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Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Kiran Millwood Hargrave writes atmospheric fiction, often blending myth and the natural world. Readers might know her for Haunting Season, a chilling gothic story. Her work often explores dark themes with a unique voice.
Julia and the Shark
Synopsis
Julia's parents, both scientists, take her to one of the Shetland Islands for the summer so they can pursue their research; her mother is especially determined to find and study a rare species of shark said to live only in those waters. What begins as an ordinary, if isolated, summer slowly starts to go wrong, and a shadow as large as the shark Julia is searching for begins to fall over her family.
Written by Kiran Millwood Hargrave with illustrations by Tom de Freston, the novel pairs a coming-of-age story about grief and family strain with striking black, white, and yellow artwork, much of it made using ash salvaged from a fire that destroyed de Freston's studio. The illustrations span full double-page spreads throughout, deepening the novel's atmosphere rather than simply decorating it.
The book won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize (Older Fiction) in 2021 and was shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize.
Genres
Characters
JuliaProtagonist
Spends a summer with her scientist parents on a Shetland island.
Frequently asked questions
How were the illustrations in this book created?
The black, white, and yellow illustrations were created by Tom de Freston using the ashes from a fire that destroyed his studio, serving as a personal testament to artistic rebirth.
Is this book part of a series?
This is a standalone novel and does not require reading any other books to understand the story.