Shark Feed
A Boater is Born: An Unexpected Turn with the Long Island City Community Boathouse
On a warm June evening in 2018, I showed up for my first canoe trip as a member of the North Brooklyn Community Boathouse (NBCB). I greeted the other members and the trip leader, selected my paddle and life jacket, listened to the instruction details for the outing,...
Celebrating Mark Z. Danielewski: A New Novel and 25 Years of ‘House of Leaves’
Readers, writers, and shark fans, rejoice! In a remarkable dual celebration of literary innovation, cult author Mark Z. Danielewski marks the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking novel, House of Leaves, while simultaneously announcing the forthcoming release of his...
Announcing: Lit Shark Magazine’s December-January AND February Poem of the Month!
Happy Wednesday, readers, writers, and shark fans! We hope that you've had a chance to explore our issues from last year and have been able to enjoy some of the weather. As important as winter is, I cannot hide the fact that I am pleased that it's starting to get the...
Latest Book Reviews
Learn How the Mind Works to Slow Down Time, Enjoy Life, and Make the Most Out of the Hours in Your Day with Jean Paul Zogby
Slow Down Time: The Power of Time Perception by Jean Paul Zogby looks at how we see and process time. As Einstein said “When you sit with a nice girl for two hours you think it’s only a minute, but when you sit on a hot stove for a minute you think it’s two hours....
What Makes a Villain? A Review of ‘Verity’ by Colleen Hoover
This review contains spoilers of Verity by Colleen Hoover. Content Warning: Abuse, Death, Mental Health, Violence, and Sexual Assault Exploring Character Intent and Actions Many books craft a story with a clear villain and a hero, providing the reader with a...
Make a Joyful Life in 30 Days with ‘The Joy Plan’ by Kaia Roman
The Joy Plan by Kaia Roman outlines a 30-day experiment where the author concentrates solely on joy, quitting complaining, and stopping worrying! She puts the results of the experiment into this book. It’s easy to read, fun, joyful—and super inspiring. The book starts...
Balancing Rejection, Acceptance, Grief, and Groceries: A Review of Michelle Zauner’s ‘Crying in H Mart’
Content Warning: Death, Depression, Abortion, Cancer. Death comes in many forms, whether it's the loss of a pet, a family member, a friend, or an acquaintance. For many, this loss propels those affected into periods of self-reflection as they do their best to...
Make a Joyful Life in 30 Days with ‘The Joy Plan’ by Kaia Roman
The Joy Plan by Kaia Roman outlines a 30-day experiment where the author concentrates solely on joy, quitting complaining, and stopping worrying! She puts the results of the experiment into this book. It’s easy to read, fun, joyful—and super inspiring. The book starts...
Congratulations to Han Kang for Winning the Nobel Prize in Literature!
Happy Friday, readers, writers, and shark fans! We're very excited to share that the results are in for the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature, and the winner is none other than the incredible Human Acts author, Han Kang. The Nobel Prize in Literature for 2024 is awarded...
A group of sharks is called a shiver.
Latest Lit Shark Issue
Our Creative Highlights
Creative Highlight: “Listing”
Happy Wednesday, readers, writers, and shark fans! In response to our "We're Making a List" writing prompt, Julie A. Dickson wrote this wonderful poem, "Listing," which also went on to appear in Issue 1 of Lit Shark Magazine. Here is Julie's poem, recreated as a...
Lit Pup Submissions Open!
“Follow your artistic obsessions mercilessly.” – Franz Kafka
Latest Author Interviews
Dickinson & One-Thousand Rages: An Interview with ‘Armed to the Teeth’ Poet, Ellen Hirning Schmidt
Happy Thursday, readers, writers, and shark fans! We love celebrating our Lit Shark community here, so we are excited today to share Ellen Hirning Schmidt's latest poetry collection, Armed to the Teeth. Ellen graced us with her presence in Issue 2 of Lit Shark...
This Charming Equestrian Thriller Has Surprises at Every Turn, Even for the Author
How many lives can one woman save in one romantic equestrian thriller? Well, Betty Briggs pushes the envelope in her novel, Pressure Point, in which Stephanie receives a letter from her ultimate nemesis, who mocks her with the kidnapping of her future adoptive...
Anne Hathaway Fulfills the Boy Band Fantasy of Our Dreams in ‘The Idea of You’
Happy World Book Day, readers, writers, and shark fans! To celebrate, we're sharing a fun book that will be available to watch early this May. Our Editor-in-Chief was invited to attend an early viewing event of the film adaptation of Robinne Lee's 2017 romantic...
The Game of 2,000 Words & Other Tips from R.L. Stine
Happy Tuesday, readers, writers, and shark fans! We love Motivation Mondays and Tuesday Tips around here, so today, we thought we'd share an interesting series of tips from Goosebumps YA horror author R.L. Stine. We recently sat in on an interview between some of the...
