Historical Fiction: The Shark Attacks of 1916

Charlie 

July 2, 2014

Room 218

Mrs. Shaughnessey

The Shark Attacks of 1916

By: Lauren Tarshis

In July of 1916 sharks fatally attacked and killed 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 a 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 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 people thought sharks were gentile creatures, however, local resident Captain Wilson said he had seen shark attacks while he worked as a whaler. 

One day while at the creek, Chet saw eyes black, beady as coal. While swimming to the shore, the shark scratched its teeth on his chest.  Nobody believed Chet when he said there was a shark swimming in the creek. Unfortunately, because of his prank, nobody believed him. He wanted to warn his friends before they went into the water. 

I can relate to Chet because we are both ten-year-old boys who like swimming with our friends. Like Chet, if my friend was about to get eaten by a shark, I would jump in and try to save them.



I give The Shark Attacks of 1916 4.5 stars.

I SURVIVED THE SHARK ATTACKS OF 1916 by Lauren Tarshis

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

SHARKS