Charlie
June 2, 2014
Room 218
Mrs.
Shaughnessey
The Shark
Attacks of 1916
By: Lauren
Tarshis
In July of
1916 sharks fatally attacked four people and wounded one off the coast of New
Jersey. Two of the attacks didn't even happen in the ocean, surprisingly, they
happened in at Matawan Creek, 16 miles from the ocean. The story takes
place in Elm Hills, New Jersey. The main
character, Chet Roscow is a ten
year old boy who lives with his Uncle Jerry. Even though Chet has not been
living in the beach town for very long, he has made three friends: Dewey,
Sid and Monty. The friends liked swimming in the nearby creek and pranking each
other.
During this time period, people
thought sharks were gentile creatures; however a local man, Captain Wilson said
he had seen shark attacks while he worked as a whaler. Shark attacks had been
reported, but most people thought they were just hoaxes.
Because Chet
and his friends like to play pranks on each other, no one believed Chet when he
said he saw two beady eyes as dark as coal in the creek. Chet was scratched by
the shark’s teeth as he tried to swim to shore. He ran back to town and
eventually convinced Captain Wilson and his friends to follow him to the creek.
Sid was in the water when they saw the shark. Everybody got out except for Sid.
Chet jumped in and saved Sid, but was bit in the leg and a chunk of flesh came
off. Captian Wilson arrived just in time and with one gunshot saved Chet.
I think Chet
changed in the story because at first he was pranking everybody but in the end
he learned a valuable lesson about joking. I think Chet learned not to
"cry wolf" anymore.
I can relate
to Chet because we are both ten-year-old boys who like swimming and playing
with friends. Like Chet, I would try to save my friend if they were going to be
attacked by a shark.
RATING: **** 1/2
Charlie
Charlie
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