Rescue at the Reef: The Miraculous True Story of a Little Boy with Big Faith

Jameson and Mary Catherine Reeder debut with a hopeful, effervescent account of how their son, Jameson Reeder Jr., survived a shark attack. In 2022, the Reeder family was vacationing at the beach on Looe Key, Fla., when an aggressive bull shark attacked 10-year-old Jameson Jr., tearing nearly all the flesh from his right lower leg. A frantic race to save his life ensued, punctuated by small moments of good fortune: a faster boat waiting nearby sped Jameson Jr. to shore and into a waiting helicopter, a nurse from another boat appeared with a state-of-the-art first-aid kit, and Jameson Jr. was able to remain calm en route to the hospital and through the medical odyssey that followed. As he recovered—enduring four surgeries in the course of three weeks and adjusting to a new prosthetic leg—his positive attitude and faith inspired hospital workers and strangers alike. Without downplaying the horrors of their son’s recovery, the authors highlight how he’s become a source of strength for others, observing that the “stories God gives us may not be the stories we would choose for ourselves, but when they’re handed to us, we become God’s stewards.” Earnest and openhearted, this inspires. (July)