A Summer of Sharky Reads
Keep the Kids Fascinated
If Sharks Disappeared by Lily Williams
Author and artist, Lily Williams does a beautiful job at depicting what our oceans would look like if sharks disappeared, teaching the younger generations the important roles that sharks play in their respective ecosystems. Although sharks can be scary, or utterly fascinating, to kids, what is even scarier is the effects that no sharks would have on our planet.
The Tales of Scuba Steve: Honu Reef by Steve Kamlet
The Tales of Scuba Steve: Honu’s Reef follows a young boy by the name of Ben, kicking off the first day of summer on his way to Camp Oneega. Reuniting with his buddies from summers past, the boys quickly begin to wonder whether this is the year they will finally be placed in Scuba Steve’s swim group. What comes with being a part of the Scuba Steve swim team, no one knew, until now. A modern Magic Schoolbus adventure story, filled with scuba tips and Hawaiian ocean dwellers along the way! Look out for more in the series soon.
Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist by Jess Keating
Dr. Eugenie Clark, where do we even begin?! Properly nicknamed, “The Shark Lady”, Dr. Clark pioneered scuba diving for research purposes, creating a new space for shark scientists post-WWII, all while exposing the true nature and importance of sharks to the world. To say that she is a hero to myself and the rest of the Shark Allies women, would be an understatement. Equally, if not more, as impressive as her strides in the marine science sector, was her tenacity to break down gender roles and misrepresentation in her field, paving the way for many young women to follow. This is a magnificent story about, “a woman who dared to dive, defy, discover, and inspire.”
Captivating Stories to Dive Into
Jaws by Peter Benchley
I know that some of you reading this will not be happy to see the title Jaws on the summer reading list. There is no doubt the film has created a mountain of work for shark groups and made the fight even harder. But as shark lovers, we have to remember that Peter Benchley’s intention of writing the infamous Jaws was not what Steven Spielberg created. In fact, after the film’s release, Benchley and his wife dedicated their lives to protecting sharks, assisting in countless conservation efforts. Jump into the original story of Jaws, a classic suspense novel, a right of passage if you will.
The Devil’s Teeth by Susan Casey
It’s likely that you’ve heard of the great white populations of South Africa, Neptune Island, the Cape and Guadalupe. But have you heard of the Farallon Islands 27 miles due West of San Francisco, also known as “The Devil’s Teeth”? I hadn’t until my father, an avid reader, turned me on to this book years ago. A perfect cocktail of this story, documentaries and Shark Week catapulted my love of the species into my life’s mission. The Farallon Islands, home to the largest population of great whites in the world, are a treturous string of jagged rock formations in murky, deep Pacific water, making it almost impossible to step foot on land, let alone see one inch in front of you. Journalist Susan Casey quickly finds herself in a tiny motorboat with two biologists, circled by great whites, sparking her duty to dispel the image burdened upon them.
The Shark Club by Ann Kidd Taylor
The Shark Club is brought to you by a New York Times best selling co-author, Ann Kidd Taylor, of Traveling with Pomegranates. If you have a young-adult in your life, this is the perfect summer read. Throughout the story, we follow a young woman by the name of Maeve, who was unfortuantely bitten by a blacktip shark at the age of 12. Since then, she has dedicated her life to studying the very animal that once threatened her. After making it back to her hometown, an island off of Florida, she is horrified to find a new shark finning industry, with some familiar players. This book is an interesting take on an unexplored genre, environmental-mysteries.
Poetic Takes
Sharks Death Surfers: An Illustrated Companion by Melissa McCarthy
No matter how I summarize this book, it truly won’t do it justice, so here is an expert from the publisher. “We encounter the world through surfaces: the screen, the page, our skin, the ocean’s swell. Here on the sea is the surfer, positioned at the edge of the collapsing wave. And lurking underneath in a monstrous mirroring is the shark. When the two meet, carving along the surface, breaking through the boundary, is when death appears. Steering her analysis from the newspaper obituary in and out of literature and past cinema, Melissa McCarthy investigates a fundamental aspect of the human condition: our state of being between life and death, always in precarious and watery balance. Sharks, Death, Surfers: An Illustrated Companion observes how sharks have been depicted over centuries and across cultures, then flips the lens (and dissects the cornea) to consider what sharks see when they look back.”
