The Little Mermaid And Other Fishy Tales by Jane Ray

Book Type: Story Collection
Author: Jane Ray
Pages: 176

Summary(goodreads.com):
The sea is full of mystery and enchantment—and this extraordinary collection captures every drop of its magic. Retold and illustrated by the renowned picture-book artist Jane Ray, The Little Mermaid and Other Fishy Tales features an international selection of captivating stories and poems: “The Fisherman and His Wife,” “Whalesong,” “Lobster Quadrille,” “The Ballad of John Silver,” and many more.

My Review:
I stumbled upon this book while looking for mermaid books on my public library's online catalog. As soon as I opened the book, I was amazed at the beautiful pictures! They really help breathe life into the story. I really liked this collection of stories. The font was large, so one can finish this within an hour and a half, and I found it perfectly suitable for kids as well. I also loved how diverse this collection was, and had stories from different parts of the world. Jane Ray, the author of this book, also wrote, Can You Catch A Mermaid? which is also reviewed on this blog. Her creativity really shines in her adaptation of The Little Mermaid. It was so fantastic, I actually wished that Hans Christian Anderson wrote her version over his own! This was a fantastic and short read  if you love water creatures of all kinds. I give this book (*****) 5 stars. 
-Sirenita The Selkie

Siren's Storm Series by Lisa Papademetriou

Book Type: Novel
Author: Lisa Papademetriou
Pages: First book: 288

Summary(goodreads.com):
Nothing has been the same for Will ever since what happened last summer. One day, on an ordinary sailing trip with his brother, there is a strange accident. When Will wakes up, he learns his brother has disappeared, presumed drowned. Worst of all, Will can't remember what happened—his family finds him unconscious, with no memory of the accident.
Now Will and his best friend and neighbor, Gretchen, are starting a new summer. Gretchen seems troubled—her sleepwalking habit is getting worse, and she keeps waking up closer and closer to the water. 
Will is drawn to Asia, the exotic new girl in town. Nobody knows where she's from—all Will knows is that her beauty and her mesmerizing voice have a powerful effect on people. Then there is another mysterious drowning, and Will and Gretchen begin to wonder: Is Asia just another beautiful, wealthy summer resident? Or is she something entirely more sinister . . . and inhuman?

My Review:
Have you ever read a book that just gave you the creeps, but in a good way? This book totally gave me goosebumps! Sirens who visit our world are depicted as creepy and sinister, and this book had a 

psychological thriller tone throughout the entire novel. Each chapter starts off with newspaper article clippings about weird events that take place around the town, such as artwork being stolen and vandalism. People are missing, secrets are hidden, and as you continue to read this book, you slowly unravel the mystery. The imagery in this book was great, and I pictured all the creepy stuff perfectly! Since this book also takes place on Long Island, where I was born and raised, I was curious to see how Papademetriou would portray Long Island teenagers. Although the female dialogue was perfect and includes all the "likes" that Long Island girls say, the male dialogue was a little too surfer-dude-ish. However, I did have some problems with the first book. The reader will instantly pick up that Asia is a siren (seriously guys, I can't even say spoiler alert). There was also quite a bit of violence that readers might not be comfortable with.

I also have to say, that one thing REALLY made me mad and just seemed so unrealistic. It is a spoiler, so to view it, highlight the following:

Guersney the dog is killed by a siren by a swift blow to the head, and the dog is left their bleeding to death. It struck me as utterly ridiculous that this happened. When Will and Gretchen are running away, why didn't they bring the dog with them? Who leaves their animal to a bunch of demons? I just found it unrealistic that anyone who cares about their pet that much would leave them to die. Actually I preferred Angus to die. He is such a shallow and annoying character, and he is so nosey it's unbearable!
The second book kind of made me get this face:



I felt like after the first book, Will all of a sudden gets feelings for Gretchen, and there was no progression in their relationship. He's also a bit of a creep for a boyfriend. He would sit and look out the window waiting until she came home late at night... watch out Gretchen, the guy is a total weirdo! These two have such a weird relationship. One minute, they're lovey dovey, then the next minute they act like best friends and then go back to holding hands. It's so wishy washy.
Although I did love the main theme of the book, which is nothing on the planet is permanent, and that there are constant changes we need to adapt to, such as death, the second book was a bit... anti-climatic. I loved the drama and suspension, but it just didn't do much for me. I give this series (***) 3 stars.

Atlantis: The Legend Of A Lost City by Christina Balit

                                                                             Book Type: Children's Book
Author: Christina Balit
Pages: 24

Summary(goodreads.com):
A magnificently illustrated retelling of the story of Atlantis--one of the world's most haunting and fascinating myths. 
Floating on the emerald sea is a small rocky island belonging to the mighty sea-god Poseidon. Few visit its shores-until Poseidon marries a beautiful woman named Cleito and transforms the island into a rich and fertile paradise, where all things flourish. A magnificent city arises. Poseidon names his perfect island Atlantis. Atlantis prospers and its people live in peace, but as the years pass, Poseidon's descendants start to act less like gods and more like men. When the people incur the wrath of their god, a terrible curse is carried out and the entire island sinks forever beneath the waves. 
This retelling of the history of fabled Atlantis is based on Plato's Timaeus and Critias. It features a note by internationally known historian Geoffrey Ashe, who has written extensively in the area of mythology.

My Review:
I was surprised that this book did not come up on my library's online catalog when I searched "mermaids". I actually stumbled upon this book while in the children's section, and there it was, next to the books about merfolk! As many mer-enthusiasts know, some legends say that seafolk, or merfolk, live in the beautiful, lost city of Atlantis. I have always been fascinated with the legend, so I decided to give the book a try. I am in love with it now! The story, although intended for children, is not written in a juvenile style, so adults will also love this book and it is easy to follow along. The text is not super big, which is another element I like; I cant stand huge text in children's books! However, the most captivating element about this book was the illustrations! See for yourself! 

The style of this beautiful art is very Mediterranean. I think Poseidon is one of the most beautiful drawings in this book. I really recommend trying to find this book. It was so beautiful, I will be adding it to my mer-library. I give this book (*****) 5 stars.

-Sirenita The Selkie

Sirena By Donna Jo Napoli

Book Type: Novel

Author: Donna Jo Napoli

Pages: 210 

Summary (goodreads.com): 

When Sirena and her sisters sing their siren songs to the sailors on their way to the Trojan War, the men crash their ships upon the rocks. There is one survivor. Sirena defies the goddess Hera by tending his wounds and soon the two are deep in love. But does Philoctetes love Sirena's song, or her soul? And will the pull of honor prove stronger than the bond of love?

My Review:

I really enjoyed reading this. I have known about this book for about four years, and I have read this book three times. The story seems to never get old to me. I really enjoy the way Napoli described everything. The scenes were so vivid and her language was so colorful that I could picture everything going on very clearly. When I started reading that this book involved Greek mythology I must admit I was quite timid at first because I always found it to be very complicated, but this wasn't, which is why I also enjoyed it. What really captured my heart was how much I can relate to Sirena, the main character. She is so dedicated to the ones she loves the most, that it was really touching. I definitely recommend this if your into romantic stories as well. I give this (*****) 5 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie