The Shark Callers

by Eric Campbell

After a volcano erupts two very different young men find themselves struggling for life in shark-infested waters and one must be sacrificed to the swarming blood lust of the sharks if the other is to survive. €œThe author€™s exceptional depiction of a volcanic eruption and its consequences adds curricular value to the book particularly as the town of Rabaul has been destroyed by two volcanoes that began erupting in September 1994.€--Booklist

Genres: Young Adult, Adventure

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Erik Campbell lives in Papua, Indonesia, working as a technical writer for an American mining company. His poems and essays have appeared in numerous prestigious literary magazines, including The Iowa Review, Tin House, The Massachusetts Review, The Virginia Quarterly Review, Nimrod, New Delta Review, and Rattle. He has been nominated for a 2005 Pushcart Prize in poetry.

Reviews

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

good good

[Yvette Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 stars)
A neighbour deposited this in our street library and I decided to read it since it's set partly in a small village on one of the Papua New Guinea islands, but mostly in waters around it. The story takes place only over a day or two, as a volcano erupts, causing a tsunami, and we follow native boy and shark-caller-in-training Kaleku, and white boy Andy with his family in their boat. There are a few scenes especially that are really well written and paint such a clear picture of the drama and terror. A book probably aimed at YA boys, but I appreciated it.

[aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a Fiona pick for a nightly reads and I think she picked it because she likes sharks. Honestly it wasn't a terrible read although not my favorite. Thankfully it was a pretty quick read and had some excitement within. It really focuses on the lives of a family of travelers and on a tribe (specifically two) of shark hunters after a volcano blows and sets off tragedy. What follows is some excitement with what may have been a too quick ending. Fiona loved it though so all good!

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful book, maybe this inspired my fascination with other cultures!

[Nicole Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting, interesting and suspenseful. A good short read for an adult or a kid.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, but I think it could have been a longer book. I want and need more of this story!

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was not what I was expecting but still a good read.In fact I would read it again

[Holly Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Red Alert.... Evacuate!! The last time Matupi erupted over 50 years ago it wiped out whole villages on the small island off Papua New Guinea. Matupi is going to blow againand Andy Thompson's family is preparing to flee on their boat , *Quintana* and continue their travels around the world. On another island Kaleku is beginning his apprenticeship to become a sacred Shark Caller, a hunter in the treacherous shark waters. Under the guidance of Old Sea-Bird Kaleku must build his own canoe and the *kasaman* that will help him snare the deadly creatures. Two young men at sea two very different journeys. Until Matupi erupts and releases it's ominous power into the ocean. Both boys must struggle to survive a massive tidal wave in the shark infested waters. This is the first book by Eric Campbell I've ever read and I found it an easy read and interesting. I may be looking for more books by him.

[Lane Curry · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE MOST EPIC SHARK BOOK EVER!!!!!! 1937. Red alert! Evacuate. It really has come down to this. The ancient volcano Matupi is going to erupt any time now. The Thompson family aren't waiting around. They already left on there boat and are sailing away Papua New Guinea and venturing to New Ireland.
Meanwhile, on another island, Kaleku has finished his canoe and is ready to become a Shark Caller. His master, old Sea Bird has convidence. Kaleku has now set out for the retched shark roads.
Matupi has erupted. A massive tidal wave is heading toward both the Thompson family and Kaleku. Two different journies could come down to one fate if they don't survive the incoming wave in the shark infested waters.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this a few years ago. Now I find it is written slightly too young for both the subject matter and myself. Two stories that alternate chapter by chapter; one native boy earning his place in his tribe and one modern boy saving his family. They never meet, but one saves the life of the other without knowing it, dying in the process. Sad story.

[Cassidy Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honesty, best book I have EVER read, no exaggeration. Kaleku dying at the end, I totally didn't see that coming! Of course, I really didn't want Andy to die, cuz he is my favorite character, but I didn't expect Kaleku to die! It was a really great ending, the way Eric Campbell worded it and foreshadowed. It was great! I love it when authors foreshadow! Well, most of the time. Unless it's sad like something would be in Doctor Who, but anyways, back to the point. I just can't stop explaining to my friends that it truly is the best book I have ever read! I will DEFINITELY be searching in my school library for more books by Eric Campbell. I hope his other books are as good as The Shark Callers!

[Staysha · Rating 3 out of 5]

i di not like the suprising ending!

[eric leavitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those teenage books that are great reads for adults as well. Not Campbell's best, but a close second. And I loved sharks when I was little.

[Cheyenne Keeling · Rating 5 out of 5]

best book.