The Shark Caller

Product Information

Zillah says, “Saara Söderlund has given the greatest gift of allowing me to reinhabit the landscape I left when I was ten. It took me quite a long time to realise that the Mr Smith who liked apples was the very person before my eyes! There is so much skillfully woven into this beautifully told tale and it is just brimming with culture and feeling. As an avid reader of children’s books, I can honestly say that this is one of the best books I’ve ever read: I really cannot recommend it highly enough!

This book deals sensitively with themes of loss and moving on from the past and we think it will stimulate meaningful discussion with pupils in your book group.I loved how the main message of the book was not about 'fixing' someone who is going through these struggles, but rather about coming alongside someone and supporting them during this time. Yet this is the joy of reading and particularly the joy of Zillah’s writing – she somehow makes us feel the expansiveness of the landscapes alongside the intimate thoughts and deep emotions of the characters close-up. When the shark is through the noose up to its pectoral fins, the fisherman jerks up on the propeller’s handle, which in turn tightens the noose around the shark. The most incredible story…tender and wise, with themes of friendship, love, grief, revenge and acceptance. For a few weeks we took turns limping about in it and when we got fed up of that, it came in very useful for digging up sweet potatoes.

The author lived in Papua New Guinea as a child and has used her childhood memories beautifully to give us an insight into life on the island. Thank you to Usborne, Zillah Bethell and Stevie Hopwood for choosing us to reveal the cover and for gifting a proof copy of the book. Just as I thought the book was about to take a turn in focus - it twists back with a stunning finale.

Set on a wonderful island, which no doubt, Bethell got much from her own upbringing in Papua New Guinea. From this, I think I discovered that the unspoken words are as beautiful as the spoken ones, sometimes more so.