I Survived the Shark Attacks of 1916 (I Survived Series #2)

by Lauren Tarshis, Scott Dawson (Illustrator)

Overview

Based on true events! It's the summer of 1916 and the Jersey shore is being terrorized by a Great White shark. Can 10-year-old Chet and his friends survive a swim in the local creek?

Chet Roscow is finally feeling at home in Elm Hills, New Jersey. He has a job with his uncle Jerry at the local diner, three great friends, and the perfect summertime destination: cool, refreshing Matawan Creek.But Chet's summer is interrupted by shocking news. A great white shark has been attacking swimmers along the Jersey shore, not far from Elm Hills. Everyone in town is talking about it. So when Chet sees something in the creek, he's sure it's his imagination. . . until he comes face-to-face with a bloodthirsty shark!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545206952
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	09/01/2010
Series:	I Survived Series
Pages:	112
Sales rank:	9,816
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.40(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	610L (what's this?)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

Lauren Tarshis's New York Times bestselling I Survived series tells stories of young people and their resilience and strength in the midst of unimaginable disasters and times of turmoil. Lauren has brought her signature warmth and exhaustive research to topics such as the battle of D-Day, the American Revolution, Hurricane Katrina, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and other world events. She lives in Connecticut with her family, and can be found online at laurentarshis.com.

Read an Excerpt

From I Survived the Shark Attacks of 1916

There couldn't be a shark in the creek. That was crazy.

Chet tried to laugh, but T.J. was still standing there with that terrified look on his face. And now Dewey was rushing through the water towards the grass.

"Get out of the water!" he yelled.

Because that black triangle was coming right at them. Chet swam as fast as he could, but T.J. just stood there, frozen.

"T.J.!" Chet shouted. "Hurry!"

But it was too late.

The shark was heading right for T.J.

T.J. screamed.

There was a huge splash.

And then he was gone.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 3–7—An absorbing story based on the shark attacks in New Jersey in 1916. Chet Roscoe, 10, moves in with his uncle while his father looks for work in California. He works in his uncle's diner and meets some local boys with whom he becomes friends. A story hits the papers about a shark attack about 10 miles away and their little town dismisses it as a fake, but a local fisherman begs to differ. The boys play a series of pranks on one another, but when Chet comes face to face with the shark in the river, the friends refuse to believe him, until they see it themselves. Black-and-white illustrations that resemble old photographs enhance the events of the story. Tarshis incorporates information about the real attacks and fictionalizes it, then follows the story with facts about the attacks and sharks. This is a gripping story that will hold the interest of reluctant readers.—Delia Carruthers, Roxbury Public Library, Succasunna, NJ

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