So You Want To Be A Shark Researcher (So You Want To Be A...)
About
Most people move away from the shark. You are the one with the underwater camera, the data tag, and the research question — moving toward it.
Not because you are fearless. Because you understand something the frightened person on the beach does not: that the animal cutting through the water ahead of you has been perfecting its existence for four hundred and fifty million years, and that almost everything the world believes about it is wrong. Correcting that is not just science. It is one of the most important jobs in the ocean.
So You Want To Be A Shark Researcher takes young readers ages 10–14 inside one of the most thrilling and most misunderstood fields in marine science — not the documentary version, but the real one. The years of study that come before the first research dive. The specific discipline of observing an apex predator in its own environment — patient, precise, and on the animal’s terms entirely. The team of marine biologists, data analysts, conservationists, and boat crews working in careful coordination to study creatures that do not slow down, do not cooperate, and do not care about your hypothesis. The expedition that yields exactly what you needed — and the one that changes everything you thought you knew.
This is a book about what shark researchers actually do: the tagging and tracking technology they deploy to follow animals across entire ocean basins, the behavioral studies they conduct to understand how sharks hunt, navigate, and communicate, the population data they gather to measure the health of species that are disappearing faster than we can study them, and the passionate scientific advocacy they bring to animals that need defenders as urgently as they need researchers. It’s also a book about what the work costs, what it reveals, and why the people who do it say that the first time a great white passes close enough to study — close enough to see the eye tracking you back — nothing is ever quite the same again.
Inside, young readers will discover:
- What a real shark researcher’s work looks like — from tagging expeditions to laboratory data analysis to conservation advocacy
- The biology and behavior of sharks — and why understanding apex predators is essential to understanding the entire ocean ecosystem
- The physical demands and scientific rigor the field requires — and how researchers learn to work safely and effectively in open water
- The urgent conservation crisis facing shark populations worldwide — and the scientists working to reverse it
- What young people can do right now to discover if this might be their calling
Honest, specific, and genuinely illuminating, So You Want To Be A Shark Researcher doesn’t talk down to young readers — it brings them all the way in. Because the child who wants to know what this work is really like deserves a real answer.
For readers who feel the pull toward something ancient and powerful and not yet fully understood. For the kid who watches the fin cut the surface and feels not fear but the specific hunger to know more — and feels something shift.
The ocean’s oldest predator has survived five mass extinctions. Now it needs something it has never needed before: someone to speak for it. Maybe that someone is you.
Ages 10–14 · Nonfiction · Careers & Professions · Illustrated
Praise for this book
"So You Want To Be a Shark Researcher is the rare kids' nonfiction book that refuses to talk down to its reader. It's equal parts invitation and wake-up call: sharks are magnificent, misunderstood, and disappearing, and curiosity can be a real kind of help.
This book works less like a plot and more like a guided plunge into a real life and real work. Soules starts with the dream (blue water, ancient predators, big questions) then steadily replaces movie-myth fear with field reality: tagging operations, long hours of data entry, patient observation, and the sobering math of conservation (humans kill about 100 million sharks a year; sharks kill fewer than ten people annually). My favorite moments are the ones that feel overheard from the deck of a research boat, especially the description of being near a large shark and feeling not terror, but reverence: 'time itself' moving through the water.
Soules keeps the spotlight on the people doing the work, from on-deck crews and divers to data folks and fishers, alongside names like Eugenie Clark and Samuel Gruber. The voice stays steady and conversational, and it's especially good when it explains how to study sharks without harming them. A few sections slide into checklist mode, but they pass quickly.
By the end, the book left me feeling steadier about sharks, and more demanding of the stories we tell about them. For readers roughly ages 8-12 (and the adults reading along), it's a smart, stirring place to begin."
"So You Want To Be a Shark Researcher? Then join Linda Soules on this dive into the world of one of the oldest apex predators of the ocean. Sharks are one of the most popular yet misunderstood creatures. With over 500 species, some being endangered, they make for an interesting subject of study. Shark researchers are scientists who study the biological and social characteristics of sharks and their impact on the ocean. Shark researchers work beneath and on the surface of the ocean, using several specialized pieces of equipment and impressive techniques to observe, identify, and track sharks across the waters. Shark researchers identify sharks by their fins, which are as unique as human fingerprints.
So You Want to Be a Shark Researcher by Linda Soules is a realistic and engaging book that offers a glimpse into the world of sharks and the scientists who study them. It demystified sharks, explored researchers’ workspace and tools, and portrayed a day in the life of a shark researcher, including the challenges and frustrations of the profession. It also acknowledged famous shark researchers and their contributions to the profession. This book includes beautiful AI-generated illustrations by the author. The illustrations were realistic, captivating, and added to the book’s appeal. Beyond exploring the science of shark research, So You Want to Be a Shark Researcher attempts to deconstruct common fears about sharks and highlights the role of scientists in shaping public awareness and influencing policy. I enjoyed this book and recommend it to children (and anyone) curious about sharks and shark research."
"I loved the use of headings to break down each part of the job. It had so many wonderful perspectives that I didn't think about when I first started reading. The illustrations are vivid and really pull the reader in. This is a great book to give someone who is thinking about their career."
"My daughter has always loved sharks ever since she was 2 years old. I got this book for her and we read it together over and over. I loved learning more about sharks and the work that conservationists do to help save them."
"This book is very informative and highlights the good with the bad of this line of work. It gives basic insight to things about researching sharks that most kids would not realize. This book would be great for any age person to read."
