Grade 6-9-This fast-paced novel centers around the eruption of a volcano on an island off of Papua New Guinea. Alternating chapters describe the experiences of Andy Thompson and his seafaring family when their 45-foot boat is capsized by a 100-foot high tsunami, and of Kaleku, a native boy who sets out alone on his first shark hunt the morning of the disaster. (The calling and hunting of sharks is an important coming-of-age rite in his village; his people are never identified). The boys are not far apart when the tidal wave hits, but never know of the other's existence. In a climactic ending, Kaleku unknowingly calls a school of sharks away from Andy, saving the boy he never met while causing his own death. Campbell does a fine job of building suspense, skillfully describing violent and intense moments, and neatly integrates background information about geology and sailing into the story. Despite the vivid immediacy of the action scenes, however, the people remain fairly dull. Andy is a generic character without much personality, and his family is even less memorable. Similarly, readers never learn anything about Kaleku that is not strictly related to his shark-calling initiation. The engaging plot and fascinating background details overcome the book's flaws, however, making it a good choice for fans of adventure and survival stories.
