SHARK BENEATH THE REEF

The true protagonist here is not 14-year-old Tomas—a Mexican boy who must decide whether to follow the family trade of fisherman or to stay in school, perhaps becoming a marine biologist—but his Baja California home, to which George brings her contagious enthusiasm as a naturalist. Like George, Tomas is a curious, gifted observer, constantly applying his intelligence to new data he acquires as he goes about his tasks. Though the story is told from Tomas' point of view, the third-person narrative allows George to depict him as a part of his environment. Scores make the attempt, but only such rare authors as Wilder, White, and George successfully incorporate such a quantity of "educational" detail, making it truly intrinsic to their stories; here, George appeals to all the senses in her fascinating portrayal of a region undergoing social and environmental changes that challenge humans as well as other living things alike. About Tomas: tension is maintained not only by his impending decision but by the shark he hopes to capture, not—as he supposes—the placid whale shark, but—as the reader knows from the beginning—a deadly hammerhead. In an exciting finale, the shark is caught, and Tomas—coping with a neat twist of logic that engages both his intelligence and his reverence for the old ways—comes to the right decision. Excellent writing; a fine portrait of a unique region; an involving, well-crafted story.