Kelly Bingham’s debut novel, Shark Girl (2007), written in poetic verse, tells the story of fifteen-year-old Jane Arrowood who is attacked by a shark while swimming at a California beach. After the attack, Jane learns that the damage to her right arm is so severe that it cannot be salvaged, and she will need to have it amputated. The story is loosely based on the life of professional surfer Bethany Hamilton who had her left arm bitten off by a shark in 2003. After a traumatic shark attack, Jane wakes from a coma to discover that her right arm has been amputated. She now must relearn everything she once knew, as she continues to question how this could have happened to her. The video footage of her shark attack is broadcast widely on the news, meaning that Jane gets lots of attention, which she hates. She wishes that everyone would just leave her alone. Letters start flooding in, addressed to Jane from various amputees who relate to her story. However, Jane is not interested in connecting with other people who have been through similar experiences. Mostly, she just wishes she had died. When Jane’s family and friends visit her in the hospital, they tell her she is doing great. Although she knows they are only trying their best to be encouraging, she wishes they would be honest with her, as she feels completely useless. Before the accident, Jane loved to draw, and she is tormented by the idea that this may no longer be possible for her. She slowly starts practicing with her left hand. While in the hospital, Jane makes friends with others who are in similar situations to her, and she opens up to the therapist who tells her that it is all right to be sad. When it comes time for her to go home, she is concerned that she will not fit in in her regular life anymore. Returning home is a rude awakening for Jane, as she comes to realize all of the things that she can no longer do by herself. Every time she leaves the house, she notices people staring at her, making her hesitant to go outside. She keeps working on her drawings with her left hand but finds that she is limited, unable to capture the life in the animals’ eyes as she once was. Soon after, she is fitted for a prosthetic arm and starts to learn how to use it to increase her capabilities and regain some of her independence. Jane is especially nervous to return to school, and when she does, she hates how the other students stare at her. She feels like a total freak. Her grandmother approaches her, telling her that she is concerned that Jane no longer does the things she used to love, like cooking and drawing. This motivates Jane to attempt to do more things on her own, including some chores around the house, as she realizes that she cannot rely on her mother to do everything for her. After her stay in the hospital, Jane became interested in pursuing a career in the medical field, wanting to help others the way she has been helped. She makes an appointment with the school guidance counselor to discuss her options for medical school, finding that for the first time since the attack, she feels hopeful and excited about the future. One night, Jane’s mom is stuck in traffic, and Jane is forced to prepare her own dinner. Although it is a struggle, Jane is proud of herself for completing the task, realizing that the more she practices, the easier things get. She starts to come to terms with her prosthesis, even allowing her mom to photograph her and her friends at her birthday party. She decides to start volunteering at the local hospital and keeps practicing her drawing, feeling that until she is able to regain her skill in this area, she will not feel truly normal. One day, she sees that she has drawn eyes that look lifelike, and she literally jumps for joy. It is a small success, but an indication for Jane that she can take back control of her life. After spending many months mourning the loss of her arm and being angry with herself about the attack, Jane decides to forgive herself; the attack was not her fault, and she is done punishing herself. Looking through old photo albums of her dad before he died from cancer, Jane realizes the trick to life is celebrating the freedom of not knowing what will happen next. She says goodbye to her arm and starts to look forward to her future, beginning a new photo album of her new life with only one arm.

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Kelly Bingham

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