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Boy vs. Shark
A hilarious middle-grade graphic memoir about boyhood, toxic masculinity and a shark named Jaws. For fans of Guts and New Kid.
In the summer of 1975, 10-year-old Paul Gilligan doesn't have a whole lot to worry about other than keeping his comic books untarnished, getting tennis balls off roofs and keeping up with the increasingly bold stunts of his best friend, David.
And then Jaws comes to town.
Suddenly everyone is obsessing over this movie about a shark ripping people to pieces. And if you haven't seen it, not only are you missing out, you're also kind of a wimp.
Needless to say, Jaws leaves young Paul a cowering mess, and underlines the growing gap between him and David as well as the distance between where he stands and the world's expectations of a boy's "manliness."
And when Jaws himself becomes a kind of macho Jiminy Cricket for Paul, what is a scared and overwhelmed boy to do?
In the summer of 1975, 10-year-old Paul Gilligan doesn't have a whole lot to worry about other than keeping his comic books untarnished, getting tennis balls off roofs and keeping up with the increasingly bold stunts of his best friend, David.
And then Jaws comes to town.
Suddenly everyone is obsessing over this movie about a shark ripping people to pieces. And if you haven't seen it, not only are you missing out, you're also kind of a wimp.
Needless to say, Jaws leaves young Paul a cowering mess, and underlines the growing gap between him and David as well as the distance between where he stands and the world's expectations of a boy's "manliness."
And when Jaws himself becomes a kind of macho Jiminy Cricket for Paul, what is a scared and overwhelmed boy to do?
240 pages, Hardcover
Published October 15, 2024
4 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Paul Gilligan
22 books23 followersPaul Gilligan writes and draws the syndicated comic strip Pooch Café, which has been twice nominated by the National Cartoonist Society for best strip. He’s the author/illustrator of the early-reader graphic novel series Pluto Rocket, the chapter book series King of the Mole People, and the graphic memoir Boy Vs. Shark. He lives in Toronto with his wife and kids, where he still rides his bike, and quite comfortably swims in lakes and pools, as long as nobody makes any “du-nuh” sounds.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
December 9, 2024
A ten-year-old boy who often struggles with anxiety hits an all-time spike when he sits through Jaws in 1975 and finds himself stuck with the worst imaginary friend ever and a strong fear of any body of water over a pint in volume. Meanwhile, he still has to navigate a bully, a couple of faltering friendships, and a father with whom he shares little in common.
Paul Gilligan produces an entertaining graphic memoir with lots of humor and a satisfying arc. It helps that I was born around the same time as he was, so I can fully appreciate all the blasts from the past scattered throughout the pages.
I've also enjoyed Gilligan's goofy Pluto Rocket series about a weird alien and his pigeon pal. I'm impressed that he can shift so easily to nonfiction.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
Paul Gilligan produces an entertaining graphic memoir with lots of humor and a satisfying arc. It helps that I was born around the same time as he was, so I can fully appreciate all the blasts from the past scattered throughout the pages.
I've also enjoyed Gilligan's goofy Pluto Rocket series about a weird alien and his pigeon pal. I'm impressed that he can shift so easily to nonfiction.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
July 29, 2025
Stand up to bullies man… 👍
April 18, 2024
My goodness! Jaws really did traumatize multiple generations of people!
I had a lot of fun reading Paul Gilligan’s Boy vs. Shark. While I don’t know that Jaws is such an incredibly prominent staple of this newest generation of children’s lives, I can definitely say with confidence that I experienced some of that secondhand trauma from how much that movie messed with people’s heads. We have a large chunk of society terrified of the ocean thanks to that film!
What really stood out to me about Boy vs. Shark, though—outside of the obvious movie references—was the overall message and growth our main character goes through. I cannot stress enough how much I view the development and learning experiences this character has as inherently important to young children out there.
We may not all understand the cultural significance of Jaws or the Easy Bake Oven, but we’ve all experienced peer pressure. We’ve all struggled to relate to our parents. We’ve all had those fearful and upsetting moments when we think we’re going to lose our best friends. We’ve all had the opportunity to learn to do what’s right rather than what is easy or what we’re scared into doing.
This is the sort of book that I could give to so many children and would be happy to do so. It’s the sort of book I’d want to have a conversation about, to help them learn with. It’s funny and engaging and relatable and could be just what the right kid needs at the right time.
