Swimming With Sharks (Wild Survival #2)

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Author(s)

Melissa Cristina Márquez

Publisher

Scholastic

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

July 06, 2021

ISBN

978-1338635089

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A gripping series about saving Earth's most endangered creatures-- and fighting for survival! Sink or swim!

Twelve-year-old Adrianna Villalobos and her older brother Feye travel the globe with their parents, the hosts of a suspenseful nature show called "Wild Survival!" The show features daring animal rescues and the work the family does at their animal sanctuary.

This time the family is off to Sri Lanka. They’ve heard a rumor that an extremely rare Pondicherry shark might have been sighted. Once they arrive, Adrianna, Feye, and their parents discover the rumored Pondicherry shark is the main attraction in a restaurant aquarium. Is this shark really the one they’re looking for? And if it is, can they convince the restaurant’s owners to release it back in the wild?

Packed with animal facts and illustrations, as well as non-fiction backmatter, Wild Survival is a compelling series for anyone fascinated by the natural world.

A gripping series about saving Earth's most endangered creatures-- and fighting for survival! Sink or swim!

Packed with animal facts and illustrations, as well as non-fiction backmatter, Wild Survival is a compelling series for anyone fascinated by the natural world.

Editor reviews

2 reviews

Danger in Sri Lanka!

October 01, 2021 (Updated: July 07, 2026)

Overall rating

4.0

Plot

4.0

Characters

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Writing Style

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Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

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The Villalobos family is back after their adventures in Crocodile Rescue, and this time they are off to Sri Lanka to investigate a possible rare Pondicherry shark. Their producer, Mr. Savage, is excited that the network has approved more shows that show how dangerous wild animals are, but Adrianna and her family are more interested in fostering an understanding of the science of the animals so that they are no longer endangered. Even though Adrianna was badly bitten by a crocodile, she still wants animals to be understood. In Colombo, they meet Manil, whose son Sev takes Adrianna and her brother around the town and introduces them to his friends Manisha, Punya, and Dilip. There are fascinating things in town, like herds of elephants in the woods nearby, but Adrianna is worried about the fact that sharks are being harvested for their fins. The Pondicherry shark shows up in an aquarium in a restaurant, and the crew has it DNA tested. Adrianna pitches the idea of a Shark Festival to the producer, so that local scientists and residents are involved in educating people about the benefits of sharks, and how the local fisherman need the sharks to keep the oceans healthy. The poachers that appear in the first book are sighted, and Adrianna gets herself into more sticky situations. Can the Villalobos family film a convincing show and change the public perception of sharks as vicious killers?

Good Points

Any book that encourages students to investigate math or science related fields is a plus, but there are far more books about students who want to pursue performing arts or cupcake baking. I loved the snippets of information about different sea life, and the additional bits at the back about marine biology in general. Setting this in a wild life reality show is a great idea, and the Villalobos family gives the kids lots of room to investigate and get into a bit of exotic trouble. I love Adriana's passion! There are good details about the local communities as well, and it's good to see the kids making friends. The mystery with the poachers adds another intriguing element.

The cliff hanger ending makes me hopeful that there will be more about Adrianna's adventures in a third book.

The first book has appealed to a wide range of readers in my library, where for some reason many of my students want to grow up to be marine biologists. The covers are great, and this is a great choice for a quick read. They'd also make a fantastic purchase at a Scholastic book fair!