LINK + HUD: SHARKS & MINNOWS (Link & Hud, 2), by Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey, Norton Young Readers, July 1, 2025, Hardcover, $16.99 (ages 8-12)
Rambunctious brothers are up to all sorts of mischief in Sharks & Minnows, the second book in the Link + Hud series by Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey.
Deep sea treasure hunting. Supersonic water walking. Swimming with sharks.
Lincoln and Hudson Dupré are brothers with active imaginations. When one of their imaginary adventures leads to the outdoor pool at the recreation center being closed, they’re faced with a choice: join the Sharks swim team or miss out on swimming altogether. But Coach Strickler is old-school and runs his team by the rules. Will the boys outwit their coach, make practice fun―and make the team?
Black-and-white illustrations throughout. —Synopsis provided by Morton Young Readers
Link + Hud is a middle-grade series about two brothers with fantastic imaginations and a strong relationship. The books feature a mix of graphic novel, novel and picture book elements, making them particularly appealing to emerging readers who want a “older” chapter book but aren’t ready for 180 pages of solid text. That said, stronger readers will enjoy them, too, as they’re just plain fun.
In Sharks & Minnows readers get dropped into the outside pool at the community rec center where Link and Hud have spent most of their days during the summer. The book has a great cast of characters, from the lifeguards to the senior aqua aerobics class, and Link and Hud make their mark on all of them.
Young readers will love Link and Hud’s antics, especially their imagined adventures.
Sharks & Minnows moves quickly with a good mix of illustrations and text. It’s perfect for the summer.
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