Boy vs. Shark

Paul Gilligan’s graphic novel Boy vs. Shark is partly a coming-of-age story, partly a 70s throwback, and fully enjoyable. I’m not sure how much of it is autobiographical, but readers who grew up in the 70s/80s will find this story and its references very familiar. The main character, Paul, is 10-years-old and dealing with a handful of typical issues for his age: his best friend seems to be ditching him for someone new, his dad expects him to be someone he isn’t, and, on top of all of that, he has a giant imaginary shark questioning his life choices. Okay, so maybe not everything he’s facing is typical.

The characters in this book are very well developed which is not always the case in a graphic novel. It’s not just the way they are written, but the way they are drawn as well. The facial expressions are incredibly evocative for what initially seem like simple illustrations. The character Swain has a real “bad guy” vibe to his face, and the craggy face of Paul’s father beautifully reflects frustration, disappointment, and a number of other emotions. Even the imaginary shark has an impish grin as he taunts Paul and tries to make him feel like his emotions aren’t valid.

I really appreciated the 1975 Time Capsule at the end of the book (although it might have served its purpose even better at the beginning). It gives an excellent visual reference to some of the pop culture references throughout the story- Jim Morrison, Jaws, and the Easy-Bake Oven are all on the list. These are definitely things that not all readers in the age range would know, and so it’s handy to have.

There are lots of great messages in this book about growing up, making new friends, overcoming fear and self-doubt, connecting with family, forgiveness, and much more. That said, Boy vs. Shark never feels preachy or overly sentimental; it’s funny, upbeat, and overall a great read.