A quiet book in the style of Ali Benjamin's wonderful The Thing About Jellyfish (also about both grief and an interest in a specific marine animal). I especially appreciated the lovely community Allen built for Lucy, and the way accidents with unintended consequences were discussed, I did pause at the way Lucy was so easily and readily able to communicate her grief - I wonder if most young people (and indeed, most people in general) would be able to identify and discuss their feelings with such openness and specificity. Maggie's reaction overall seemed more realistic to me, so it was nice that it was included. I do think that perhaps the gentle writing style, carrying the reader along like the ocean, makes things seem easier, makes Lucy's sadness less, than perhaps it would be otherwise. Overall a wonderful read, though.

This is a beautiful book.  It is full of heart and hope.  Lucy's journey through grief is helped by the sharks that her mother studied and loved.  But how can Lucy help everyone deal with more grief on top of the loss of her mother?  She will turn to nature.

What a disappointment! My patience was growing very thin with this book who tried to convince me that the daughter of a shark expert wouldn’t know if sharks had bones. And the swearing bothered me. But then I read this and just couldn’t read any more: “I had the urge to run over and kiss him, but I quickly stuffed it back in like a tampon flying out of my backpack. He slowed.”
Seriously?!