Ripple by Mandy Hubbard(8)

Book Type: Novel
Author: Mandy Hubbard
Pages: 260

Summary(amazon.com):
Lexi is cursed with a dark secret. Each day she goes to school like a normal teenager, and each night she must swim, or the pain will be unbearable. She is a siren - a deadly mermaid destined to lure men to their watery deaths. After a terrible tragedy, Lexi shut herself off from the world, vowing to protect the ones she loves. But she soon finds herself caught between a new boy at school who may have the power to melt her icy exterior, and a handsome water spirit who says he can break Lexi's curse if she gives up everything else. Lexi is faced with the hardest decision she's ever had to make: the life she's always longed for - or the love she can't live without?

My Review:
When I first picked up Ripple from the library, I wasn't sure what it was about, only that it was listed in many mermaid book lists on goodreads, so I said why not? It is actually about a siren, a distant cousin to the mermaid, a creature with no tail but sings to unwary people with a cursed song. I knew I was going to like it as soon as I finished the first chapter. It was full of mysteries and unanswered questions that made me want to know more! At times, this book can be a bit depressing, but Hubbard crafted the storyline in such a way that the moments were beautiful and didn't drag out. What I also liked about the book is that the siren element is written throughout the plot, and the untamed, cursed element of Lexi doesn't go unnoticed. I think readers will enjoy the ending the best though! It was really shocking. I really think this is an awesome book to read for the summer if you are doing a literary challenge. I give this book (*****) 5 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

The Forbidden Sea by Sheila A. Nielson (7)

Book Type: Novel
Author: Sheila A. Nielson
Pages: 296

Summary(amazon.com):
A mermaid haunts Adrianne's dreams . . . is she coming to warn her, save her, or drag her down into the depths of the briny sea forever?

When Adrianne comes face-to-face with the mermaid of Windwaithe Island, of whom she has heard terrible stories all her life, she is convinced the mermaid means to take her younger sister. Adrianne, fierce-willed and courageous, is determined to protect her sister from the mermaid, and her family from starvation. However, the mermaid continues to haunt Adrianne in her dreams and with her song.

My Review:
I have found that this book is listed on many "have-to-read" book lists, but I was disappointed when reading this. When I first began reading this, I was curious to see how the interaction between Adrianne and the mermaid would continue. However, the mermaid does not seem to appear again until the end of the novel. The majority of the novel was learning how horrible Adrianne's life is, how she is verbally abused by her aunt, how her sister gets her way, and how the boy she loves doesn't respond to her feelings. Throughout the book I was left searching for the mermaid, but she seemed to be a side character to me. What I also did not enjoy about this book was the way the mermaids were described. They almost reminded me of elf-like woodland creatures, which is not how I pictured mermaids to be. All of this being said, I think the storyline was lovely, and the ending is a bit shocking! I give this book (***-****) between 3 and 4 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

I AM Against Captivity for Marine Mammals and Other Life

A HUGE injury caused by the stress of captivity

Hello mer-readers!
I know I havent really talked about my personal beliefs much on this blog, but its time I start. Only recently have I recognized what horrible conditions marine mammals, and other animals that are featured in zoos and aquariums, live in. It is absolutlely mind-blowing how big time corporations such as Sea World and Busch Gardens treat there animals, and how the obtain them! Please, do not pull the wool over your eyes and take a look at these links. They are very informative and show ways which you can help animals like the orca.




1) http://freedomforwhales.tumblr.com/
           -Features many petitions, videos and online discussions

2) http://theorcaproject.wordpress.com/
         -Another great site that conistently posts information about what goes on behind stage at Sea    
         World

3)http://www.keepwhaleswild.org/whales-in-the-wild.php
      -Shows how many trainers have been injured, external links, and wild whale videos

4) The last link I want you to check out is a link for a book. This book astounded me. Unfortunately due to time restraints I could not finish the entire book, but I finished a majority of it and was horrified at what I saw. Here is the book:

Due to the many bacterial infections, along with stress,
Orcas have to have their teeth drilled, or sometimes they are
broken off from the concrete of their tank

http://deathatseaworld.com/?author=1

I think we all remembered the incident with the trainer Dawn Brancheau and the whale named Tilikum, who has killed three trainers in the past. These animals are suffering mentally and physically, and they are beginning to lash out against the people who are supposed to keep them healthy. Please do your research, and most importantly, DO NOT VISIT ANY MARINE PARKS OR ZOOS! Instead, support local santuaries that either nurse animals back to health or take in abused animals. If I could get at least one person to investigate a bit for themselves, I would be grateful.
Thank you.
-Sirenita The Selkie

