Shark Summer - Ira Marcks
One summer, Hollywood comes to Martha's Vineyard to film "Jaws" (never actually named in the book, but all the details are accurate otherwise). Gayle, once a softball star pitcher but disgraced since she broke her arm, meets up with a shy aspiring cinematographer names Elijah (son of a visiting cultural reporter). Together with Maddie, an outcast who lives in the lighthouse, they look into a spooky historical legend that the island seems determined to forget. This was a really well-crafted book, with surprising twists and fully fleshed-out characters. Gayle's mother who's following her dream to open a shop but has to settle for cleaning a hotel, the hinted-at romance between Gayle and her estranged best friend, and even the Hollywood workers are distinct, vibrant characters. Marcks is a talented artist when it comes to detail and background, so I found the loose, cartoony faces a bit jarring. Other than that, I loved it. [4.5]
