Exclusive Excerpt Reveal: Julia and the Shark by Kiran Millwood Hargrave and Tom de Freston
Been a while since I’ve been able to stretch my excerpt muscles on this site. Today, I am pleased as punch to present a selection from none other than the Kirkus star reviewed March 28th release, Julia and the Shark. It’s a novel just filled to the brim with evocative illustrations. And the plot? Here you go:
Ten-year-old Julia loves the mysteries of the ocean, just like her scientist mother. Her family is spending the summer on a remote island where her mom is searching for the elusive Greenland shark, a creature that might be older than the trees, and so rare that it’s only been seen a few times.
But the ocean is reluctant to give up its secrets, and Julia tries not to worry as her mother returns disappointed at the end of each day.
Determined to prove that the shark is real, Julia sets off on a quest to find it herself, armed with a set of coordinates, a compass, and her trusty rain jacket.
She soon realizes that there are some journeys you shouldn’t go on alone. As Julia comes face to face with the dark and wondrous truths of the sea, she finds the strength to leave the shark in the depths and kick up towards the light.
Through a unique blend of words and art, Julia and the Shark tells an unforgettable story full of dark depths and starry skies, courage and hope.
About the Authors
Kiran Millwood Hargrave and Tom de Freston met in 2009, when Kiran was a student and Tom was artist-in-residence at Cambridge University. They have been a couple and collaborators ever since, but Julia and the Shark is their first novel. Kiran is the award-winning, bestselling author of stories including The Girl of Ink & Stars, The Way Past Winter, and The Deathless Girls, and Tom is making his illustrative debut, having worked as an acclaimed artist for many years.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
And now, it is my pleasure to present to you a whopping TWO full first chapters of the book! When you get to the end of the second chapter, you’ll see why it had to be two . . .
Foof! Goosebumps!
As mentioned before, you’ll see Julia and the Shark on library and bookstore shelves on March 28th. Look for it then! And many thanks to Jenny Lu and the folks at Union Square Kids for this reveal today.
Filed under: Excerpts
About Betsy Bird
Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Kirkus, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on BlueSky at: @fuse8.bsky.social
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
SLJ Blog Network
One Star Review, Guess Who? (#227)
Fustuk | Review
From Policy Ask to Public Voice: Five Layers of Writing to Advance School Library Policy
Fast Five Interview: Shawn Hainsworth
Jasmine Warga Visits The Yarn!
ADVERTISEMENT
I’m confused. I looked this book up on Amazon and the book that I find there has a similar cover, but in black and yellow and was published in 2021? I feel like I must be missing something, but it’s the same title and same authors. Are they different editions? Please set me straight.
My guess would be that you just saw the original UK edition of the book. It’s coming here to the States with a different cover and pub date. Amazon is supposed to separate out such editions, but sometimes they get flummoxed.