Stingers: A Sharks Incorporated Novel

Sharks Incorporated #2

by Randy Wayne White

The trio of brave friends who make up Shark, Inc―Luke, Maribel and Sabina―dive back into adventure in Stingers , the follow-up to bestselling author Randy Wayne White’s Fins.

Marine biologist Doc Ford invites Maribel, Luke, and Sabina to a remote island in the Bahamas where lionfish, a beautiful and venomous inhabitant of the South Pacific that has invaded Florida and the Caribbean, are not just upsetting the balance of nature by damaging the coral reefs―their sting has put several people in the hospital.

What Doc and Captain Hannah Smith don’t mention is that the island is riddled with limestone caves, once home to a band of pirates, and stories of Spanish gold have lured outlaw treasure hunters to the area.

When the trio finds precious artifacts, they agree to guard the secret until they’ve thoroughly explored the spot. Soon, outlaws search for the trio, hoping they will lead them to riches.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Middle Grade, Adventure, Realistic Fiction, Young Adult, Thriller

320 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2022

About the author

aka Carl Ramm, Randy Striker

Randy Wayne White (born 1950) is an American writer of crime fiction and non-fiction adventure tales. He has written best-selling novels and has received awards for his fiction and a television documentary. He is best known for his series of crime novels featuring the retired NSA agent Doc Ford, a marine biologist living on the Gulf Coast of southern Florida. White has contributed material on a variety of topics to numerous magazines and has lectured across the United States. A resident of Southwest Florida since 1972, he currently lives on Pine Island, Florida, where he is active in South Florida civic affairs and with the restaurant Doc Ford's Sanibel Rum Bar & Grill on nearby Sanibel Island.

Series:
* Doc Ford Mystery

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sharks Incorporated crew have a new assignment... and a new mystery or two. As they continue to tag sharks and help Doc with an invasive species predicament in the Bahamas, there are sea turtle poachers to catch and a centuries old ghost story to unravel.

For those with a nostalgic feel for Boxcar Children and similar mystery series, White's books are the perfect modern equivalent, with more realized characters and genuine stakes, with the bonus of also featuring genuinely interesting facts about marine creatures and ecology.

This book delves more into Sabina's interests in things that are less traditionally scientific or easily explained and for me at least I feel like that derails this just a bit. White is clearly is most in his element when he's in Doc Ford mode of teaching and encouraging kids to care about the environment and the animals in it. Still, entertaining, and the ghost plotline will be a bonus for middle graders looking for spooky reads.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Stingers” is a terrific sequel to “Fins!
Marine biologist Doc Ford flies Luke, Maribel & Sabina in his seaplane to an island in the Bahamas to research Lionfish an invasive predator that’s destroying ecosystems. The stinging spines of Lionfish are venomous. Thrilling adventure awaits Sharks Inc as these young heroes explore the island and surrounding water. Blue holes, banana holes, snakes, baby sea turtles, treasure hunter thieves, and the haunting mystery of a young girl who vanished on her wedding night many years ago. The trio also rescues a woman from sharks. Adventure and Marine Ecology! Highly recommended to readers of any age.

About this series: by Randy Wayne White, NYT best selling author of the Doc Ford books.
Our heroes Sabina, Mariel and Luke work as a team saving Florida’s ecology from predators. Full of action and adventure. Readers of any age will enjoy this series for the story and for the environmental aspects. Don't miss reading "Fins"my nieces and nephews loved it and now I'm hooked!

