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The Shark Whisperer

by Ellen Prager

ISBN13: 9781938063442
ISBN10: 1938063449

All Product Details

$9.95

New Trade Paperback

Ships in 1 to 3 days

Qty	Store
4	Remote Warehouse

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments

Tristan Hunt always felt awkward and clumsy, but his summer gets a little brighter when he's invited to a special marine summer camp in the Florida Keys. He soon discovers that all the campers have special talents in the water, and the camp itself is a training ground for his owncommunicating with sharks and sting rays, and swimming much faster than the other campers. But the fun and games come to a halt when the Camp Director receives distress calls from the ocean animals, and even the youngest campers must help. When Tristan Hunt and the other Sea Guardians head to the Bahamas to help the sharks, dolphins, and aquatic birds, will they be able to use their young talents to outwit an evil shark-finning, reef-blasting billionaire?

Review

A Foreword Reviews' 2014 IndieFab Award Finalist for Juvenile Fiction

and#147;Like author Rick Riordan, who mixes adventure with Greek myths, [Prager] writes books that include action and humor, science and sea creatures.and#8221; and#151;The Washington Post, KidsPost section

"...the sea life, along with reefs, bioluminescence and other marine wonders, is generally depicted by Prager, a marine scientist, in accurate, vivid detail. ...thereand#8217;s more than enough action and humor to pull readers along. ...a splashy startup with a promising premise." and#151; Kirkus Reviews

"Ellen Prager takes her readers on an exciting, action-packed adventure into the mysterious world of the deep, with an edge of fantasy that only the most vivid imagination could conjure up. A rollicking ride of fun, that also imparts to her young readers a valuable education about the marine world, and the fascinating creatures that live in and around it." and#151; Sam Champion, host of Sea Rescue, Weather Editor ABC NEWS

"Here's one book that as a father and an ocean lover I can wholeheartedly recommend. Take the adventure, dive in, and happy reading!" and#151; Bob Woodruff, ABC News correspondent

"The Shark Whisperer, Dr. Ellen Pragerand#8217;s first middle grade book, followed by her second, The Shark Rider are part of the Tristan Hunt and Sea Guardians series. The ocean adventure series follows Tristan and his friends as they arrive at summer camp, where they develop unusual, but exciting ocean powers. ... This fun series is written by oceanographer and researcher, Dr. Ellen Prager who is passionate about ocean science, and hopes to educate middle graders about current ocean issues, as well as encourage young readers to get involved in the preservation of ocean life. The series meets the Common Core Standards for English Language Arts and Science. A free downloadable Educatorand#8217;s Guide with language arts and science activities is available."and#151;Current: The Journal of Marine Education, Vol. 29, No. 2, June 2015

"No need to whisper: I very much like, like, like this highly readable, highly unusual way of looking at the ocean.and#8221; and#151; Carl Safina, author of Song for the Blue Ocean and host of PBS Saving the Ocean

"The Shark Whisperer is packed with science laced with humor and adventureand#151;an underwater Harry Potter, sure to inspire readers to want to dive in and experience the ocean for themselves." and#151; Sylvia A. Earle, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence

"A wonderful read that grips you from the very beginning. This empowering story of a group of young people who band together to save the oceans and change the world is a terrific adventure; funny, exciting, and entertaining...don't miss it." and#151; Philippe Cousteau, Explorer and Environmental Advocate

"Those who know Prager well wouldnand#8217;t be astounded to find her delving into the realm of ocean science and youth fiction. Throughout her career, Prager always made it a priority to involve young minds." and#151; Miami Herald

"As the first book of author and researcher Ellen Pragerand#8217;s Tristan Hunt and the Sea Guardians series, The Shark Whisperer appeals to middle school readers with a combination of humor, adventure, and fantasy that is sure to spark curiosity among young minds about real-world ocean issues. ... The Tristan Hunt and the Sea Guardians series and#150; with illustrations by Antonio Javier Caparo and#150; is sure to be of interest to various marine educational programs and young fantasy and adventure fiction readers. Author Dr. Ellen Pragerand#8217;s expertise in marine science and ocean advocacy brings the series to life with vivid and accurate descriptions of marine species and the threats they face, woven among plenty of action and humor." and#151; Mission Blue

Synopsis

After his most klutzy move ever, falling into a pool of sharks, things for Tristan Hunt begin to look up. Tristan is invited to an ocean-themed summer camp in the Florida Keys where he discovers that he and the other young teens there have very special and rare talents when it comes to the ocean. After the camp receives a distress call from ocean animals, Tristan and his new friends get pulled into a daring rescue in the Bahamas. With the help of sharks, dolphins, a quick-escape artist octopus, and some seabird bombers, the campers must use their young talents in an attempt to outwit an evil shark-finning, reef-blasting billionaire.