Freedom doesnt cost money to see! :)

Home To The Sea by Chester Aaron(6)

Book Type: Novel
Author: Chester Aaron
Pages: 125

Summary(amazon.com):

Strange changes begin for twelve-year-old Marian as she starts to understand a secret her mother and her grandmother already know. Why don't they tell her?
And how a couple of years later, can Marian, who has never had a swimming lesson, be known world-wide, wooed by college swim coaches and Sports Illustrated for their cover as a world-class Olympic swimmer? Why does she hear inhuman voices calling her to the sea? What on earth is happening to her?

My Review:
Although this book features one of the most iconic mermaids in history, "The Little Mermaid Of Denmark" on the cover, the story in this book was very boring and didn't have much mermaid-ness. First off, Marian doesn't really begin her changes until the middle and end of the book, and it was a very slowly dragging out. There also wasn't much of a plot to begin with, and the characters seemed muddled together. What I also noticed that other people on GoodReads.com noticed was that the way Marian and her friend Kathy talked to each other. Their dialogue did not mature or change from when they were 12 years old and grew to 19! I also felt this book was very depressing. At first when Marian began changing, I thought that her transforming into a mermaid was a metaphor for her dying from a sickness, but that wasn't the case. The author seemed to write her metamorphosis in a very depressing manor. Another thing that bothered me was that there were too many unanswered questions to Marian's heritage. I do like one part of the book towards the middle, when Marian rides a whale. It was a beautiful moment. However, there are plenty of other mermaid books out there that are much better, and I give this book only (**) 2 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

The Merman by Dick King-Smith (5)

Book Type: Children's Literature
Author: Dick King-Smith
Pages: 112

Summary(amazon.com):
While vacationing in Scotland, Zeta meets a rather unusual fellow. He's a terrific swimmer. He chats with seals. And he has a fish tail. Marinus is a merman -- definitely not your average summer friend. Who else could teach Zeta everything from swimming to astronomy to French? Everything's an adventure when Marinus is around, and as the summer ends, Zeta knows she'll miss her new friend terribly.
Luckily, Marinus has one last surprise in store for her -- one that will last a lifetime. . . .

My Review:
I had read one of Dick King-Smith's books before tittled "The Waterhorse"(I will be making a blog on sea monsters soon too!) and I absolutely adored it. Since I first picked up this book last night and began reading it, I just couldn't put it down. It was very charming and I loved the teacher-student relationship that Zeta and Marinus had, and how he taught and showed her so many things that enhanced her knowledge. I also loved that the author chose a merman instead of a mermaid, since most stories featuring a female human almost always has a mermaid. It was a different element that I had never seen before. What I liked most about this book was that it was simple and had a very nice plot, but the ending was bittersweet. I give this book (*****) 5 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

Dear Mermaid by Alan Durant (4)

Book Type: Children's Book
Author: Alan Durant
Pages: 32

Summary(amazon.com):
On her first day of vacation, Holly finds a mermaid’s purse on the beach. She wants to give it back, but has a few questions for the mermaid first. Imagine how thrilled Holly is the next day to find the purse again, with a letter inside — and a request to help find a mysterious gold key!

My Review:
As I had expected, this book was just way too much glitter and girliness for my taste. The mermaid is very coloful and bright and she reminds me of a fairy instead of a mermaid. However, I did think it was very cute that there were letters for children to pull out and enjoy! Unfortunately, when I picked up my copy from the library, the letters were all mixed up so it was a little confusing to understand what was going on. Overall, this book was cute, but a little too juvenile for adult readers to enjoy. I give this book (**-***) 2-3 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

Mermaids 101 by Doreen Virtue (3)

Book Type: Mermaid history and info/ spiritual
Author: Doreen Virtue
Pages:176

Summary(amazon.com):
Mermaids are powerful and graceful inhabitants of the waters who can teach us about harnessing the unconscious mind’s ability to attract, create, and manifest . . . while having a fun and playful life! In this latest entry into her best-selling 101 book series (which include Angels 101, Archangels 101, and Fairies 101), Doreen Virtue gives you the fascinating history of mermaids and mermen from Atlantis and beyond.
  You’ll read about people’s true experiences with mermaids, and learn how you can unleash more manifestation power by tapping into your inner merperson. You’ll also see images of ancient and modern mermaids, including photos and descriptions of men and women who wear neoprene mermaid tails and swim in oceans, pools, and lakes alongside whales, dolphins, and other wildlife. Mermaids 101 is a wonderful reference guide for anyone who is fascinated with this magical underwater world.

