THE WISHING SHELF BOOK AWARDS
January 2022
TITLE: The Secrets of the Shallows:
AUTHOR: Gloria Barnett
‘A twisting, turning ‘battle the odds’ adventure story for 9 –13 year olds.’
I can sum the plot up for you in a sentence: the young protagonist (Lucy) and her pals discover that humans are destroying an underwater habitat and do everything they can to protect it. If that all sounds very ‘politically correct’, then, yes, it sort of is. And I for one enjoyed it very much.
Gloria Barnett is a very talented author. From the opening – and very well-written – first chapter, this is a compelling story. The plot is cleverly constructed, the island and underwater settings are splendidly described, the pacing is spot on – and the characters! Wow! They deliver BIG TIME! I particularly liked Lucy; she’s brave, strong-minded, and determined to do the right thing – a good role model for any child. The author knows how to describe the hero’s feelings when battling the odds.
So, who will enjoy this book? To be honest, I think pretty much any child between the age of 9 and 13 will find this a compelling read. It’s predominantly an adventure with plenty happening all of the time.
To sum up, this is a captivating story of mystery solving, overcoming the odds and adventure.
Enjoy!
A Wishing Shelf Review
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