About the Author

Dr. Ellen Prager is a marine scientist and author, formerly the chief scientist at the worlds only undersea research station in the Florida Keys. With her ability to make science fun and understandable for people of all ages, she has built a national reputation as a spokesperson on earth and ocean science issues. She has appeared on The Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, CBS, NPR, The Discovery Channel, and more. Dr. Prager has participated in research expeditions to locations such as the Galapagos Islands, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and throughout the Caribbean. She now acts as the science advisor to the Celebrity Cruise ship Xpedition in the Galapagos. She lives in Miami, Florida, where she spends her time writing, consulting, and spending as much time on and in the ocean.

Antonio Javier Caparo is an illustrator, comic artist, and graphic designer. His works have been published in children books, young reader books, and magazines in North America, South America, and Europe.

1 Tristan Falls into the Shark Pool / 1

2 Sea Camp and the Jungle Wall / 11

3 The Giant Slimy Snail Café / 27

4 The Campers Put on a Show / 41

5 A Swim Surprise / 51

6 A Polite Conversation with an Octopus / 69

7 Finned Informants Deliver a Message / 89

8 Tristan Tries to Stay on a Sharks Good Side / 103

9 Wave Pool Training Cut Short / 115

10 A Fib and a Field Trip / 125

11 Coach Offers to Do Loops and Rolls / 131

12 An Undersea Laser Light Show / 139

13 Tripped up by a Really Big Bird / 155

14 Conference in a Cave / 163

15 Hermit Crabs go on Recon / 171

16 Precision Targeting Brings the Smelly Rain /183

17 The Seasquirts Go Overboard / 193

18 Tristan Nearly Gets Swallowed by Sand / 205

19 The Flying Iguana / 221

20 A Shocking Discovery Revealed / 239

21 The Return to Sea Camp / 247

22 Snaggle-Tooth Smiles / 257

Note From the Author / 275

What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating 5 (1 comments)

`	Tannia E. Ortiz-Lopes , December 06, 2014 (view all comments by Tannia E. Ortiz-Lopes) The Shark Whisperer is the first book in the Tristan Hunt and the Sea Guardians series by marine scientist and author Dr. Ellen Prager. Although a work of fiction, the story contains elements of the author’s scientific knowledge and job experience as well as descriptions of fascinating places where she has worked or visited. The story begins with Tristan and his family’s visit to the Sarasota Aquarium in Florida.” As he leans over the shark pool's railing trying to get a better look, he falls into the water. At first Tristan is in shock and afraid of becoming the sharks' next meal, but he soon notices the animals are not trying to attack or hurt him, and are instead playing with him. Tristan feels so at ease that he even swims with the sharks before being abruptly pulled out of the pool. After this experience, Tristan becomes obsessed with sharks. Two weeks later Tristan and other gifted teens attend the Summer Sea Camp at the Florida Keys Sea Park, where teenagers learn about sea life, and learn how to handle sea creatures. Additionally, campers sharpen their newly discovered aquatic skills in among other things, camouflage, underwater night vision, ability to swim in tight spaces, echolocation, and communication with sharks, dolphins, birds, and other sea creatures. A few weeks into the camp session, the administrators receive numerous complaints about fishing practices that threaten the local shark population. A group of older and experienced teens are sent to investigate but they are captured by the perpetrators. Tristan, his friends, the camp administrators, and the sea creatures join forces in a daring life-threatening rescue operation that will change their lives forever. An important scene from the rescue mission is depicted on the book’s cover. The author will take Tristan, his friends, and the reader into an exhilarating, dramatic, and captivating underwater adventure as engaging as a Jules Verne classic but with a sprinkling of the Dr. Dolittle, Harry Potter, X-Men, and Percy Jackson stories. The Shark Whisperer is more than just a great story. It teaches teens about teamwork, discipline, leadership, self esteem, motivation, and the consequences of one's actions, not to mention the importance of protecting our environment. For that reason, I highly recommend this book, not just to its target audience of teens, but also to young adults, families, and youth educators.
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