A review by annabroomfield
Julia and the Shark by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

 Julia and the Shark is an absolutely beautiful novel about a young girl who moves with her mum and dad to a lighthouse on Unst, Shetland. Julia's mum is a marine biologist looking for the Greenland shark, a rare type of shark that lives for hundreds of years. Slowly, it becomes clear that Julia's mum's obsession with the shark is veering into unhealthy territory. Julia worries that she might have done something wrong or that her mum is getting sick again. 

This is a tender, moving story about a mother and daughter, written in stunning prose that is lyrical and spell-binding. Tom de Freston's illustrations add a storm-like atmosphere to the book that perfectly compliments the themes of mental health, and brings the wild beauty of Unst to life. The themes of environment and mental health are incredibly poignant, making this a very timely read.