So, if nothing else, thank you, Paul. Thank you for writing this. I can’t wait to give it to my students.
I received an early copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I had a lot of fun reading Paul Gilligan’s Boy vs. Shark. While I don’t know that Jaws is such an incredibly prominent staple of this newest generation of children’s lives, I can definitely say with confidence that I experienced some of that secondhand trauma from how much that movie messed with people’s heads. We have a large chunk of society terrified of the ocean thanks to that film!
What really stood out to me about Boy vs. Shark, though—outside of the obvious movie references—was the overall message and growth our main character goes through. I cannot stress enough how much I view the development and learning experiences this character has as inherently important to young children out there.
We may not all understand the cultural significance of Jaws or the Easy Bake Oven, but we’ve all experienced peer pressure. We’ve all struggled to relate to our parents. We’ve all had those fearful and upsetting moments when we think we’re going to lose our best friends. We’ve all had the opportunity to learn to do what’s right rather than what is easy or what we’re scared into doing.
This is the sort of book that I could give to so many children and would be happy to do so. It’s the sort of book I’d want to have a conversation about, to help them learn with. It’s funny and engaging and relatable and could be just what the right kid needs at the right time.
So, if nothing else, thank you, Paul. Thank you for writing this. I can’t wait to give it to my students.
I received an early copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 5, 2024
First, the cartoony artwork is very charming and feels nostalgic in a way.
I enjoyed how the shark from Jaws haunts Paul as his toxic masculinity ghost but really as his insecurities personified. The author managed to tie in the movie Jaws well to where it was relevant to the narrative.
Young Paul struggles with trying to be cool but not being a jerk, which is a tough balance with the neighborhood bully, Swain always harassing him. He even gets mixed messages from his own father about how he should act, and how boys should be.
Ultimately, Paul's journey to learning how to be himself and not live up to others' expectations was great. Despite the story being set in the 70s, kids (any reader) will understand the timeless themes.
“If you take responsibility but make an excuse, you’re not really taking responsibility.”
I enjoyed how the shark from Jaws haunts Paul as his toxic masculinity ghost but really as his insecurities personified. The author managed to tie in the movie Jaws well to where it was relevant to the narrative.
Young Paul struggles with trying to be cool but not being a jerk, which is a tough balance with the neighborhood bully, Swain always harassing him. He even gets mixed messages from his own father about how he should act, and how boys should be.
Ultimately, Paul's journey to learning how to be himself and not live up to others' expectations was great. Despite the story being set in the 70s, kids (any reader) will understand the timeless themes.
December 28, 2025
Middle school boy tries to act “cool”.
This was not about fighting sharks so I was disappointed.
This was not about fighting sharks so I was disappointed.
November 18, 2024
It’s 1975, the summer of Jaws. Ten-year-old Paul and his two best friends, David Chu and the slightly younger Bernie, are still young enough to enjoy messing around with an old tennis ball, playing with plastic toy soldiers, and watching the cartoon “Hammy Hamster”. But when Swain, a slightly older and jaded kid (who looks like he escaped from “Beavis and Butt-Head”), starts taunting them about their babyish ways, they march off one-by-one to watch the summer blockbuster. Paul’s dad, in a misguided attempt at some father-son bonding, agrees to take him but the boy is so terrified that we only see the famous scenes re-enacted (hilariously) by balloon animals. Jaws turns out to be a metaphor for toxic masculinity, long before the term became a catchphrase. The shark manifests in Paul’s closet, in Bernie’s above ground pool, and even in the school’s drinking fountain, pushing him to be more manly. Meanwhile, David begins to move into Swain’s orbit, leaving Paul adrift. When the two boys agree to a risky initiation prank, Paul has to decide whether to go along and then whether to ‘fess up to his misdeeds. A tender scene between Paul and his dad and the BFFs frank but affectionate final discussion offer readers an alternate view of what it means to be a man.
