Sam Wu Is Not Afraid of Sharks (Volume 2) - Hardcover

Tsang, Katie; Tsang, Kevin

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1454932562 ISBN 13: 9781454932567

Publisher: Union Square Kids, 2019

Synopsis

After the ghosts . . . come the sharks!
 
Sam Wu is not afraid of sharks. Except . . . he is. Can Sam conquer his fear before he misses out on his friends’ beach party fun?
 
On a class trip to the aquarium, certified ghost hunter Sam Wu encounters something even scarier than ghosts: Crazy Charlie, a giant shark, who TOTALLY tries to eat him. Sam has no intentions of taking any more chances with these people-eating creatures. But then his classmates Regina and Ralph announce they’re having a birthday bash . . . on the BEACH! Can Sam overcome his terror of becoming shark bait? This second book in the Sam Wu series is a funny, touching, and charming story of finding your courage when the moment comes—because bravery is something you have to prove again and again.

About this title

About the Author:

Katie and Kevin Tsang are Americans who met while studying at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Some of Sam Wu's experiences are based on Kevin's childhood. He works as a healthcare technology consultant. Katie writes YA as Katherine Webber. They currently live in London and the books in the Sam Wu series are their first together.

Review:

“Sam and his best friends Bernard and Zoe vow to face down even the fiercest of sharks on their school field trip to the aquarium so bullies like Ralph will not have any excuse to tease them. But how could Sam have known that an extremely scary shark named ‘Crazy Charlie’ would try to attack him through the glass tank? Once again, Sam and his friends must prove themselves or lose face. The latest challenge is to attend Ralph and Regina’s birthday party at the beach despite obstacles like Sam’s newly intensified fear of sharks, and the fact that Bernard cannot swim. Of course, in the end, Sam proves that he can be a hero by facing his fears. Following the enjoyable Sam Wu Is Not Afraid of Ghosts, the funny plots and schemes also offer a realistic depiction of growing up as a Chinese American kid. VERDICT An engaging and authentic underdog tale that fans of Mark Parisi’s “Marty Pants” and Lenore Look’s “Alvin Ho” series will enjoy.” —School Library Journal

“In this sequel to Sam Wu Is NOT Afraid of Ghosts (2018), Sam has to prove he's brave when it comes to sharks as well. Sam's problems start at a school visit to the aquarium, but the big stumbling block comes when Sam and his friends Bernard and Zoe are invited to the beach birthday party of class bully Ralph and his twin sister. Will there be sharks there? A preemptive beach visit is inconclusive about sharks, but does reveal that Bernard doesn't know how to swim, another problem that must be solved. Despite much angst, Sam has the opportunity to prove himself a hero at the beach party, a fact that's not lost on Ralph. Sam's Asian heritage dots the story, but mostly this focuses on a heightened version of middle-grade problems. The book's formatting, with bold words, black-and-white pages, and plenty of art and graphic design elements, will attract readers, particularly, perhaps, reluctant ones.” —Booklist

“Sam Wu is still totally NOT scared. Even though he's already demonstrated his bravery by conquering a ghost (Sam Wu Is Not Afraid of Ghosts, 2018), Sam somehow once again finds himself trying to shake the nickname ‘Scaredy-Cat Sam.’ After an embarrassing incident during a school trip to the aquarium, he and his friends face a beach birthday party and the twin specters of swimming (turns out his brainy friend Bernard can't swim) and sharks (obviously). He notes, in his characteristically wry way, that ‘apparently, bravery is something you have to prove over and over again.’ This second installment . . . should find its readers, who may find comfort and confidence in following Sam's incremental growth. Additional time spent with Na-Na, Sam 's sharp and sassy grandmother, reveals more about Sam's family's Hong Kong origins and highlights a loving, realistic, intergenerational relationship. Foodies will enjoy the additional references to Chinese fare—one memorable scene finds Sam, white-skinned Bernard, and darker-skinned Zoe happily chewing on grilled squid. . . . readers will otherwise appreciate the illustrations' big-eyed humor as well as the dynamic type styling, graphics, and page design. A sequel . . . finds its way.” —Kirkus

About this edition

• Publisher: Union Square Kids
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 1454932562
• ISBN 13: 9781454932567
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 240
• Illustrator: Reed Nathan