Book 1 - Shark Wars

Shark Wars

E.J. Altbacker

- 4.6 • 73 Ratings

- $6.99

- $6.99

Since the dawn of time, prehistoric shark clans called Shivers have ruled over the earth's oceans, fierce protectors of all who swim. For eons, the Big Blue has prospered under Shiver Law, and the delicate balance of sea life kept sacred. Until now.

Rising sea temperatures and overfishing have caused food to become scarce, and the battle for new hunting grounds has brought with it corruption and warfare.

Now, with the ocean on the brink of chaos, a young reef shark named Gray - exiled from the safety of his peaceful reef home - must venture deep into Open Water to unlock the secrets of his destiny and bring peace back to the ocean. But first, he'll have to discover the truth about who - and what - he really is.

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY APR 18, 2011

What should be a can't-miss concept (shark tribes warring for territorial rights and positions of power) somehow does, mostly due to tired dialogue and a forced aquatic vocabulary. Screenwriter and first-time novelist Altbacker quickly establishes and makes extensive use of underwater lore and lingo Big Blue is the open ocean, green-greenie are kelp beds, chop-chop denotes the ocean's surface that readers will find either fun or babyish, but that mostly feels intrusive (particularly in the inclusion of cardinal directions in random words: "lEast" for lost, "Southdenly" for suddenly). After Gray, a feisty shark pup, is banished from his peaceful, reef-dwelling clan, or "shiver," he and his friend Barkley venture into Big Blue and form Rogue Shiver with a quartet of sharks they meet. As Rogue Shiver becomes embroiled in a clash between two larger shivers, a web of scheming, shifting allegiances, and questionable identities emerges; a final showdown upends the balance of power and hints at Gray's future ascendancy. Readers looking for action and playground-style undersea banter ("You all suck algae!") will find both in abundance, and for some that will be enough. Ages 9 12.

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