Hippo and Shark Lady

By Abby Lattanzio

Hippo is a quirky 10-year-old girl with a simple life. Her mom spends her time drinking, leaving Hippo to fend for herself, but Hippo doesn't mind. One day, Hippo's mom doesn't come home, forcing Hippo to call her sister, Shark Lady, at college. Shark Lady begrudgingly returns home, determined to give their mom a piece of her mind, but finds that their mom is nowhere to be found. The resulting journey to find their mom reminds both sisters that families are imperfectly messy, but are always worth the hassle.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Abby Lattanzio
• Release date: Oct 11, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215854877

Abby Lattanzio

Hailing from the midwest, I have been writing since junior high, when I learned the stories in my head could become something more. I graduated from Northland College with a degree in writing and am often found hiking, reading, watching New Girl, or crafting, and am owned by two cats who barely tolerate each other.

Book preview

Hippo and Shark Lady

Abby Lattanzio

Published by Abby Lattanzio, 2022.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

HIPPO AND SHARK LADY

First edition. October 11, 2022.

Copyright © 2022 Abby Lattanzio.

ISBN: 979-8215854877

Written by Abby Lattanzio.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Hippo and Shark Lady

About the Author

My name is Hippo. I wasn’t born with that name; I kind of fell into it. Kind of how my sister fell into the name Shark Lady. She’s eight years older than me. Which is pretty old. She just started college and isn’t home most of the year. But she comes to visit, sometimes. Mainly, she’s only home for the summer. I think she’ll leave for good once college is over. That’s what she yells at mom every time she leaves, anyway. Mom yells back that maybe she’ll leave, too, then. I usually just sit quietly and finish my dinner.

Shark Lady didn’t always yell. She and mom started fighting more once dad died. But since Shark Lady’s been in college, it’s pretty quiet at home. You see, mom’s gone most of the time, too. Sometimes she’ll come home with a new man, but she’s mostly gone. It’s not that bad though. Mom always leaves a frozen dinner in the microwave for me. And I know how to use the microwave. And even though mom and Shark Lady are gone a lot, I still find things to do. I read and ride my bike and dig up worms from the mud to try to catch minnows in the creek. Sometimes a stray cat comes by. He’s gray and doesn’t have a tail, but I pet him and give him part of my microwave dinner. I even let him sleep in my bed with me. But I haven’t named him, though. He’s a stray and has many places to explore. I can’t make him stay by naming him. He never comes by when mom’s here, but he’ll let Shark Lady scratch him behind his ears. Shark Lady says she doesn’t like having a scraggily stray cat around, but I know better. She loves that cat. But even the cat isn’t enough to keep her at home longer.

IT’S NEARING THE MIDDLE of July, but Shark Lady still hasn’t come home for the summer. She finished her first year of college

Reviews for Hippo and Shark Lady

[Amber · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very short but a good read. Would be a great plot for a full length book.