Gilligan’s deceptively simple and bright artwork makes it easy to distinguish between the various characters and to peer into their moods and emotions. I especially loved Paul’s dad, who boasts he can see everything the kids are up to with his “Irish eye” and who valiantly attempts to bond with the disinterested Paul over car repair (his endless jargon-filled explanations rendered with repetition “dubba dubba dubba”). Paul is an anxious kid, made more so by the impending horrors of puberty, so there are some serious themes here to balance out the more goofy plot elements. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
Gilligan’s deceptively simple and bright artwork makes it easy to distinguish between the various characters and to peer into their moods and emotions. I especially loved Paul’s dad, who boasts he can see everything the kids are up to with his “Irish eye” and who valiantly attempts to bond with the disinterested Paul over car repair (his endless jargon-filled explanations rendered with repetition “dubba dubba dubba”). Paul is an anxious kid, made more so by the impending horrors of puberty, so there are some serious themes here to balance out the more goofy plot elements. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
October 18, 2024
As a father of two boys close in age to Paul Gilligan’s 10-year-old self in Boy Versus Shark, I was immediately drawn to the heart of this graphic memoir. It’s not just a story about a boy and a shark—it’s a nostalgic deep dive into growing up in the ’70s, grappling with the pressures of masculinity, and the traumatic experience of seeing Jaws for the first time.
Gilligan perfectly captures that moment in childhood when the world feels limitless, yet terrifying. His humorous and vulnerable portrayal of his younger self, consumed by daring stunts and childhood rivalries, resonated with my own memories of boyhood—and now, as a father, it reflects the same carefree adventures I see in my sons. But the book also taps into the subtleties of toxic masculinity, as Paul and his best friend David push each other to be bolder, tougher, and more daring, all while dealing with the invisible pressures that defined masculinity in the 1970s.
Gilligan’s trauma from seeing Jaws comes through with a mix of humor and genuine fear. The movie scarred him, and it serves as a metaphor for the way fear looms large over a boy’s journey to manhood—whether it’s fear of a literal shark or fear of not being “man enough” in the eyes of your peers.
This book is as much for the parents who lived through the ’70s as it is for kids today. The way Gilligan balances humor with heavier themes is masterful, and it’s a perfect conversation starter for talking to my own kids about growing up and how times have changed—or haven’t. A must-read for anyone who grew up in the Jaws era or is raising the next generation of bold, adventurous kids
Gilligan perfectly captures that moment in childhood when the world feels limitless, yet terrifying. His humorous and vulnerable portrayal of his younger self, consumed by daring stunts and childhood rivalries, resonated with my own memories of boyhood—and now, as a father, it reflects the same carefree adventures I see in my sons. But the book also taps into the subtleties of toxic masculinity, as Paul and his best friend David push each other to be bolder, tougher, and more daring, all while dealing with the invisible pressures that defined masculinity in the 1970s.
Gilligan’s trauma from seeing Jaws comes through with a mix of humor and genuine fear. The movie scarred him, and it serves as a metaphor for the way fear looms large over a boy’s journey to manhood—whether it’s fear of a literal shark or fear of not being “man enough” in the eyes of your peers.
This book is as much for the parents who lived through the ’70s as it is for kids today. The way Gilligan balances humor with heavier themes is masterful, and it’s a perfect conversation starter for talking to my own kids about growing up and how times have changed—or haven’t. A must-read for anyone who grew up in the Jaws era or is raising the next generation of bold, adventurous kids
January 5, 2025
(Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this book for review through Library Thing's Early Reviewers program. Content warning for sexist, racist, and homophobic bullying.)
It's the summer of 1975, and ten-year-old Paul Gilligan's life has hit a few speed bumps. His dad is determined to get Paul interested in cars (carburetors and spark plus and dubba dubba dubba); never mind that his hobbies skew towards comics, toys, and experimenting with his friend's sister's Easy Bake Oven. (Can a mere light bulb really bake a cake?) His lifelong bestie David has always been a bit of a daredevil, but lately it seems like David is growing up too fast - and leaving Paul behind. It doesn't help that David recently started hanging out with Swain, and older boy from the neighborhood who's kind of an a-hole.
In a desperate bid to keep up, Paul convinces his dad to take him to see JAWS. BIG MISTAKE. At first Paul is bedeviled by nightmares - which then morph in daytime hallucinations in which the menacing shark eggs Paul on, giving him terrible advice. Before he knows it, he's acting like a jerk too - selling out his friend Bernie; throwing apples at apartment windows; and shoplifting from the grocery store.
