Stingers: A Sharks Incorporated Novel - Hardcover

White, Randy Wayne

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1250244633 ISBN 13: 9781250244635

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press, 2021

Synopsis

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.

About this title

About the Author

Randy Wayne White is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of the Doc Ford series. In 2011, White was named a Florida Literary Legend by the Florida Heritage Society. A fishing and nature enthusiast, he has also written extensively for National Geographic Adventure, Men's Journal, Playboy and Men's Health. He lives on Sanibel Island, Florida, where he was a light-tackle fishing guide for many years, and spends much of his free time windsurfing, playing baseball, and hanging out at Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille. Sharks Incorporated is his middle grade series, including Fins and Stingers.

Reviews

Gr 4–6—The second volume in the "Sharks Incorporated" series, adapted from a popular series for adults, finds Luke, who is white, along with Maribel and Sabina, sisters and Cuban refugees, in the Bahamas assisting marine biologist Doc Ford with studies of lionfish, an invasive species whose venomous stingers are injuring local residents. The three befriend Tamarin, whose mother owns the inn where they are staying, and with her uncover other invaders: turtle poachers, as well as real estate and tourism developers. This leads them to solve a spooky mystery involving a ghost, an abandoned mansion and a tragic, years-old love story, which ends up revealing the truth about Tamarin's family legacy. Fans of adventure will appreciate the many close calls with sharks, as well as a dramatic "sting" operation. The text is full of facts about wildlife and preservation and survival tips, all infused with an appreciation and respect for local habitats. Luke and Sabina both have supernatural powers, but these aren't as fully explained in this volume as in the first, so both the details and drama may be lost on readers new to the series. The trio's relationship feels undeveloped and rote, and the writing is stilted: characters are often referred to as "the girl" or "the boy," and Tamarin is repeatedly and clumsily referred to as "the local girl." Readers interested in wildlife, ghosts, and shark attacks may still find this to be a page-turner. Recommended for purchase if the first volume was popular. VERDICT This eco-adventure lacks character development and solid writing, but its mix of action and mystery has wide appeal for readers.—Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn P.L.

Edition details

• Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1250244633
• ISBN 13: 9781250244635
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 320