My Review:
Have you ever had strange underwater dreams that you could not explain? Or maybe you question if humans evolved from some type of aquatic species? The answers await you in "Mermaids 101". Readers, I cannot express how mind-boggling this book was and how it answers so many questions about possible theories. My boyfriend is into conspiracy theories about the origin of humans, and I was blown away when reading all of the possibilities that actually make sense! There were theories that I have never even heard of before. I was very surprised when reading this book; I honestly thought it was just going to explain more myths and legends that I have read before, however, there are theories about incarnated dolphins, the aquatic ape theory and so much more! In addition to that, there are stories about people having visions of mermaid dreams, and about "mermaiding" or swimming in a mermaid tail. There are also plenty of beautiful photographs of some of the mermaids currently swimming about today. I really enjoyed reading this, and I am so happy I bought it. It will make a lovely addition to my mer-library! I give this book (*****) 5 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

The Little Mermaid by Katie Thamer Treherne (2)

 Book Type: Children's Book
Author: Katie Thamer Treherne
Pages: 48

Summary(amazon.com):
In this beloved classic, a little mermaid falls in love with a prince she has saved from a shipwreck and yearns to become human so she can marry him. Full-color illustrations.

My Review:
A captivating classic with beautiful illustrations; this is what this book is all about. The story by Hans Christian Anderson is preserved in this book with the original text. As I have mentioned in other reviews on "The Little Mermaid", the original text can be a little strange or difficult for children to understand. What most children are interested in, are the great illustrations, which this book is full of! The illustrations in this book are brightly colored and match perfectly with every mood going on. The mermaids are also spectacular and gorgeous! I love the colors of the tails and scales. Take a look: 

I think the only thing that parents should be concerned with is that in some illustrations the mermaids arent wearing shells and that their breasts are exposed.What I mostly appreciate about this book is that the author stuck to the original text of the story, and created beautiful illustrations. I give this book (*****) 5 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

The Little Mermaid by Deborah Hautzig (1)

Book Type: Children's book, easy-to-ead
Author: Deborah Hautzig
Pages: 48

Summary(amazon.com):
Andersen's sweet, sad story is beautifully retold for young readers. When the little mermaid gives up her voice in exchange for legs and a chance to meet her beloved human prince, she earns a real human soul.

My Review:
From the beautifully drawn cover to the sweet, sad ending on the last page, this book is a treat for lovers of "The Little Mermaid." What I enjoyed most about this book was that the original story of "The Little Mermaid" is retold, but in an easier and more simplified version for children to understand. However, Deborah Hautzig did not exclude any of the fine details of this classic. What I also adored about this book was the illustrations. They were very full of life, and the mermaids tails was gorgeous! Here is a sample:

This is one of my favorites!

I think the only thing that might bother adult mermaid lovers is that the text is quite big, and the text is simplified and a little juvenile. Overall, I think this is a beautiful version of "The Little Mermaid" and children, especially little mer-girls will love reading this! I give this book (*****) 5 stars.

-Sirenita The Selkie

Mermaid Summer Reading Challenge!

Hi Everyone!
It is finally summer and a viewer has invited me to a summer reading challenge! Check the link for details!
Every book post after this date will be considered an entry!
Check it out!

http://lkhill.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-mermaid-lit-summer-reading-challenge.html

Enjoy!
-Sirenita The Selkie

The Mermaid's Three Wisdoms by Jane Yolen

Book Type: Novel
Author: Jane Yolen
Pages: 112

Summary(amazon.com):
A mermaid who cannot speak is banished from her undersea home and sent to live on land as a human where she is found by a 12-year-old girl with a hearing impairment.

My Review:
When I had first picked up this book and began reading it, I thought it was terrible and I actually stopped and returned it to the library. When I came upon the chance to read it and try it again, I gave in. I thought this book was a bit slow at first, and I found the main character Jess, to be quite annoying and a bit of a brat, and it has nothing to do with the fact that she has a hearing impairment. For me, her personality bothered me because everything had to be her way, and she got jealous quite a bit for a young girl. However, I thought the story picked up towards the middle and ended beautifully. I love stories that end with mysteries at the end of them, and that is what happened at the end of the book. Another comment I must add is that for a book written marvelously, the addition of illustrations was unnecessary  and actually took away from the story. I actually found them to be plain as well. Overall I give this book (***) 3 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie