship, or is drawn to stories about nature, magic, and different cultures.
Parent Prep
The core of the story is the death of parents in a shark attack, a detail which is revisited throughout the story. Parents should be ready for conversations about grief, guilt, anger, and forgiveness. The climactic reveal about the accident is emotionally intense. The book can be read cold, but parents should be available for discussion. A parent hears their child expressing anger or blame in the wake of a loss. The child might be isolating themselves, lashing out, or saying things like, "It's all their fault," or "It's not fair!" This book provides a narrative to explore those specific, difficult feelings.
Age Experience
A younger reader (9-10) will likely focus on the adventure, the magic of shark calling, and the friendship story. An older reader (11-12) will better appreciate the deep psychological exploration of grief, Maple's complex guilt, and the symbolism of the shark as a manifestation of Blue's untamed anger and pain.
What Makes It Special
Its unique cultural setting is a major differentiator. While many middle-grade books address grief, few do so outside of a contemporary Western context. The Papua New Guinea-inspired backdrop and the spiritual practice of shark calling provide a powerful, mythological framework for exploring universal human emotions in a fresh and unforgettable way.
Read plot summary
Blue is a young girl living on a fictional island inspired by Papua New Guinea. She is consumed by grief and a desire for revenge against the shark she blames for her parents' death. She trains with her aunt to become a shark caller in order to enact her revenge. Her isolated world is disrupted by the arrival of Maple, a new girl from America, with whom she forges a complicated friendship. Maple is hiding a secret about the day Blue's parents died, and their bond forces Blue to confront the true nature of her anger and loss.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Blue believes that killing the shark Xok will make her feel better. Why do you think she focuses so much on revenge? Does revenge ever really fix the sadness of losing someone?
2
Maple is hiding a big secret from Blue for most of the book. Do you think she was right to keep it a secret? What would you have done in her situation?
3
Siring, Blue’s waséa (aunt), is a very patient teacher. What important lessons does she try to teach Blue about the ocean, the sharks, and about life itself?
4
At the end of the story, Blue makes a different choice than the one she planned all along. What do you think made her change her mind? How does her friendship with Maple help her heal?
