Sharkman

Gr 8 Up—As the result of a car accident caused by texting while driving, Kwan Wilson is a wheelchair-bound paraplegic. His mother died during the crash and his overbearing father cannot forgive Kwan and sends him to live with his grandmother. The teen feels trapped, physically and mentally. He agrees to volunteer at an aquatic stem cell research center once he sees that he will be able to spend time with a lovely assistant. Kwan's guilt and frustration help him to justify his willingness to risk his life by injecting himself with shark stems cells and Human Growth Hormone (HGH). Kwan's crippled body not only heals, but continues to evolve into a body builder's physique with hyper senses, allowing him to once again be a basketball superstar. His adaptations spiral out of control and he develops the physical characteristics and predatory instincts of a bull shark. Kwan's father uses Kwan's amazing metamorphosis to assist with a covert military operation. The conclusion—like the rest of the novel—is a fun ride once readers suspend disbelief when it comes to the over-the-top action sequences and the main character's remarkable cunning. Kwan is a likable protagonist—his insecurities, wants, and emotions (expressed in first-person narration) are typical of most teens. The novel is packed with scientific information on topics such as Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), diving, and shark physiology, making it a great addition for collections promoting STEM fields.—Sherry J. Mills, Hazelwood East High School, St. Louis, MO