The Feed
A Boater is Born: An Unexpected Turn with the Long Island City Community Boathouse
On a warm June evening in 2018, I showed up for my first canoe trip as a member of the North Brooklyn Community Boathouse (NBCB). I greeted the other members and the trip leader, selected my paddle and life jacket, listened to the instruction details for the outing,...
Celebrating Mark Z. Danielewski: A New Novel and 25 Years of ‘House of Leaves’
Readers, writers, and shark fans, rejoice! In a remarkable dual celebration of literary innovation, cult author Mark Z. Danielewski marks the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking novel, House of Leaves, while simultaneously announcing the forthcoming release of his...
What in the World?! The Zones of the Ocean
The Sunlit Zone When most people think of the ocean, they think of the sunny upper layer called the “Sunlit Zone” or more scientifically, the “Epipelagic” layer or zone. It ranges from the surface to 656 feet (200m) deep. Here, creatures such as hammerhead sharks,...
What in the World?! The Truth About Microplastics
Microplastics! What are They, and Why are They Harmful? Microplastics, or polymer chains composed of carbon and hydrogen atoms, are much smaller pieces of plastic that have disintegrated from larger plastic over time and environmental impact. Although it takes...
Announcing: Lit Shark Magazine’s December-January AND February Poem of the Month!
Happy Wednesday, readers, writers, and shark fans! We hope that you've had a chance to explore our issues from last year and have been able to enjoy some of the weather. As important as winter is, I cannot hide the fact that I am pleased that it's starting to get the...
10 Top Titles
Crow Planet by Lyanda Lynn Haupt
Crow Planet: Essential Wisdom from the Urban Wilderness by Lyanda Lynn Haupt Back Bay Books: April 21, 2011, 257 pages ISBN-13: 978-0316019118 "There are more crows now than ever. Their abundance is both an indicator of ecological imbalance and a generous opportunity...
The Titanic Sisters by Patricia Falvey
The Titanic Sisters: A Riveting Story of Strength and Family by Patricia Falvey Kensington Books: January 26, 2011, 320 pages ISBN-13: 978-1496732569 “The enchanting saga of two Irish sisters…This new chapter of Titanic lore is worth plunging into.” —Publishers Weekly...
Ban This Book by Alan Gratz
Ban This Book by Alan Gratz Starscape Books: May 1, 2018, 256 pages ISBN-13: 978-0765385581 "You’re Never Too Young to Fight Censorship! "In Ban This Book by Alan Gratz, a fourth grader fights back when From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L....
Attack of the Black Rectangles by Amy Sarig King
Attack of the Black Rectangles by Amy Sarig King Scholastic Press: September 6, 2022, 272 pages ISBN-13: 978-1338680522 "Award-winning author Amy Sarig King takes on censorship and intolerance in a novel she was born to write. "When Mac first opens his classroom copy...
Rooted by Lyanda Lynn Haupt
Rooted by Lyanda Lynn Haupt Little, Brown Spark: April 4, 2023, 240 pages ISBN-13: 978-0316426497 "Deepen your connection to the natural world with this inspiring meditation, "a path to the place where science and spirit meet" - Robin Wall Kimmerer "In...
The Girl Who Came Home by Hazel Gaynor
The Girl Who Came Home: A Novel of the Titanic by Hazel Gaynor William Morrow Paperbacks: April 1, 2014, 362 pages ISBN-13: 978-0062316868 "Inspired by true events, the New York Times bestselling novel The Girl Who Came Home is the poignant story of a group of Irish...
The Second Mrs. Astor by Shana Abe
The Second Mrs. Astor: A Heartbreaking Historical Novel of the Titanic by Shana Abe Kensington Books: August 31, 2021, 336 pages ISBN-13: 978-1496732040 "Abé is an exquisite storyteller. Rich in detail and deeply moving." –Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling...
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt Ecco Books: July 30, 2024, 368 pages ISBN-13: 978-0063204164 “Remarkably Bright Creatures is a beautiful examination of how loneliness can be transformed, cracked open, with the slightest touch from another living thing.”...
Alice Austin Lived Here by Alex Gino
Alice Austin Lived Here by Alex Gino Scholastic Press: June 7, 2022, 176 pages ISBN-13: 978-1338733891 "From the award-winning author of Melissa, a phenomenal novel about queerness past, present, and future. "Sam is very in touch with their own queer identity. They're...
The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz Celadon Books: May 3, 2022, 336 pages ISBN-13: 978-1250790750 "INSANELY READABLE." - Stephen King "Jacob Finch Bonner was once a promising young novelist with a respectably published first book. Today, he’s teaching in a third-rate MFA...