What does it mean to be a man? Though this is Canada circa 1975, the lessons imparted in BOY VS. SHARK are both progressive and timely. While it's geared toward a younger audience, this grown up quite enjoyed it. The artwork is cute (if a little simple), and the boys' facial expressions provide loads of comic relief. The JAWS angle is especially inspired.
It's the summer of 1975, and ten-year-old Paul Gilligan's life has hit a few speed bumps. His dad is determined to get Paul interested in cars (carburetors and spark plus and dubba dubba dubba); never mind that his hobbies skew towards comics, toys, and experimenting with his friend's sister's Easy Bake Oven. (Can a mere light bulb really bake a cake?) His lifelong bestie David has always been a bit of a daredevil, but lately it seems like David is growing up too fast - and leaving Paul behind. It doesn't help that David recently started hanging out with Swain, and older boy from the neighborhood who's kind of an a-hole.
In a desperate bid to keep up, Paul convinces his dad to take him to see JAWS. BIG MISTAKE. At first Paul is bedeviled by nightmares - which then morph in daytime hallucinations in which the menacing shark eggs Paul on, giving him terrible advice. Before he knows it, he's acting like a jerk too - selling out his friend Bernie; throwing apples at apartment windows; and shoplifting from the grocery store.
What does it mean to be a man? Though this is Canada circa 1975, the lessons imparted in BOY VS. SHARK are both progressive and timely. While it's geared toward a younger audience, this grown up quite enjoyed it. The artwork is cute (if a little simple), and the boys' facial expressions provide loads of comic relief. The JAWS angle is especially inspired.
June 8, 2025
This was charming, and memoir-ish.
Paul mostly does whatever his best friend-since-forever David suggests, and tries to minimize the danger. But now David is falling under the sway of a slightly older braggart named Swain, and Paul feels pushed aside. The movie Jaws has just come out, and Swain (and Paul’s own dad )suggests that he’s a wimp since he doesn’t want to see it. (His mom is more realistic.) “Talking with” his dad is mainly Paul tuning out facts about cars and engines.
After they see it (his dad was eager to do things together), the scary, noisy boiler in his basement room becomes the shark, egging him on to more “manly” behavior. And now he’s afraid to go in David’s above-ground pool…
David’s sister’s Easy Bake Oven! What does interest in that “signify”? 😆
Not sure how much kids will relate to the Jaws release, but there are other scary films(e.g. HP) that represent a challenge. Nicely examines “manliness” as a goal, and that feeling of friendship fading away as other people exert influence. JAWS 50TH ANNIVERSARY RELAUNCH LABOR DAY 2025
Swain: what do we know about him? How is he drawn?
Really liked the “simple” clean lines of the panels, quiet humor and expressive faces. Eager to read more by this author.
Paul mostly does whatever his best friend-since-forever David suggests, and tries to minimize the danger. But now David is falling under the sway of a slightly older braggart named Swain, and Paul feels pushed aside. The movie Jaws has just come out, and Swain (and Paul’s own dad )suggests that he’s a wimp since he doesn’t want to see it. (His mom is more realistic.) “Talking with” his dad is mainly Paul tuning out facts about cars and engines.
After they see it (his dad was eager to do things together), the scary, noisy boiler in his basement room becomes the shark, egging him on to more “manly” behavior. And now he’s afraid to go in David’s above-ground pool…
David’s sister’s Easy Bake Oven! What does interest in that “signify”? 😆
Not sure how much kids will relate to the Jaws release, but there are other scary films(e.g. HP) that represent a challenge. Nicely examines “manliness” as a goal, and that feeling of friendship fading away as other people exert influence. JAWS 50TH ANNIVERSARY RELAUNCH LABOR DAY 2025
Swain: what do we know about him? How is he drawn?
Really liked the “simple” clean lines of the panels, quiet humor and expressive faces. Eager to read more by this author.
July 30, 2024
What do you do when you want to be brave... but aren't? 10 year old Paul wants to be all the things a man is supposed to be, but it's not him. He tries to bad mouth friends and see scary movies so that he's not a "sissy" but stays scared and gains a shark mentor that hands out horrible advice. How's a boy supposed to "man up?" And does Paul even want to?
3.5 stars. I was initially annoyed by the book's preoccupation with "manliness" until I figured out that was the whole point. The discussion and the ways Gilligan explores it are so much a part of the time and culture in which the book is set that I just thought it was part of the book. Not, you know, what the book was working on.
