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onceandfuturereads 's review for:

Sharks in the Time of Saviors by Kawai Strong Washburn
4.5
adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

One thing about this book: it's immediately clear that Washburn has a gift. Inside these pages are musical sentences that buzz with rhythm. The story follows each member of the Flores family: Malia, mom, Dean, oldest, Noa, middle child, Kaui, baby, and Augie, dad. Each family member has their own voice and that is where I think the narrative really shines. 

"Sharks" is a great addition to the canon of magical realism, and even if you don't tend to read the genre, this book is still 100% worth it. The magic in this book is not really magic at all, it is heavy on the realism. In a story as gritty and real as this one, every word rings true.