Review Detail

While reading Kelly Binghams debut novel, Shark Girl, I couldnt help but compare it with Cynthia Voights Izzy Willy Nilly. Both novels feature young female protagonists who, because of tragic accidents, lose a limb. Both girls must reorient themselves to the physical world while dealing with significant shifts in their relationships with friends and family members. 

In Binghams novel, 15-year-old Jane Arrowood, a promising sketch artist, is attacked by a shark while swimming in the ocean. Her injuries are so severe that the doctors have to amputate her right arm above the elbow. Not surprisingly, this is the arm and hand that Jane uses to sketch. The accident and amputation occur within the first few pages of the book. The rest of the novel depicts Jane trying to navigate her new world. The activities she enjoyed before the accident sketching and cooking now seem impossible. Her relationships with her friends become strained and awkward. She must endure stares and comments from curious classmates and the general public. Yet, by the end of the novel, Jane regains her self-confidence and comes to terms with her new life in ways she never expected.

 Overall, I liked the novel. The free verse format provides sparse text, which makes it a quick read. Yet, Binghams wise word choices provide adequate insight into Janes thoughts, feelings, and experiences. The only problem I had with the novel was that it seemed to wrap everything up in a nice, happy package at the end. Having never had to deal with such a traumatic experience, I can only imagine the challenges, despair, and depression a person in a similar situation must face, especially one as young as Jane. Jane seemed to recover from her physical and emotional trauma fairly quickly. I felt Bingham scratched the surface and didt quite reach the next layer.