"The breakdown of what the job actually involves — fieldwork, tagging, data entry, public communication — is honest and specific. The fear management section surprised me. Not a lot of kids' books go there."
"This book was an amazing look into what a shark researcher is and what they do... This is a great addition to the series, and I am looking forward to reading more with my nephew."
"This book was fantastic! A brief but thorough view into the life of a shark researcher, an uncommon profession. After reading this, I not only have a better understanding myself, but hope more of our youth go into this profession."
"Great starter guide to get kids interested in shark-research to take the leap into an interesting and rewarding career. Most people trod through life with a job that is as mundane as the day is long - but to be able to study the great sharks of the ocean? Now that's a richly-rewarding profession and this book is a great starting point for information."
"This children's book is great for the child that is always wanting to be at the ocean, constantly searching for shark teeth and never misses Shark Week. It breaks things down in a way that actually makes sense—what the job is really like, what goes into it, and what people don’t usually think about. It has beautiful images that go perfectly with the topic at hand. Short, informative, and straight to the point. Super beginner-friendly, especially if you’re just curious about sharks or thinking about getting into marine biology."
"This was very educational. I really loved the illustrations that went alongside the writing. It was well written and it appears to do well at writing for its target audience...I am eager to read more from the series."
"Sharks aren't these vicious creatures that hunt humans like we have seen in films such as Deep Blue Sea, Jaws, or The Meg. Sharks have a purpose in the ocean cycle and help maintain the oceans' health intact."
"I never knew this job existed. What a great way to learn about sharks and how to help them!"
"This is a must buy if you’re an ocean/shark lover."
"As a mom of a kid who's been fascinated with sharks from a very young age, this is great book that offers some insight into what being a shark researcher means. The images are amazing and it's just the right length to keep kids engaged. Some of the fun facts are mind blowing along with the sad fact that these amazing creatures are vanishing faster than so many others."
"So You Want To Be A Shark Researcher is a fantastic pick for kids who love the ocean, hunt for shark teeth, and are fascinated by sharks. The book explains shark research in a clear, engaging way that’s easy for young readers to understand, covering what the career is really like, what researchers do, and even details people may not normally consider. The stunning images pair perfectly with the information, making it both educational and visually appealing. It’s concise, informative, and very beginner-friendly—ideal for children who are curious about sharks or interested in learning more about marine biology."
"This book is a must for any young child that might be interested in sharks, but does not know what to read or do. Great illustrations, pictures, context, and explanations. A very good book for the interested young person."
"These books are so entertaining not just for kids but the adults reading with their kids. The facts and interesting tidbits we may not know about these jobs makes understanding these professions a lot better."
"As a father to 3 very curious kiddos, this book was amazing. My oldest keeps asking what should I be when I grow up. This book has opened her eyes to professions she never would have considered! My son (youngest) absolutely loved all the pictures and facts about sharks!"
"This book was really interesting and made shark research seem exciting but also important. I liked learning about how researchers track sharks and help protect them, and the artwork was really cool too. It also changed the way I think about sharks and showed they are more misunderstood than dangerous."
"My kids loved this. Sharks have always been a fascination for them and this book helped answer questions they had while keeping learning fun!"
"I never knew that there are over 500 shark species and that sharks have been on Earth for 450 million years! Overall this book will tell you everything that you need to know to become a shark researcher while also informing you about shark species."
"To learn about a day in the life of a shark researcher was very interesting to say the least. 12 hour shifts in and out of the water where they tag sharks, and log data entry into a database, and then review underwater video. The fact that the database can track each shark across years and decades is so cool."
"I been looking for new books for my daughter to read. She likes books that are visual and teach her something new. This one delivered more than I expected. The book does a great job showing that sharks are not monsters. They are misunderstood creatures that reserve our respect and attention.
What stood out most was the Tools of the Trade section which breaks down how researchers actually do their work. From acoustic tags and fin photo ID databases where each shark's dorsal fin is as unique as a fingerprint. My daughter loved examples of how people in this field actually works.
The famous shark researchers section was a nice touch too. It talked about Eugenie Clark who dove with sharks until age of 92. It gives kids a real role model to look up to. Well-written, beautifully illustrated, and informative. Highly recommend for your curious kids."
"Much more than I expected! I read this book with my son who loves sharks. Most are filled with 'fun facts,' and while this book did offer a few towards the end, the bulk of the book was educational and highly informative. I liked how it really broke down the roles and responsibilities of a shark researcher, not just on the job, but also the impact it has on communities and conservationist efforts. We also liked the inclusion of notable shark researchers. This is a great way to give kids aspiring toward this professional some heroes to look up to. We will definitely be reading more of the 'So You Want To Be A' series, which there are plenty! And! The illustrations were amazing throughout!"
"I have always been interested in sharks, and this book was perfect for understanding them better, and what the process is to become a shark researcher. From learning about their habits and the way they behave, to learning about how us humans treat them, I discovered so much I did not know about our ocean friends. I recommend this book to anybody looking for a future in shark research, or anybody interested in these fascinating creatures!"
"I got this book for my daughter who loves sharks. She's been fascinated by them for years and wants to be a marine biologist when she grows up. She was so excited to see this book and she wanted to read it right away. I read thru it with her but she wanted to re-read it so she took it to her room to 'study.'"
"Wow! Really impressed with this book! I never knew the detail of a shark researcher. The effort, time, dedication, and hard work is truly inspiring. Great and quick read! Highly recommend!"