The Girl With The Shark's Teeth

by Cerrie Burnell

Minnow is different from the other girls in her town and there's plenty to set her apart: the blossom of pale scars which lie beneath Minnow's delicate ears, the fact that she has an affinity with the water which leaves people speechless, and that once - she is sure - in deep, deep water, her body began to glow like a sunken star.
When her mum gets into trouble and is taken from their boat in the dead of night, Minnow is alone with one instruction: sail to Reykjavik to find your grandmother, she will keep you safe. Minnow has never sailed on her own before, but the call of the deep is a call she's been waiting to answer her whole young life.
Perhaps a girl who is lost on land can be found in the Wild Deep.
The stunning middle grade debut from Cerrie Burnell

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Middle Grade, Adventure, Childrens

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 3, 2019

About the author

Cerrie Burnell is one of the UK's best-known children's TV presenters and has in recent years made a name for herself as one of the most exciting new children's authors on the scene. Her picture book Snowflakes was performed at the Oxford Playhouse to great acclaim in 2016 and Harper, her fiction series, has been set to music by the Liverpool Philarmonic Orchestra.

Reviews

[Kerri Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had so! much potential. SO much potential. [It's the closest story I've been able to find to one of the books I'm writing (Look at me saying that aloud like it doesn't terrify me!), and even then this story is wildly different than mine.]

It starts interestingly enough, and seems to be headed in a distinct direction, but the more I read, the more wandering and unfinished (and disorganized) it felt, to the point where it was almost too distracting to finish. There were also strange typos and inconsistencies in the latter half of the book I didn't find in the first half.

To me it felt like the first half of the book was heavily outlined and organized and the second half of the book was hastily finished (ahead of some sort of publication deadline, maybe?). I don't know. Had I been a beta reader for this story, I would have said it wasn't done yet, still needed a handful more ingredients and definitely more baking time.

[Two-point-five stars for oceans of potential.]

[Sian Ballantyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son and I really enjoyed this "tail"😉

[sal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Plot wise, sebetulnya buku ini menarik. Namun menurutku narasinya kurang enak dan all over the place. Terdapat inconsistencies juga pada beberapa hal dalam cerita, so i found it hard to finish.

[Book Gannet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beautiful adventure story is perfect for any young reader who loves the sea, loves adventures, loves magic and might also need to learn that being different doesn’t mean you don’t belong somewhere.

Minnow is an excellent heroine, a little different, a little strange, but strong and courageous and deeply loyal to those she loves. She is dauntless and brave, whether its swimming with her gorgeous husky, Miyuki, saving her mother or sailing alone all the way to Iceland. It’s easy to cheer for her as she sets about saving her world.

That world and the characters are amazing too, whether its her piratical mother, Mercy, her mysterious grandmother, Arielka, the grand ship Seafarer, the friends she makes along the way or the magical Wild Deep itself, this book beautifully blends the world we know with one many of us wishes we did. Whether its glowing Greenland sharks, spell songs or legendary Merfins, this book encourages you to dive in and not come up until the end.

So if you’re looking for an adventure, especially of the magical kind, and think kindness and friendship are the true superpowers of the world, then allow this book to sweep you away. If you happen to love water, sharks and mermaids, then you are in for an extra special treat.

(Review copy provided by the publisher via Amazon Vine.)

[Karen King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful take on a girl living between two worlds, in many ways. Also a fascinating layout of underwater politics.

[Qurrata Ayun · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5/5🌟

Novel ini merupakan novel middle grade. Bercerita tentang Minnow yang memulai petualangan untuk menyelamatkan sang Mama, Mercy dari para pemburu laut (orang-orang yang terobsesi dengan mitos dan legenda laut). Minnow harus melintasi Wild Deep, sebuah kawasan laut terlarang agar cepat sampai ke tujuannya, bersama Raife Minnow menyusuri Wild Deep dan menemukan jawaban dari identitas diri dia selama ini, dan jawaban dari dongeng dongeng serta mitos mitos laut yang sering didengarnya sejak kecil.

