Graphic Novel Review: Shark Summer by Ira Marcks
The Details
Media Type: Ebook
Title: Shark Summer
Author: Ira Marcks
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages/Length: Paperback; 304
Release Date: May 25, 2021
Source: Publisher / TBR And Beyond Book Tours
Add it on: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Indigo | IndieBound
“Shark Summer is bursting with vibrant, expressive art….The characters are distinct and
relatable…It’s a lovely read!”—Molly Knox Ostertag, author of the Witch Boy series
“Eloquently chronicled in Marcks’s cinematic panels, friendships are formed and repaired, parental
relationships articulated, and inner conflicts expressed and resolved. A winning production.” —
Kirkus
When a Hollywood film crew arrives on Martha’s Vineyard with a mechanical shark and a youth film
contest boasting a huge cash prize, disgraced pitcher Gayle “Blue Streak” Briar sees a chance to turn a bad season into the best summer ever.
After recruiting aspiring cinematographer Elijah Jones and moody director Maddie Grey, Gayle and
her crew set out to uncover the truth of the island’s own phantom shark and win the prize money.
But these unlikely friends are about to discover what happens when you turn your camera toward
the bad things lurking below the surface.
The Review
What a fun summer read! I’m always a fan of graphic novels, but I’m always particularly excited when I get asked to review one that is aimed at the Middle Grade audience. It’s fun to see how the author and illustrator work together to tell a story that will resonate with a younger audience. Or, you know, with an audience who just loves this stories hahaha. In this case I think that they hit the nail right on the head!
Gayle Briar is in a mood. She lost her star pitcher status to a broken arm, her mother moved her to a new home, and now even their dream plans for moving there have fallen through. It’s no wonder that Gayle’s character isn’t pleased at the beginning of the story. Funnily enough though, I found myself understanding her completely. Change is hard and, as my grandpa used to say, it often comes in waves. How do you hold your head above the water until the wave passes?
Lucky for Gayle, there is a movie being filmed on the island and getting close to that opens an adventure like nothing else. I wish that I could share more, but I dare not spoil anything! What I will say is that this reminded me a lot of all my favorite books as a kid. Filled with mysteries, a little darkness, and the kind of friendship that only blooms in the face of something a little scary.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this! If you’re looking for something fun for a summer pool read, or looking for a good read for your kid’s summer list, pick this up! The illustrations are vibrant, and convey the story so well. I highly recommend you give it a shot!
Ira Marcks is a cartoonist living in Upstate New York with his wife, two cats, a dog, and lots of books he’s been meaning to read. His love for ancient magic and possible futures has led him to create a warehouse of esoteric objects for the Hugo Award-winning magazine Weird Tales and to tell stories about villainous technology for the European Research Council. Shark Summer is his debut graphic novel.
