Kiran wrote... Julia and the Shark

Winner of the Waterstones Children’s Gift of the Year 2021. Shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year 2021. A The Bookseller Editor’s Choice for September.

A captivating, powerful and luminous story from bestselling, award-winning author Kiran Millwood Hargrave, and acclaimed artist Tom de Freston, about a mother, a daughter and a Greenland shark. Wrapped up in mesmerising illustrations and presented as a deluxe hardback, this is a perfect gift for the holiday season, for 9+ fans of Philip Pullman, David Almond and Frances Hardinge.

‘A truly beautiful book, with text and illustrations in perfect harmony.  A book to treasure!’ Jacqueline Wilson

‘Tom de Freston’s stunning illustrations perfectly complement the poetry of Kiran Millwood Hargrave’s story’ Cressida Cowell, Children’s Laureate

‘a glorious story about mothers and daughters, racism and bullying, love and endurance and hope, the secrets of the sea, and GREENLAND SHARKS. Tom’s art and Kiran’s words shine together.’ Katherine Rundell, author of The Explorer

‘the art shines and the writing soars. A classic from cover to cover.’ Eoin Colfer, author of the Artemis Fowl series

‘A rich, immersive and wondrous journey, through deep darkness to hope and light’ Sophie Anderson, author of The House with Chicken Legs

The shark was beneath my bed, growing large as the room, large as the lighthouse, rising from unfathomable depths until it ripped the whole island from its roots. The bed was a boat, the shark a tide, and it pulled me so far out to sea I was only a speck, a spot, a mote, a dying star in an unending sky…

Julia has followed her mum and dad to live on a remote island for the summer – her dad, for work; her mother, on a determined mission to find the elusive Greenland shark. But when her mother’s obsession threatens to submerge them all, Julia finds herself on an adventure with dark depths and a lighthouse full of hope…

This collaboration between husband and wife team Tom de Freston and Kiran Millwood Hargrave is a beautiful, lyrical, uplifting story about a mother, a daughter, and love – with timely themes of the importance of science and the environment.

Pre-order now available from Waterstones, Foyles, Amazon, Wordery.