Boy vs. Shark

Written by Paul Gilligan

A boy faces fears and friendship challenges when a shark movie shakes his world.

3.8/5 Goodreads · 181 ratings

240 pages· 8,483 words· Est. 1.5 hour read

$14.99Save 7%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

In 1975, young Paul Gilligan's summer is upended by the terrifying movie Jaws. As his best friend David embraces daring stunts, Paul struggles with fear and societal pressures of masculinity. With Jaws haunting his thoughts, Paul must navigate the widening gap between childhood innocence and the expectations of manhood. Can he find his own path amidst the chaos?

From the publisher

A hilarious middle-grade graphic memoir about boyhood, toxic masculinity and a shark named Jaws. For fans of Guts and New Kid. In the summer of 1975, 10-year-old Paul Gilligan doesn’t have a whole lot to worry about other than keeping his comic books untarnished, getting tennis balls off roofs and keeping up with the increasingly bold stunts of his best friend, David. And then Jaws comes to town. Suddenly everyone is obsessing over this movie about a shark ripping people to pieces. And if you haven’t seen it, not only are you missing out, you’re also kind of a wimp. Needless to say, Jaws leaves young Paul a cowering mess, and underlines the growing gap between him and David as well as the distance between where he stands and the world’s expectations of a boy’s “manliness.” And when Jaws himself becomes a kind of macho Jiminy Cricket for Paul, what is a scared and overwhelmed boy to do?

At a glance