17 billions stars for the graphic violence of Jaws being demonstrated with balloon animals. 20 billion stars. 14 trillion. Considering starting a "Balloon Animal Violence" shelf on Good Reads just for this title.
A cute book that subtlety explores big issues. Decent afterwards explaining the 70s references.
3.5 stars. I was initially annoyed by the book's preoccupation with "manliness" until I figured out that was the whole point. The discussion and the ways Gilligan explores it are so much a part of the time and culture in which the book is set that I just thought it was part of the book. Not, you know, what the book was working on.
17 billions stars for the graphic violence of Jaws being demonstrated with balloon animals. 20 billion stars. 14 trillion. Considering starting a "Balloon Animal Violence" shelf on Good Reads just for this title.
A cute book that subtlety explores big issues. Decent afterwards explaining the 70s references.
April 7, 2025
An autobiographical graphic novel, it’s the summer of 1975, the author, Paul, is ten years old, the kind of kid who’s riddled with fears whereas his lifelong best friend is more of a risk taker, who’s started hanging out with an older troublemaker. This adds yet another fear to Paul’s list, possibly losing his friend to someone who is more daring than he is.
The first Jaws movie factors into this story (the reader doesn’t need to have seen it to get the gist), and there are other markers of the era mentioned, too, but this doesn’t go overboard with time period details, it should work fine for modern kids with little knowledge of the 70’s (and for those who want more info there’s a brief guide at the back of the novel).
If you’re a worrier and a rules-follower, or if you’ve ever felt like you have to be someone you’re not to fit in with a friend or even a parent, or if you’re that kid who was in no hurry to leave childhood behind, you’ll likely relate to and feel for Paul, this believably captures his emotions while still being a fun read.
The first Jaws movie factors into this story (the reader doesn’t need to have seen it to get the gist), and there are other markers of the era mentioned, too, but this doesn’t go overboard with time period details, it should work fine for modern kids with little knowledge of the 70’s (and for those who want more info there’s a brief guide at the back of the novel).
If you’re a worrier and a rules-follower, or if you’ve ever felt like you have to be someone you’re not to fit in with a friend or even a parent, or if you’re that kid who was in no hurry to leave childhood behind, you’ll likely relate to and feel for Paul, this believably captures his emotions while still being a fun read.
December 21, 2024
👦🏻 vs. 🦈! It’s the summer of 1975, and ten-year old Paul is at a bit of a crossroads. He still loves to play with his friends, but his best friend David seems more interested in hanging out with an older boy named Swain. His dad wants him to learn about cars, but Paul would rather read comics. When Swain encourages the boys to get into mischief, Paul fears his father’s “Irish Eye,” which sees all. Meanwhile, the nation is obsessed with Jaws, and seeing the movie is a rite of passage for Paul and his friends. When his dad agrees to take him, Paul’s delight turns to a terror that lasts long after the credits roll. He’s so afraid of water he refuses to cross the creek, enter a pool, or even take a bath! Then, in a fantastical twist, a shark emerges from Paul’s closet to antagonize him, mock his fear, and dispense terrible advice. As Paul tries to fit in with David and Swain his conscience grows heavy despite the shark assuring him that “being a jerk is cool.” Luckily Paul has learned from his comic book superheroes how to vanquish a big bad. Over one indelible summer, Paul learns valuable lessons about trusting his instincts, being a true friend, and taking responsibility for his mistakes. Author and illustrator Paul Gilligan’s graphic novel really captures a moment in childhood and in time!
January 8, 2025
Really well done!
I have never seen the movie Jaws, but I know there was a ton of hype about it when it came out. Nothing super gross from the movie appears on the pages of the book. One of my favorite parts is when the main character talks about some scenes in the movie and shows what happens using balloon animals. The absurdity of that made it easy to connect with what was going on without introducing the actually terrifying elements. I thought that was great.
The author also does an excellent job relating the way that relationships can be complex. You can value some parts of a relationship while other parts are hurtful. The story shows that confusion and the nuance of finding ways to let relationships be more than one experience.
Overall, this is a hilarious, poignant memoir about growing up. Definitely worth a read.
