Shark Week starts this Sunday, July 31st. We've got plenty of great books on sharks, surviving a shark attack, surfing, mermaids and shipwrecks and movies too, at the library -- come check them out!

Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board by Bethany Hamilton
Could you return to the water after losing an arm in a shark attack? Bethany did. Bethany Hamilton, a teenage surfer lost her arm in a shark attack off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii. Not even the loss of her arm keeps her from returning to surfing, the sport she loves. There is a movie too, starring Annasophia Robb, Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt, and country-star singing sensation, Carrie Underwood.

The Mermaid's Mirror by L.K. Madigan
There's something drawing Lena to the water. It's making Lena sleepwalk to the beach. It's compelling her to surf even if it means putting herself in grave danger and going against her father's wishes. A woman emerges from the waves--a woman with a silvery tail. She has a message. When Lena finds a brown leather sea chest and uses the key to unlock it, she has no choice but to look into the watery depths of her secret past through the mysterious mermaid's mirror . . . Lena's life will never be the same.

Boyfriends, Burritos & an Ocean of Trouble by Nancy Rue
As she struggles to recover from the fallout of boyfriend Preston's abuse, fifteen-year-old Bryn receives help from her surfer grandmother and an unusual book. Nancy Rue tackles the tough real-life issues teen girls face.

Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing
In 1914, an expedition headed by Sir Ernest Shackleton set out to be the first to cross the continent of Antarctica. Shipwrecked and marooned for months on end, their ill-fated voyage became a triumphant story of indomitable courage and faith in the face of astounding obstacles. A bestseller since it was first published in 1959, Alfred Lansing's Endurance now features a foreword and afterword from Dr. James Dobson--inspiring every reader to persevere no matter how impossible the challenge.

Fool's Gold: Color Me Consumed by Melody Carlson
Hannah Johnson is pretty happy as a missionary kid in Papua New Guinea. But when she visits her cousin Vanessa for a summer in America, everything changes. Vanessa and her friends try to catch Hannah up on all the latest fashions, but in the end, Hannah feels hopeless. She doesn't think she'll ever be able to keep up with the rich girls--but that doesn't stop her from trying. In the process, Hannah is forced to come to grips with what she values most: beauty on the inside or beauty on the outside.

Wave Warrior by Lesley Choyce

Ben is determined to learn to surf. In the rough North Atlantic waters near his home, only the tough can make it on the water. His first attempt is a disaster. Then he meets Ray, a surfing veteran from California. Ray promises to teach him to surf--and to face his inner demons. As Ben becomes more comfortable on his board he learns to face his fears and prove that he has what it takes to become a Wave Warrior.
 

Movies: (You will need an adult library card to check out the movies, if you are under 18.)