Luxury and Coffee Table Finds
Atlas of Ocean Adventures by Emily Hawkins and Lucy Letherland
Explore the biodiversity of our blue planet! This large-format book is the perfect tool to day dream your next dive adventure, or actually plan it. It beautifully depicts the migration paths of many charismatic species, as well as the must-see dwellers of each ecosystem. Follow the illustrated map from the Atlantic, to the Pacific, through the Indian, to the Southern and end up in the Arctic. You can also discover the different trophic levels of each destination. It is truly the perfect gift for any age.
Sharks by Michael Muller
I would be shocked if you hadn’t seen or at least heard of this book. Regardless, it deserves every right to take up a spot on this list. Michael Muller, a famous Hollywood photographer, turned his passion for sharks into his newest muse. What is special about this large Taschen book, is not only its beauty, but the style in which Muller photographed great whites, lit like they were Brad Pitt. Lighting geek like myself or not, you will be sucked in to his artistry. Muller dove to the depths to capture sharks in the same fashion as he would in a Hollywood studio, creating something absolutely magical.
Great White Sharks of Guadalupe Island by Peter Snell
Itching to get to Guadalupe Island, or wondering what it is truly like while tuning into the famous location on Shark Week? Friend of Shark Allies and Malibu waterman, Peter “Oso” Snell compiled his most eye-catching shots of the white sharks of Baja California. With the images, Snell dives into what it is truly like to wait in a cage for a white shark to roll by, locking eyes for the first time, as well as a celebration of the species. Another book that’s perfect for any age.
Big Blue Ocean Treasures
Deep by James Nestor
This book is my #1 recommendation to anyone that has even an inkling of ocean fascination. Deep explores not only what happens to sea life as it changes meter by meter, but also what is going on in your body as you dive to those depths. It will redefine how you look at the ocean and even your body. You will leave feeling like you can conquer the deep and hold your breath all while doing it.
Blue Mind by Wallace J. Nichols
A best-selling book by marine biologist, Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, need I say more? Dr. Nichols takes us on a journey through the human mind to figure out why we feel so at peace around bodies water, teaching us a thing or two about neuroscience. “He shows how proximity to water can improve performance, increase calm, diminish anxiety, and increase professional success. Blue Mind not only illustrates the crucial importance of our connection to water-it provides a paradigm shifting ‘blueprint’ for a better life on this Blue Marble we call home.”
The World is Blue by Sylvia Earle
If documentaries haven’t turned you into a vegetarian or “Fish Free Friday” participant yet, this book will, although that is not the goal of the book. And not in the sensationalized fashion we are used to in documentaries, but in a compelling, science-based depiction of the destructive fishing practices our world uses. The famous National Geographic Explorer, Sylvia Earle, will open your eyes to many industries and provide tangible ways to make a difference yourself. A great place to get your feet wet without feeling helpless!
Fifty Places to Dive Before You Die by Chris Santella
The title says it all! Regardless of if you are an avid scuba diver, free diver, just starting out, or love an ocean-centric vacation, Santella outlines the perfect spots to visit, why and how to successfully execute each. He brings in a slew of dive professionals from around the world to share their secret dive sites and give an inside look into each destination. I have used this book to time and time again to guide my travel decisions. Did I mention it’s beautiful too?
Oceans for Dummies by Ashlan Cousteau
The story of why Ashlan Cousteau (spouse of Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s grandson) created Oceans for Dummies is what makes it a magnetic addition to the Dummies series. After tuning in to a live speaker series with Marine Mammal Care Center Los Angeles titled, “Conversational Conservation”, Ashlan described that the reason for writing the book was because she felt left in the dust when talking about science with her in-laws, the Cousteau’s. At Shark Cafe, we believe that any person, no matter your skillset, background or location, can contribute to conservation. It is not required to have a science degree to make a positive impact on our planet. That is why I loved the thought behind this book, making the oceans science accessible to all.
*Please remember, that IF you decide to purchase your summer reads from Amazon, you can help Shark Allies while you shop with the Amazon Smile program. Find out more here.