I have never seen the movie Jaws, but I know there was a ton of hype about it when it came out. Nothing super gross from the movie appears on the pages of the book. One of my favorite parts is when the main character talks about some scenes in the movie and shows what happens using balloon animals. The absurdity of that made it easy to connect with what was going on without introducing the actually terrifying elements. I thought that was great.
The author also does an excellent job relating the way that relationships can be complex. You can value some parts of a relationship while other parts are hurtful. The story shows that confusion and the nuance of finding ways to let relationships be more than one experience.
Overall, this is a hilarious, poignant memoir about growing up. Definitely worth a read.
June 20, 2024
I read an advance copy of this book.
Boy vs Shark is a tale of growing up, when life changes from playing with friends to hanging out with friends. It deals with changing friendships, peer pressure and, possibly, most importantly the effect that Jaws had on a generation of kids.
As someone that grew up at the time the book is set I loved the pop culture references and look at life of a group of pre-teens. Most of the situations in the book rang true to life back then. But Boy vs Shark is aimed at the 10+ crowd and I was unsure how all the dated references would work for actual 10 year olds. So as soon as I was done I gave it to my son, who read it in about two sittings and loved everything about it.
Well worth keeping an eye out for this one when it hits shelves in October.
Boy vs Shark is a tale of growing up, when life changes from playing with friends to hanging out with friends. It deals with changing friendships, peer pressure and, possibly, most importantly the effect that Jaws had on a generation of kids.
As someone that grew up at the time the book is set I loved the pop culture references and look at life of a group of pre-teens. Most of the situations in the book rang true to life back then. But Boy vs Shark is aimed at the 10+ crowd and I was unsure how all the dated references would work for actual 10 year olds. So as soon as I was done I gave it to my son, who read it in about two sittings and loved everything about it.
Well worth keeping an eye out for this one when it hits shelves in October.
December 30, 2024
Bright and childlike illustrations complete this engaging story about changing friendship and growing up. Themes of peer pressure, fitting in, bullying, tween angst, morality, anxieties, and masculinity are dealt with well. Cheers for the heroine Elaine who stands up to bully Swain. I enjoyed her line about Invisible Girl - she says it figures that the girl's power is she disappears. Clever of the author illustrator to use balloon animals in replace of people in the gory Jaws scenes.
Another Gen Xer here who grew up with Jaws and Sonny & Cher, so I appreciated taking that trip down memory lane.
I won Boy vs. Shark in a LibraryThing giveaway for my Little Free Library. #Verobeachlittlefreelibrary
Another Gen Xer here who grew up with Jaws and Sonny & Cher, so I appreciated taking that trip down memory lane.
I won Boy vs. Shark in a LibraryThing giveaway for my Little Free Library. #Verobeachlittlefreelibrary
December 19, 2024
This is a nice book for fans of graphic novels, particularly kids who liked Real Friends by Shannon Hale. Paul likes to play with other boys in his neighborhood, but an older kid regularly makes fun of him for not being so great at sports (although he is very enthusiastic) and for being fearful of Jaws. The book takes place in the 1970s, so Jaws is quite the phenomenon. Paul also has to deal with his father's perception of him, and how his friends are changing also. It's a nice book, and the scenes with the shark are pretty funny, since the shark is Paul's bully to himself.
March 9, 2025
A good coming-of-age story about a boy whose summer is defined by the movie Jaws. He is so terrified by the film that it becomes the impetus for conquering his fears, though not exactly conquering them in the right way. The personification of the shark was a little juvenile, but it was an effective storytelling catalyst for our narrator to weigh his decisions, kind of a like a devil on his shoulder. I appreciated the index at the back of retro terms and trends that young readers probably wouldn't understand without some context. I'd say it's more of a middle grades book than YA.
November 8, 2025
Entertaining story about a 10-year-old boy from the 70s facing peer pressure and fear. Until page 44 I thought the gray-haired man was Paul's GRANDPA - that kind of threw me that it was his FATHER. This story has a classic "nothing in common" father-son relationship (with references to 70s culture -- Sonny and Cher, anyone?) where the dad is interested in cars and blaming others while the young boy comes into responsibility on his own. Not sure that fully works for ME - who are his GOOD role models and how does he come to that conclusion without modeling? - but it was a fun story nonetheless.
April 16, 2024
Thank you to Tundra books for the ARC copy of this book.