Novel ini merupakan novel high fantasy menurut ku, penulis membangun dunianya dan seisinya sendiri, sayangnya eksekusinya kurang oke, kurang dijelaskan detail-detail dunianya sehingga terkadang aku sebagai pembaca kurang bisa mengimajinasikan hal-hal yang tertulis padahal premis dan world buildingnya cukup oke.

Aku gatau yang mengganggu aku itu writing style penulisnya atau penerjemahnya ya😞soalnya aku susah banget masuk ke ceritanya karna kata kata yang digunakan tu gak lazim digunakan, memang menggambarkan pikiran polos anak kecil sih tapi karna aku jarang baca yang sejenis jadi agak kesusahan dan perlu berulang kali baca biar paham😭.

Dari segi ceritanya aku sukaa, premisnya oke banget, simple dan heartwarming. Karakter-karakternya loveable bangett apalagi anak anak disini😻💗 ada Minnow, Raife, anak anak Laut, anak anak Burung, bahkan Miyuki xnsmzjsn sangat lucuuu😻😻, aku suka perkembangan karakter utama disini yaitu Minnow. Oiya vibesnya tu mirip banget sama Moana wkwkwk, aku berharap lagu di buku ini dapat di play beneran biar bisa dengar nyanyian Minnow hehe. Overall ini cukup heartwarming, selamat membaca teman teman😻✨

[Christina Reid · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story follows Minnow as her life on board a real-life pirate ship with her mother Mercy (complete with hook!) and husky Miyuki is interrupted by the arrival of three strange men searching for a map to The Wild Deep. The story is fast-paced and interesting, chock-a-block with magical creatures and adventure.
I liked how Minnow is biracial and is also part of both worlds, the sea and the earth. I loved her relationship with Miyuki, the family ties with her mother and grandmother and the friends she makes along the way. The story starts off strongly, although there are rather too many serendipitous events for me to ever be fully convinced that Minnow was in any danger of not completing her task. She is the most special of special children, which is fine, but as an adult reader I did find it a bit unbelievable that everything would fall into place quite so neatly.
I would recommend this for representation of a biracial character and for any children who love adventure stories and the sea.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first came across Cerrie Burnell when she joined the children’s channel ‘CBeebies’ over eight years ago.  It was a channel I watched regularly with my son when he was very young and one that we were both very fond of.  I remember Cerrie  because she was a great presenter but I also remember being pleased that this channel who assisted me with teaching my child at such an early age, were brave enough to chose a presenter who looked slightly different to what is considered the ‘norm’;  a presenter that may arouse some curiosity amongst it’s young viewers and offer the opportunity to explore the differences amongst us all.

Any child should be able to find a character they can relate to in books but children should also be able to read strong characters that are different to them too.  To immerse your child in diversity from an early age, I believe, is vital.  To teach them that each and EVERY individual is unique, important and has so much to offer the world.  I’ve noticed over the years, both as a parent and working with young children, that they are curious when they encounter something different but they do not judge; it is the influence of the reactions around them that will then, I believe, cause the judgement to kick in.

Cerrie has moved on from presenting CBeebies and is writing fiction for children.  Inspired by her own dual heritage daughter she wanted to expand on the young heroines out there for our young readers. When it comes to her writing Cerrie herself says “Families like mine are so rarely represented in children’s literature in a positive magical context, so I wanted to create characters who reflect us but are bound up in adventure.”

I was intrigued to read The Girl with the Shark’s Teeth.  As always, I try not to consider what I know about the author and let the story speak for itself…and this one certainly does.  Cerrie is a natural storyteller.  Her empathy, kindness and sense of adventure comes through in her characters.  Young readers will love the adventure and magic within the pages.  I loved the illustrations throughout, they weaved in amongst the story perfectly, framing the beautifully depicted world that Cerrie has created.  The leading characters are strong, fearsome and memorable.  Young Minnow is feisty and courageous; the love and bond she shares with her mother driving her forward to face whatever danger is thrown at her. Minnow has been raised on stories and song and it is these that she turns to when life becomes confused and her path feels uncertain. The story itself is exciting, filled with wonder and peril.  This will be a wonderful book for all middle grade readers but also as a book to be shared and enjoyed together with younger readers

The Girl with the Shark’s Teeth is a story that shows us that courage, friendship and goodness comes in all kinds of packages.

