Julia and the Shark is one of the most beautiful books that I have ever read. Written by Kiran Millwood Hargrave and illustrated by Tom de Freston, it introduces us to the wonderful protagonist Julia, who moves with her father and mother to a remote lighthouse on the Shetland Islands. Whilst her father is working on repairing the old lighthouse, her mother becomes determined with her mission to find the elusive Greenland shark. Meanwhile, Julia also meets Kin, who lives on the island with his mother and sister, and he teaches her that there is magic in the stars as well as the sea. As her mother’s desperation to find the shark continues to grow, Julia finds herself experiencing more turbulent emotions and more frightening dreams, before undertaking the ultimate quest to help put things right.
The novel touches on some really important themes: mental health and its impact both on those experiencing it and those around them, family and parental relationships, friendships, science and the natural world. I was lucky enough to hear Kiran Millwood Hargrave and Tom de Freston discuss their collaborative work at the Hay Festival in June 2022 and what stood out was their celebration of how the images and words continued to inspire each other and the process of creating this incredible book. There is something here that will touch the hearts of all readers, young and old, and I could not recommend it highly enough.
About Alice Penfold
I am a former secondary school English teacher and reading lead, now working in education and pedagogy leadership. I have an absolute passion for books of all kinds. Classics, contemporary and children's books - the more variety the better.
Since completing an MA in Children's Literature and embarking on a PhD on representations of mental health in young adult fantasy fiction, I have fallen even more in love with children's and YA fiction, particularly books that celebrate diversity and help readers to understand their own cultures, identities and experiences as well as those of others.
I am passionate about promoting ideas related to reading for pleasure and sharing strategies for developing a love of reading amongst young people, including those who may be more reluctant to pick up a book. Most recently, I am investigating how reading YA fiction can have a transformative impact on a young person's mental health and sense of identity.
This blog is focused on reviewing and celebrating contemporary YA fiction, with summaries, discussion questions and top quotations picked out from each book. I hope it will provide some useful suggestions of books that will entice young adult and adult readers alike. Young adult fiction that promotes inclusivity and diversity - across a range of styles, forms and genres - has the potential to be engaging, enjoyable and, crucially, empowering for those who read it; I truly believe that no bookshelf is complete without a healthy dose of YA.
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