Julia and the Shark

Product Information

Her father was hired to automate the lighthouse’s light, and her mother, a scientist, wants to find the rare Greenland shark, a species that can live up to 400 years. It is a story about Julia, whose two scientist parents take her to one of the Shetland islands for the summer to do scientific work.

The story is a wonderful starting-point for meaningful conversations, yet stands powerful enough on its own not to require explanation for its emotional resonance. By drawing on both, Julia and the Shark is magical, imaginative and mysterious while also dealing with complex emotions and situations.

How attuned Julia has become to the moods of her parents even though she doesn't have a full understanding of what's going on felt particularly authentic. Kiran Millwood Hargrave’s captivating story of family, love, and mental illness is complemented by unusual yellow and black, often abstract, illustrations by Tom De Freston.

Yes, my two star review for Julia and the Shark (2021) appears to generally be rather amongst the minority here. Writing about topics such as mental health and depression for children is not easy feat but I think Kiran Millwood Hargrave executed it with grace, sensitivity and a brilliant balance of honesty and whimsy. However (and no, I am actually not all that sorry either), I personally just have not really enjoyed Julia and the Shark all that much or rather I should say that I have been unable to in particular appreciate the combination of Kiran Millwood Hargrave's text and Tom de Freston's accompanying images for one major and all encompassing reason. Poignant and lyrical and beautiful, it's my favourite of Kiran's books so far and that is saying something.

When her mother's obsession threatens to submerge them all, Julia finds herself on an adventure across dark depths and rocky seas, but with a lighthouse of hope on the horizon. Ze is geschorst op school, haar vader staat ergens vast in het buitenland en tot overmaat van ramp is er een lekkage in hun appartement. Julia, a ten year-old girl, and her scientist mother, Maura, mathsy dad, Dan, and cat Noodle have upped sticks from their home in Cornwall to live on the remote island of Unst, 1,000 miles away.

But then, her relationship with her parents is very much the kind of relationship a 9 year old would have with her parents. Julia and her parents have just left their home to spend the summer at a remote lighthouse, far away from anyone they know.This was so beautiful from the writing to the story to the pictures (drawn by the authors husband btw, what a duo! Julia has followed her mum and dad to live on a remote island for the summer - her dad, for work; her mother, on a determined mission to find the elusive Greenland shark. Exploring a ramshackle garage with his new-found friend Mina, Michael discovers a strange, magical creature who needs his help.

Though science and the importance of nature for us humans are also explored in a very nice (non-preachy) way. Her mother, in particular, wants to find and study a very rare type of shark only found in those waters. It was much darker and the themes so much more intense than I expected, but it's an important topic.A mesmerising story of a family, a lighthouse and a quest to find the elusive Greenland shark written by Kiran Millwood Hargrave and illustrated by Tom de Freston. After the family travels from Cornwall and arrives at the damp lighthouse, Julia quickly befriends Kin, a local boy who experiences bullying around his Indian heritage.