[Mary Rees · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an enchanting story, full of adventure, danger and hidden secrets, waiting to be discovered. But it is also a story of heritage, self-discovery and acceptance.
Minnow lives aboard The Seafarer (a stunning pirate boat with a mermaid figurehead) with her mother, Mercy, and faithful husky, Miyuki. She is naturally drawn towards the water, and feels out of place and awkward on land.
The story opens with the kidnapping of her mother by three men who believe that Mercy is the key to help them capture a mermaid. Isn’t the existence of mermaids just part of old myths and folklore, so why are they adamant that her Mum can help them capture one? What secrets has she been withholding from her daughter?
Left with strict instructions to go to her Grandmother in Iceland, Minnow travels there aboard The Seafarer where she meets Raife, who shares her love of the sea. Minnow has no intention of staying safe at her Grandmother’s, but has every intention of rescuing her mother before it is too late. Once at her Grandmother’s, Minnow makes a startling discovery. Because of who she really is, she has the power to open the Gateway to the secret Wild Deep and venture across it in a desperate and urgent mission to free her mother.
The world of the Wild Deep is exquisitely revealed, and creates a real sense of wonder and beauty, not only at the landscape but also at the dazzling seafolk of lore which Minnow and Raife find there. They are both beautiful and dangerous, with some prepared to help and others to hinder. They emit a real sense of threat and menace which creates plenty of action and tension as the children try to outwit and escape from them as they struggle to cross this new world. Will the Deep release Minnow to allow her to attempt to rescue her mother? Will there be a price to pay? Will Minnow be imprisoned there, unable to leave, or will she be free to travel in both worlds?
Minnow is a strong, courageous, quick-witted girl who is willing to face her fears, fight for survival in dangerous situations and make difficult decisions to protect her friends. She builds a close bond with Raife as they come to trust, rely on and protect each other. She is a girl of two worlds who is resolved to fit into both, with all the determination, strength and courage that this demands.
A fascinating read for children of 8+.

[Lilyfae · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Girl with the Shark’s Teeth in some ways is a departure from Cerrie Burnells’s previous picture and early chapter books in being longer and concentrated MG novel that addresses some ‘older’ themes and issues but at its heart retains the same values of magic, wonder, kindness and inclusion.
This song of the sea is fast paced, with high tension and cliffhanger chapters driving the reading forward, one more, just one more chapter immersed in Burnell’s watery myth-soaked tale.
To say I loved it is an understatement.


Minnow feels more at home in the water than on land, after all she has lived her life on her mother’s Boat with its historic charm, but she prepares for breathtaking rescue when her mother is snatched by a trio of men, one of whom secretly warns mum of a search for mermaids and two of whom resemble boys from an ancient story of the sea.
A glistening map of stardust, childhood lullabies and a Icelandic boy with eyes as green as wonder aid her on her quest from Brighton to Reykjavik and onwards to the Bahamas as she discovers the truth about her mother and herself by plunging into The Wild Deep.

The magic and poetry of Burnell’s words and world-building burns brightly throughout even in the chilling Icy seas of Vintertide.
The lyrics of the lullabies and words like sea-souls, Lightfins and evoke a sense of wild and wonder in her seascape.
Her writing is so very evocative and we are immediately accepting of the magical realism because of the way we have been captured by Minnow in the first few pages.

The tension is held tight from the opening pages but occasionally the reins are loosened for moments such as wandering around soaking up the sights of Reykjavik waiting for her grandmother, telling tall tales of the sea or of comedic relief such as dressing up to fit into a strange new world.
And fitting in is a key theme of the book as Minnow explores what it means to be dual heritage, much love is lavished here and so many children will feel the glow of feeling heard and understood through Minnow’s story.

