The Bull Shark: Dragged From Under #1 by Joseph Monninger

My name is Barn, and I'm kind of an expert when it comes to sharks. It's the reason I missed the Red Sox's first spring training game. Someone was killed in a shark attack near my home, so I went over there to check things out. It's not unusual for sharks to swim up the canals from the bay, and people don't realize how dangerous it is to swim there. Some lady thought I was crazy when I saved her dog from getting eaten! Many people want to kill the sharks, but they're only looking for food like every other animal on earth. I need to figure out why so many sharks are in the area and figure out a way to save them while keeping humans safe.

What worked:

The book jumps right into the conflict, as the prologue describes the death of a teenager vacationing with his aunt along a canal. Barn is obsessed with sharks, so he quickly jumps at the chance to investigate the attack. He discovers many of the residents along the canal are either unaware or unconcerned about the danger, but Barn’s focus is on determining why bull sharks are this far inland. The naivety of the people and additional attacks and near-attacks maintain the suspense of the plot. Barn’s mother constantly warns him to stay out of the water which creates a premonition of upcoming dangers.

Prior to each bull shark attack, the author includes a few pages from the shark’s point of view. The purpose is to build anticipation and to provide information about sharks. The author describes how and why sharks attack and eat their prey, and it even touches on how they digest their food. The story shares the shark’s thought process as it prepares to attack. The book then returns to the story just as the creature moves in for the kill. Barn adds additional facts on sharks throughout the story, and he’s perceived as an expert, not a know-it-all.

The book’s purpose is to entertain and to present a case for protecting the environment. Despite the teenager’s death and the threat of further injuries, Barn is all about balancing the need to make the waters safe while preserving the sharks’ lives. The first reaction of humans is to kill dangerous animals, but the book points out sharks are only trying to survive. The question is what have humans done to the environment that has changed the behavior of the animals? The conflict between killing and conservation is at the forefront of the plot.

What didn’t work as well:

The entire book is focused on determining why many bull sharks are lurking in a Florida canal without any other complications to the story. This fact is good because the main conflict is very compelling, but it doesn’t make the overall book as interesting as it might have been. Barn has a very intelligent friend named Finn, and their relationship merits more attention. In addition, Barn has a crush on a girl named Margaret, and their interactions reveal a mutual friendship. These two relationships should be developed more in the book’s sequel.

The Final Verdict:

A suspenseful showdown between humans and deadly bull sharks. The book presents a straightforward story of bull sharks threatening a small, Florida community, and a young boy’s efforts to find a peaceful solution. This book will appeal to lovers of sharks and nature, and the efforts taken to protect them from humans.