Swimming with Sharks

Adam Sharp #3

by George E. Stanley, Guy Francis (Illustrator)

Something is sinking the world’s ships! Eight-year-old super spy Adam Sharp dives right in to figure out what’s going on. But he never expected to see huge robot sharks biting holes in the bottom of the ships. And he certainly never expected to see the words “MADE IN BERMUDA” on the sharks’ metal bellies!

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

George Edward Stanley was born in Memphis, Texas on July 15, 1942. He received a bachelor's degree in 1965 and a master's degree in 1967 from Texas Tech University. He earned his Doctor Litterarum in African Linguistics in 1974 from the University of Port Elizabeth in South Africa. He lived all over Europe and Africa, studying and teaching foreign languages, working for the U.S. government, and writing books for young people and adults. He started writing fiction while a Fulbright professor in Chad, Central Africa, where about the only diversion he found available was listening to the BBC on his short wave radio. That led to his writing radio plays for a program called World Service Short Story. Three of his plays were eventually produced. After writing and publishing over 200 short stories in American, British, Irish, and South African magazines and linguistics articles in major international journals, he started writing books. He wrote over 100 fiction and non-fiction books for young people including The Katie Lynn Cookie Company series and the Adam Sharp series. He also wrote under the pseudonyms of M. T. Coffin, Franklin W. Dixon, Laura Lee Hope, Carolyn Keene, Adam Mills, and Stuart Symons. He was a professor of African and Middle-Eastern languages and linguistics in the department of foreign languages at Cameron University. He died from a ruptured aneurysm on February 7, 2011 at the age of 68.

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good beginning chapter series to recommend to kids who like their fiction with some hero/spy flavor

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure how we ended up with #3 in the series, but it was cute. I'd be fine with my kids reading this series when they are independent readers.

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe I should stop reading children's books with less than 50 pages because I am clearly not the target reader here. I couldn't help it though when I was scanning my bookshelf and saw the thin paperback sticking out. Given to my brother once upon a time from his school I read the back and thought hey this could be a quick read I might enjoy.

I did enjoy it slightly. Swimming with Sharks was cheesy and amusing because it was cheesy. Adam Sharp is an elementary school kid who is constantly donning a tuxedo and from the very first page appears to be able to do anything perfectly. He's a spy so that's hardly surprising, these clandestine agencies only take the best right?

Pulled out of a soccer game to take on an urgent mission the story is set - shipping containers from all major regions of the globe are being sunk and their cargo stolen. Chopsticks from China, snow shoes from Russia, and boomerangs from Australia oh and lets not forget the bubblegum from the USA (this cracked me up). Its up to Adam to figure out what's going on.

Certainly not a series I'll be continuing but will admit children under 10 might enjoy. Adam Sharp certainly someone I can't see many kids relating to but he is someone they wouldn't mind becoming, stepping into his shoes and donning a tuxedo. He can play sports, ace tests, and outsmart the bad guy while looking very smug and well dressed.

[Dree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weird writing--very stiff and "proper' until the surfer talk begins. A very short chapter book, but too many big words for a new reader who would appreciate the color, pictures, and large type. However, my 6yo enjoyed my reading to him, so more of these are in my future.

[Hillvan]

550L