[R_ajab · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mungkin kedepannya aku tidak akan baca middle grade lagi (kecuali hype abis). Konflik dipermudah penyelesaiannya. Beberapa hal janggal terkait world building nya, misal kenapa Mercy rambutnya merah dan berkulit putih, sedangkan putri duyung berkulit gelap. Maksudnya tidak ada kejelasan pembagian etnis pada Gadis Hiu, semacam penulis cuman pengen menampilkan mama-anak yang berbeda saja. Sebenarnya pemegang kendali atas Gerbang itu sihir di lautan atau Candlelight sih? Masa sebab keputusan Candlelight doang dia bisa merubah peraturan kuno tentang Gerbang, seharusnya dari dulu aja udah diubah menyesuaikan dengan keperluan penghuni Wild Deep.

Alasan Mercy lebih memilih mengandung anak dan punya anak tidak dijelaskan, jadi pembaca tidak punya persepsi yang jelas untuk paham apa sih sebenernya yang perlu dihargai di keputusan Mercy menelantarkan Wild Deep ini sebagai Penjaga Gerbang. Dan juga harusnya Mercy inikan diburu sebab ada yang pengen menangkap putri duyung dari perantaraan dia. Harusnya dia bikin tipuan juga seperti yang dilakukan oleh anaknya. Maksudku ketimbang Minnow yang lebih muda, masa mamanya ini gak pernah ngakalin para Pemburu gitu?

Aku rasa narasinya kurang enak, dan juga penamaan tokoh utama, ibunya dan anjingnya menggunakan 'M' semua itu malah tidak membuat fokus terhadap citra karakter masing-masing

[Luv · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buku cantik, world building cakep, but tidak memorable.

Setelah mendapati ibunya dibawa pergi oleh Pemburu Laut, Minnow bersama husky nya, Miyuki berlayar dengan kapalnya menuju Irlandia, tempat neneknya tinggal. Di sana, Minnow mengetahui tentang jati dirinya dan rahasia Wild Deep.

Bersama Rafie, mereka mengarungi Wild Deep, sebagai jalan pintas menuju Laut Karibia demi menyelamatkan ibunya.

Buku ini, sebetulnya punya potensial yang besar. Tapi entah apa karena mid grade book yang target pembacanya masih anak anak, atau karena halamannya yang sedikit, atau karena memang gaya menulisnya yang kaku, rasanya buku ini stuck di tempat.

Pertama, world buildingnya. Jujur cakep banget, apalagi dengan seabrek makhluk laut yang beragam banget dan dijelasin dengan detail itu keren. Tapi, aku masih ga dapet gambaran gimana Wild Deep itu sendiri.

Yang aku tangkap, gerbang kan ada di laut dalam. Nah setelah lewat gerbang, aku pikir bentuknya akan seperti Spongebob itu loh, tapi lalu dengan adanya anak anak burung dan kapal yang berlayar, aku jadi mikir apakah seperti sandwich. Laut dunia manusia, ruang udara, lalu laut Deep Wild. Idk. Tapi hal ini bikin imajinasiku ga leluasa buat nikmatin ceritanya.

Kedua, tokohnya. Banyak banget makhluk makhluk laut yang di ceritakan, tiap makhluk dijelasin detail ciri cirinya, tapi ga ada yang bisa aku inget. Ga tau apa yang salah, aku ga bisa inget anak anak burung looks nya seperti apa, fern rae itu gimana, bahkan para duyungnya seperti apa, ga nyantel sama sekali. Ini mungkin berhubungan sama gaya bahasanya.

Ketiga, gaya bahasa. Aku ga tau versi asli ditulis seperti apa, tapi di versi terjemahan Indonesia, diksi yang dipilih jujur indah, sangat indah. Tapi ya itu, pretty but not memorable.
"Saku yang dijahit dari langit"
"Separuh ikan separuh nyala api"
"Kulit ungu tengah malam."
Cantik kan, tapi ya cuma jadi selewat info aja, ga nyantel sama sekali dan bikin mikir dua kali tentang deskripsinya biar aku bisa dapet gambaran visualisasinya. Aku sempet kepikiran, apakah anak anak bisa nangkep maksudnya?