I love anything 70s, so this graphic novel was right up my ally. Adorable book about the pressure from friends and family on growing up. Also, about how some friends might drift apart. I truly enjoyed the lessons as well as the parents. Also, the neighbor girl is my favorite character. If you have a child going into middle school who might be a bit of a loner. I recommend this book! And how can I forget Jaws!!!!
I love anything 70s, so this graphic novel was right up my ally. Adorable book about the pressure from friends and family on growing up. Also, about how some friends might drift apart. I truly enjoyed the lessons as well as the parents. Also, the neighbor girl is my favorite character. If you have a child going into middle school who might be a bit of a loner. I recommend this book! And how can I forget Jaws!!!!
January 1, 2025
Kicking off the new year with a new graphic novel. Hilarious and poignant in equal parts.
Author Paul Gilligan is remembering a moment of his life that coincided with the release of the movie Jaws. Paul was never a particularly brave and courageous child and this time in his life when he’s 10 years old in 1975 is a peek at what it means to truly be a good friend and how to come into your own and believe in yourself.
Grades 6 and up.
Author Paul Gilligan is remembering a moment of his life that coincided with the release of the movie Jaws. Paul was never a particularly brave and courageous child and this time in his life when he’s 10 years old in 1975 is a peek at what it means to truly be a good friend and how to come into your own and believe in yourself.
Grades 6 and up.
May 31, 2025
2 stars (It was okay)
So I went into this not knowing it was a memoir. I really disliked the illustration style so that kept me from getting really immersed. It's a pretty cliche story about peer pressure and worrying about being "man" enough etc.
The cultural references were fun (Jaws, Fantastic Four, etc.).
I had grabbed this book because I'm on a committee to pick recent graphic novels for grades 3-5. This does not really fit the bill. bummer.
So I went into this not knowing it was a memoir. I really disliked the illustration style so that kept me from getting really immersed. It's a pretty cliche story about peer pressure and worrying about being "man" enough etc.
The cultural references were fun (Jaws, Fantastic Four, etc.).
I had grabbed this book because I'm on a committee to pick recent graphic novels for grades 3-5. This does not really fit the bill. bummer.
December 17, 2025
Middle Grade Book March Madness 25/26. Reading this with the lens of getting my 5th graders to read this: I think they’d have a really hard time getting engaged. There are so many jokes and mentions of things that they would not understand. They’d have a hard time connecting to the story and probably miss the overarching theme. As an adult: it’s a good book that demonstrates finding your voice and standing up for yourself.
April 14, 2025
Okay, i thought this was going to be a silly little comic about a boy and a shark, instead it turned into discussion about toxic masculinity and taking responsibility. Lots of heavy stuff, but it's done in such an amazing way. I thought I would be put off by the very simplistic art style, but the simplicity enhanced the entire storyline. Very well done
April 16, 2025
This book is good. I’ve read other books by Paul Gilligan, but none are as serious as this. It really explains a funny story with elements that some kids really need. It tells kids to be themselves, regardless of cool kids like Swain telling them otherwise. Really good to teach kids while entertaining them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2025
The way the shark doubles as the manifestation of his childhood fear as well as his inner critic is absolutely brilliant. I also love the simplicity of the art combined with the bright colors and smart arrangement of elements in each panel. This is a much better book than its cartoony exterior would lead you to believe.
February 11, 2025
I can't remember the last time a book made me laugh so hard. This was a gut-wrenching, hilarious take down of toxic masculinity. The art was incredible and had me screenshotting nearly every page to send to a friend who like wise laughed their booty off.
February 20, 2025
Read this after watching Jaws with my kids for the first time, and after my son zipped through it first. (Unlike young Paul here, they seemed to be ready for it.) A great metaphor for anxious kids and people in general.
January 24, 2026
This middle grade graphic novel memoir takes place in 1976, which will be a hard sell for readers. It also reads extremely young, even for a middle grade title. Not one that we'll purchase for high school.
July 11, 2024
Jaws! Easy-Bake Ovens! 1975 throwbacks!
All this in one fun-filled middle grade graphic novel about being brave enough to say how you feel and being a good friend. Fantastic. :-)
All this in one fun-filled middle grade graphic novel about being brave enough to say how you feel and being a good friend. Fantastic. :-)
December 6, 2024
A funny book, which explores the theme of toxic masculinity, and is also about the film Jaws.
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