[Cynde · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in this series for middle school age children. I had not read the first book but since I have read Mr. Whites adult thrillers with Doc Ford and Hannah Smith, it was easy to pick up this story.
Two sisters who were rescued from a raft floating from Cuba and their friend the farm boy nephew of Capt. Hannah, form Shark Inc. Doc Ford , a biologist, help these children learn how to tag small sharks for research and has taken them to the Bahamas to help him with a new project capturing Lionfish, a venomous predator from the Pacific that is threatening the marine life in the Caribbean and Florida. They are staying on a small island that has its share of pirate, treasure and ghost stories which fascinate the kids and lead them to all sorts of adventures. This is an excellent edge of your seat thriller for young people and I look forward to more adventures with Shark Inc.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Taking place on one of the smaller Bahamian islands, the kids of Sharks Inc. help take down a turtle smuggling ring and try to decipher the mystery of a long-dead pirate's wife in the hope of saving the pristine environment of Katt Island from developers.
Randy White tells a great story and tries to educate younger readers about marine life and the environment.
While this novel explores Sabina's psychic powers more than the previous one, making it a bit more on the magical side than the first "Sharks Inc." story, and it doesn't delve as deeply into the invasive Lionfish problem in the Caribbean as I thought it would, it's still a great little multileveled tale.

[Sandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in this YA series, I think it was better written than the first. I learned quite a bit about lion fish. Of course, I started from knowing nothing about them! The writing is a little too simplistic unless the audience is a 10 year old. That said, it was a good, entertaining read and I sometimes had trouble putting it down at night. I am looking forward to reading about these three adventurers in the next book which I think is titled Crocs (but not the shoe!)

[Guy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find this series of books fascinating. I have always read adult fiction, non-fiction, young adult, and even children’s books. But never have I encountered a series of young adult books that share characters with the adult mysteries I had already come to really appreciate. I am a huge Doc Ford fan and love the fact that he is a steadying secondary character in this series. Mix in a Caribbean locale, some local mythology and legend, Pirates and sharks, and you’ve got a winner!

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Readers searching for mystery and adventure need look no further than Stingers, the second book in the Sharks Incorporated Series. When marine biologist Doc Ford invites three young nature lovers to the Bahamas where invasive Lionfish are upsetting the ecological balance of the coral reefs, they make a few unexpected discoveries that may just get them into deep water

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sharks Inc. kids -- Luke and the sisters Maribel and Sabina -- have traveled to a remote island in the Bahamas to help marine biologist Doc Ford and Luke’s aunt Captain Hanna Smith study invasive lionfish. Along the way, they meet a visiting author, befriend the hotel owner’s daughter, and help solve the mystery of an abandoned mansion and cemetery, and help bring turtle poachers to justice.

[Bruce Sembar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining book. Even though this is directed at middle school children it didn't make it less fun to read. It was a mystery with bad guys and ghosts and several other adventures that were eventually all tied together. The fact that the central characters were all children didn't detract from the story. Nice quick read.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for 2 reasons, first was the author. A serious fan of Mr. White. Second was to spur a conversation with my 12 yr old Grandson who knows all things Shark.
Was disappointed with the ending but otherwise it is a fun quick read.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I am 76 & this was written for middle school & YA I absolutely loved this book.

I learned about marine life, islands & the thinking process of teenagers.
Pirate treasure, suspense, laughter and, sadness.
3 youngsters tagging sharks and what they learn and discover.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoy these books. They are educational, exciting, and a nice break from the real world (and, may I add, adulthood?).

[Mrs. S. Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really as good as the first book of the series. Still a good book to read, though.

[Hudson]

I want to read it

[Meg · Rating 1 out of 5]

Enjoyed less than 'Fins' and will not tell kids about other books in this series. Avoid audio version at all costs.

[Joseph Hilden · Rating 2 out of 5]

usually enjoy Doc Ford not this one

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great juvenile read; especially for kids who like to read adventure, outdoors and mystery

[Miriam Dobrinska]

Very funny and good story!

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

[Julia Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book for adolescence

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enticing adventure for middle graders and tweens.

[Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an e-ARC of this one.

Fans of Carl Hiaasen's middle grade novels will find this series up their alley. The Sharks Incorporated crew is back again, this time they're up against some shady stuff in the Bahamas. To be fair, books are this type are a challenge. It's hard to infuse the non-fiction facts and information into the story without getting in the way of the story. I felt like the author did a better job of that in the first book in the series. Here, it seemed like the facts were a forced into the story in some places. I think many kids will still enjoy the mystery and the info, but look forward a hopefully smoother style in book three!

[D Thatcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed it.

[geezer · Rating 3 out of 5]

always a fun read'