reviewed by Bex
I love the sea. I love learning new languages. I love other cultures. I love reading.
I felt The Shark Caller, literally, call to me from the Instagram page of my local bookshop. In the middle of a global pandemic (I say middle but I’m hoping we’re nearing the end!) my usual bookshop boondoggling has been sidelined and I spend my time trawling Insta for inspiration on what to read next. People have an amazing ability to sell a book through a picture a bit of blurb, don’t they?
In a lot of ways, I didn’t start this book at the right time. I was in mourning really after finishing October, October and in reality I needed to have a bit of a break before I went on another emotional rollercoaster. As a result, it took me longer to get into than I expected. This by no means is any reflection on the book – which by all accounts is absolutely fantastic.
I digress, which is easy to do at the moment – I return to teach in school on Monday after 12 weeks of talking to one adult, one child and two dogs in person and 1400 kids on Zoom. I can’t wait to see human life!
Anyway, here goes…
The story follows Blue Wing, whose life is dominated by the natural environment around her, on adventures through an island in Papua New Guinea. After Blue Wing’s parents died 2 years ago, she moves in with the island’s Shark Caller. No longer attending school and desperate to become a shark caller herself, knowing the sea better than anything else, but being left disappointed that her Waspapi won’t teach her, worried that she may use it for revenge. When a plane full of Americans arrive on their tiny island, carrying a scientist and his daughter Maple, Siringen (Blue Wing’s Waspapi) and Blue Wing must look after the guests and make sure they have everything they need. Blue Wing’s steady, quiet yet fragile life is turned upside down when a clash of cultures and a lot of hostility blossoms into a beautiful friendship.
I do not cry any more. It has gone beyond me to cry. Crying is a hoping. And when things have moved beyond hope, there is no need to cry. Everything is already scratched into the rock. It cannot be unscratched.
The Shark Caller is an inspiring adventure based on the raw emotions provoked by life, death, family, friendship and trust. Essentially a story based coming to terms with loss and moving on but written in such a beautifully compelling way that you quickly realise the book is so much more than you originally thought , with an ending that will take you very much by surprise. I cried. A lot. But not as much as William did earlier today when Dobby died in his book. Crap, please tell me you’ve read that.
Bonus…
An extra bonus for me: The islanders aren’t fluent in English and a steady introduction of their language is used brilliantly throughout the book, as a linguist, I hugely enjoyed this part – so much so that William has decided I’m a bit long long (crazy in Papua New Guinean) because I keep slipping odd words into our every day conversations.
Boondoggle Adventures 