Boy vs. Shark

Gr 4 Up–Gilligan’s middle grade graphic novel takes readers back to the gilded 1970s when kids were allowed to roam the streets unsupervised and untethered to electronic devices. Ten-year-old Paul and his lifelong best friend David are crossing over from children who play outside all day to kids who hang out at the mall. The most popular movie in the country is the terrifying flick Jaws, and all the cool kids are going to see it. However, Paul would rather stay home and read comic books and watch The Sonny & Cher Show. When Swain, the meanest kid in the neighborhood, starts hanging around, Paul finds himself in a panic over potentially losing his best friend and forces himself to go to see Jaws as proof of his bravery and maturity. The shark terrorizes Paul’s imagination and bullies him into thinking he needs to “man up.” Readers will be relieved at the choices Paul makes as he demonstrates that good kids can make bad choices, but learn from them rather than repeat them. The illustrations represent the personalities of the characters perfectly, with David and his friends depicted as boys next door and Swain as a browbeating villain. Readers unfamiliar with the era are treated to a “Time Capsule” glossary at the end.