Keempat, plot nya. Karena ini mid grade book, alurnya sangat mudah dipahami. Bahkan, perjalanan Minnow melewati Deep Wild yang awalnya digambarkan sangat penuh perjuangan itu pun cenderung gampang banget. Tentu aja, plot nya amat predictable, hal lumrah buat buku anak anak ya.

Sayangnya, ada beberapa plot hole (atau sebetulnya bukan plot hole sih, cuma rasanya ga pas aja gitu) kaya power nya Candlelight dengan takdir Penjaga Gerbang yang rasanya agak tumpang tindih. Lalu gimana Minnow punya ide buat 'pengorbanan' Penjaga Gerbang juga rasanya girl too powerfull ya melebihi Mercy yang sampe diculik culik itu.

Selebihnya buku ini oke sih, beneran cantik dengan ilustrasi yang ga kalah cantik juga. Masih recomended untuk dibaca kalau lagi cari bacaan yang ringan. Aku harap si bisa ada lebih banyak penjelasan tentang Wild Deep nya sih, tentang Minnow si gigi hiu.

[athiathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Dalam kegelapan yang paling dalam, kau harus menjadi terang."

Buku bertema petualangan dan fiksi fantasi ini mengisahkan seorang anak perempuan bernama Minnow berumur 12 tahun yang hidup di atas perahu. Ia selalu mendengar cerita tentang samudra yang aneh dan tidak masuk akal bernama Wild Deep dari neneknya, Arielka.

Tidak disangka bahwa ia harus ke samudra itu demi menemukan ibunya, Mercy yang hilang. Perjalanannya dipenuhi dengan segudang keajaiban yang bahkan Minnow sendiri pun tak percaya.

Ia mengarungi lautan sendirian
untuk pertama kalinya dengan kapal beserta anjing kesayangnnya yakni Miyuki. Tak sampai di situ, ia bertemu laki-laki pecinta lautan. Laki-laki itulah, Boy yang senantiasa membantunya hingga akhir.

Banyak makhluk-makhluk yang akan membuat kalian berimajinasi dengan bebas dan seolah-olah nyata ada di depan mata.
_

Keberanian dari Minnow patut kita contoh. Ia berani dalam mengambil segala macam risiko bahkan kehilangan nyawanya sekalipun asalkan ibunya selamat.

Persahabatan yang dipertemukan dengan singkat antara Minnow dan Boy juga tak kalah menarik perhatian.

Belum lagi kesetiaan anjing peliharaan Minnow terhadap dirinya.

Suasana yang dibangun dalam tiap bab tersalur dengan apik. Di tiap halamannya juga terdapat beberapa ilustrasi yang membuat kalian tidak akan bosan saat membacanya.

Buku yang sangat direkomendasikan untuk sesiapun yang ingin berpetualang dalam gelapnya lautan. Bertemu dengan makhluk ajaib. Mengasah keberanian. Dan mengambil pelajaran dari setiap kejadian.
_

Aku beri buku ini rating 5/5
Karena aku sangat suka!

Untuk kali ini cukup. Sampai jumpa! 🌼

[nisaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

buku ini menceritakan tentang Minnow yang berpetualangan di samudra Wild Deep demi mencari Mercy (ibu Minnow) yang hilang. tidak hanya sendiri, perjalanan Minnow ditemani oleh Raife dan Miyuki (anjing Minnow). selama perjalanannya ke Wild Deep, Minnow bertemu dengan beberapa makhluk yang selama ini selalu dikisahkan oleh neneknya, Arielka. seperti Hiu Greenland, Light Fin, dll. akan banyak tantangan yang dihadapi Minnow dan Raife selama perjalanan mereka ke Wild Deep. apakah mereka dapat menemukan Mercy??

suprisingly, aku lumayan enjoy baca fiksi fantasi anak ini :D ceritanya ngalir gitu aja dan nggak berbelit-belit. bukunya juga tipis jadi bisa dibaca dengan cepat!! halaman bukunya juga ada ilustrasi didalam laut yang memanjakan mata (walopun enggak berwarna). untuk kamu yang suka cerita fantasi anak, lautan, boleh coba baca buku ini 👌🏻

[Tempy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Firstly, if you know anything at all about the author, this book comes across as very gratuitous which I’m sure wouldn’t bother a younger reader but it definitely ruined the mood a bit for me.

