Book Review - 'Shark Girl' by Kate Beaton

'Shark Girl' - a very funny take on 'The Little Mermaid. It is also like a reverse 'Moby Dick'. It is about more than a little Shark Girl, and revenge; it is about ethical fishing, protecting sea life, the environment, and unionising.

It also makes an important point that, despite what a movie from the seventies told us, sharks are not that dangerous, and they don't like to bite humans, let alone eat them. There are far worse predators out at sea. Many of them like to walk and strut around on land finding prey, too.

'Shark Girl' the girl in question could be called Jawsette no wait scratch that that's sexist and inaccurate, where a sly, rascally little blue half human/half shark vows revenge on an evil, narcissistic sea captain who caught her and her fellow fishies in nets. It's revenge via infiltration and mutiny. It's vengeance most cold(blooded).

There is humour, fun, and political satire, as is to be expected from a work of art by Kate Beaton. This art reminds me of Nickelodeon cartoons. There is, crucially, a level of heart to balance out the cynicism, especially towards the end.

The ocean is the Shark Girl's home, and she will do anything to protect it.

When enacting her toothy, grinning, coldblooded shark plan. she learns that not all humans are greedy, unfeeling monsters.

This fairy tale picture book for children is about sharks and humanity, and how they should exist in harmony. By taking down capitalism.

Fun, funny stuff, from the brave and bold Shark Girl and humans, who are courageous enough to stand up for themselves and others.

Apropos of nothing, Shark Girl reminds me of Ruby Gillman, Hilda, Nimona, Marceline the Vampire Queen, Mebh from 'Wolfwalkers', Princess Mononoke, Invader Zim, and Danny Phantom all rolled into one. But she's her own unique, blue, feral and hilarious creation.

'Shark Girl' from 2025 - a new favourite picture book/comic from Kate Beaton. 'The Princess and the Pony' (2015), about a farting pony, is another favourite to stand beside it. These are works of genius.

I feel I should win an award for going a whole review of 'Shark Girl' without mentioning 'The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl'.

Final Score: 4/5