Starred Review for Publishers Weekly

Written in a series of poems, letters and journal entries, Bingham's debut novel strikes a delicate balance between shock story and emotive rant, and delivers a provocative portrait of one girl's journey following a near-fatal accident. Before the attack, 15-year-old Jane's life was filled with the trappings of any normal teenage girl: trips to the mall with her girlfriends, art projects, crushes on boys at school. But when she loses her arm to a shark over the summer, Jane's life (and perspective) changes forever. She can't draw like she used to, open cans or crack eggs for dinner, or button her own pants. Everyone at school whispers about her (the pity stare is debilitating), and she has reached the breaking point when it comes to condolence letters from strangers and interview requests from reporters. Jane must find a way to move beyond her wounds—both physical and psychological. Powerful without being maudlin or preachy, the book explores hurdles that are bound to follow a physical disfigurement, and readers will come to empathize with and respect Jane for her strength and brutal honesty. They'll also appreciate the slight (but realistic) lift at the story's conclusion. Ages 12-up. <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">(May)

ALA Booklist (Tue May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2007)

Jane Arrowood wonders if she will forever be known as the "Shark Girl," who survived a shark attack on a golden California June day. A popular 15-year-old with true artistic talent and a strong circle of friends, Jane suddenly feels extraordinarily different with a prosthesis where her arm should be, and, worse, pain and itching where it used to be. Why shouldn't she feel sorry for herself? Sometimes she almost wishes that she hadn't survived. Why shouldn't she feel different? In carefully constructed, sparsely crafted free verse, Bingham's debut novel offers a strong view of a teenager struggling to survive and learn to live again. Her metaphors are authentic, visual, and lovely, and she uses spacing between words to telegraph the pauses in awkward conversations when family and friends try but fail to address the real conversation r missing arm. It's a familiar story line written in a fresh voice, one that will be justifiably popular.

Horn Book (Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2009)

Set in a poignantly evoked 1980s Australian mining town, Foxlee's graceful first novel recounts a family tragedy. Eleven-year-old Jennifer's narrative begins after the death of her older sister Beth. The story flashes between the present and the preceding year, encompassing Beth's increasingly disaffected adolescence. Foxlee creates a moving, believable portrait of a teenage girl falling into destructive behavior.

Kirkus Reviews

This debut novel, written primarily in poetry form reminiscent of Sonya Sones's Stop Pretending (1999), follows a 15-year-old girl after she loses her right arm to a shark. Jane was a promising artist, and contends with the loss of her drawing ability along with the emotional shock and fear of returning to school. As she struggles to cope with her new disability, along with her depression and anger, she also clashes with family, friends and the irritating kindness of strangers who write to her. The poetry format often appeals to young readers and works to reflect Jane's anger and despair, as well as her climb back to a normal, even joyful life. Jane's roiling emotions come across more strongly and clearly within the spare but free-flowing poetry than might have been possible with a straight prose treatment. A promising start for Bingham. (Fiction. YA)

School Library Journal (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Gr 6-10-Jane, 15, is smart, good-looking, and the best artist in her school. After a shark attack at a local beach results in the amputation of her right arm, nothing is the same. Bingham's free-verse novel neatly accommodates the teen's loss; her dreams, anger, and frustration are explored as she rebelliously tries to adjust to her new circumstances. The main narrative is interspersed with news clippings, internal dialogue, and letters of support from other amputees, and even though Jane resists being part of that community, there are connections. Her voice is authentic and believable as both a teenager and victim. This engaging read will entice enthusiastic and reluctant readers; the drama of the shark attack will hook them, and Jane's inner journey will hold them till the end.-Janet S. Thompson, Chicago Public Library Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

Voice of Youth Advocates

A freak shark attack at the beach results in the amputation of fifteen-year-old Jane Arrowood's right arm. From that moment on, her whole world changes. Dealing with the physical and phantom pain, as well as the psychological suffering, affects the whole family, including her mother and older brother. Through a series of poems, newspaper articles, journal entries, and letters, the reader sees how Jane reacts to her journey toward recovery. Coping with being stared at, relearning to do everyday tasks such as cooking and cleaning, receiving letters and unwanted attention from strangers from all over the country, trying to be natural with her close friends and classmates-all are dealt with straightforwardly and honestly, even down to the depression and anger. Helping her are her physical therapists, an understanding psychologist, her deceptively hard-on-her brother, and a young boy who has lost a leg but not his joy of living. A talented artist before the amputation, Jane struggles to accept her disability and to learn to use her other hand to create art, take out the trash, and crack eggs. In her wonderful first novel, Bingham leads the reader through a realistic progression from shark attack to healing, done so naturally that readers feel Jane's every sentiment. How can one not respect her struggle and the progress she makes?-Jane Van Wiemokley.