I’m not going to lie, although I love a good junior fiction now and then, I picked up this book because it reminded me of the Emily Windsnap series of my younger years.
This book had some good bits, I enjoyed some of the creature lore and the overall premise, but it got stale very fast. Too much time was spent on the things that didn’t matter and by the end of the book I just felt like I was dragging my feet until I finished.

[Truly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Minnow berusia 12 tahun,usia remaja. Meski demikian, ia mengemban rugas berat, yaitu mencari ibunya di Wild Deep. Pastinya bukan sebuah perjalanan yang mudah. Tapi semua dilakukannya demi sang ibu.

Selama perjalanan, ia menemukan aneka hewan laut yang selama ini hanya diketahui melalui kisah sang nenek.Melihat secara langsung, tentunya berbeda dengan mendengarkan.

Minnow mendapat sahabat baru selama mencari ibunya. Begitulah, kadang persahabatan bisa muncul melalui cara yang unik.

Seperti juga ide penulis kisah ini yang diperoleh dengan tak sengaja. Ketidaksengajaan yang membawa

[I Read, Therefore I Blog · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cerrie Burnell’s fantasy novel for children aged 9+ (illustrated by Sandra Dieckmann) puts diversity front and centre (Mercy has one hand and Minnow is bi-racial and finds walking on land difficult) but the writing is clunky and Burnell seems unsure about the relationship between her fantasy elements and the real world while characters frequently make strange decisions that only exist to service the plot, such that I didn’t enjoy it.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as Minnow is part black and part white, part fiction and part fact... This book was both magical and realistic.

I enjoyed reading the plot and seeing Minnow's thought process on every situation. I find that it added depth to the character and emphasized well that she was just a child thrust with the responsibility of rescuing her mama and knowing herself better along the way.

The ending was both happy and kind of bittersweet but it works. 5/5

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ !! A super lovely little read. Full of wonder and adventure and exploring the magic of the Wild Deep. I loved being transported into this mysterious, mythical and charming world and simply enjoying all the beautiful descriptions of the ocean. Minnow has a heart of gold and Raife is just so sweet! Loved loved loved the representation 👏🏻

[Hannah Shattock · Rating 5 out of 5]

The mystery of mermaids has been a part of our legends for decades. I was awed on this new take on merfolk and found myself being taken on an undersea adventure in the magnificent world of the girl with the shark teeth. A thoroughly enjoyable short story.

[Gg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uhhh I need one year to finish this book🙂
so boringg for mee.... the story is actually good, but i have no ida what happend in 170 pages(The bahasa Indonesia version this book have 218 pages). The ending is good and my brain finally connected with the whole story. But yea, it's so boring at first🙂🙂

[Darby Cupid · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful tale and perfectly pitched for middle grade readers.

[Cecily Tordoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great book that captures the adventures of life at sea, in a mysterious and magical way. Highly enjoyable read.

[Aleisha Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don’t get me wrong, it was a good book but it caused me to slump hard. I loved the concept of this but I do feel like it could have been written so much better

[Yo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing we are reading it for school

Characters:
Minnow
Miyuki
Mercy
Ja-ja
Ely
Louie
Arielka

Content is astonishing.

[L · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,4

[Rosalia Dhea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love stories about mermaids. Enjoy reading it😊

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just delightful - pulls me back to childhood fantasy of magic and adventure.

[nahes. · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5🌟

[Janette Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find it a bit of a story.It did have the right ending.