Shark Girl

Starred review from April 16, 2007
Written in a series of poems, letters and journal entries, Bingham's debut novel strikes a delicate balance between shock story and emotive rant, and delivers a provocative portrait of one girl's journey following a near-fatal accident. Before the attack, 15-year-old Jane's life was filled with the trappings of any normal teenage girl: trips to the mall with her girlfriends, art projects, crushes on boys at school. But when she loses her arm to a shark over the summer, Jane's life (and perspective) changes forever. She can't draw like she used to, open cans or crack eggs for dinner, or button her own pants. Everyone at school whispers about her (the pity stare is debilitating), and she has reached the breaking point when it comes to condolence letters from strangers and interview requests from reporters. Jane must find a way to move beyond her wounds—both physical and psychological. Powerful without being maudlin or preachy, the book explores hurdles that are bound to follow a physical disfigurement, and readers will come to empathize with and respect Jane for her strength and brutal honesty. They'll also appreciate the slight (but realistic) lift at the story's conclusion. Ages 12-up.

sonia15 - I read the book Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham. The book Shark Girl is about a girl who gets attacked by a shark. Jane has to live without an arm now. She faces many challenges with her new disability, but through it all she is the same Jane she always was. I liked this book because it showed that anything can happen to anyone. It wasn't Jane's fault that she lost her arm but it did happen and there is nothing she could have done. I really like this book because even though she let everyone around think she gave up art, on the inside she never did. This book is realistic fiction because it can happen to anyone. It might not seem very common or realistic but it really can happen. Jane was in the wrong place at the wrong time and that happens to everybody. I think it is more of a girly book because it is about a girl but, anyone can read it. It's more for teenagers because it is kind of disturbing in the beginning. Also if you like sharks or heroic stories you would like this book. When Jane got attacked by a shark that was showing external conflict because it was man vs. nature. She also faced a lot of internal conflict, losing a part of her was very hard for her and she struggled trying be be normal again. She knew deep down that she would never be treated the same.