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

Among the Mermaids: Facts, Myths, and Enchantments from the Sirens of the Sea by Varla Ventura

Book Type: Collection of Short Stories and Ocean Facts
Author: Varla Ventura
Pages: 238

Summary(goodreads.com):
From Homer's 'Odyssey' to 'Pirates of the Caribbean', mermaids have fascinated popular culture for centuries. This is an enchanting collection of classic stories, facts and tales of mermaids from around the world that will thrill every lover of this romanticised mythological creature.

My Review:
I received this book as a surprise from my selkie mom, and was so excited to read it that I nearly squealed like a seal pup! Sadly, my squeals of excitement turned to moans of frustration and boredom.



Boring Stories and Odd Tidbits:
I began first with a mermaid tale that was Irish in origin... then another Irish legend, and another! The stories in this book lack diversity. About 75 percent of the stories in here seem to have an Irish background, but I wanted other stories from other countries, not just one! I also found the language in these stories to be antiquated, and I wish Ventura updated them for modern mer-readers. I also had another problem while reading this book; there weren't any breaks between the author explaining a subject, and a story being told, and this made me confused as to when a story was stopping and starting.
I also found the small facts in this book to be out of place and not needed. For example, Ventura put in information about pirates and nautical terms, but if this is a mermaid book, why was this added? I felt that this was just "fluff" as they say, used to just fill the book. The last story had nothing to even do with mermaids, and was so boring that I had to stop reading it! :(


No, No, No!:
Selkies are also briefly mentioned in this book... but have blond hair! This seems incorrect to me, since many legends about selkies mentioned beautiful black or brunette tresses. And I should know!
Only two mermaid performers, named Hannah Fraser and Mermaid Mizuko are mentioned, and I think this was wrong of Ventura. There are so many brilliant mermaids swimming nowadays who have different causes, and although I respect what they do, Hannah and Mizuko aren't the only ones. Mermaid Raina also teaches young children to respect the ocean through demonstrations and lectures. Eric Ducharme was also mentioned in this book, and Ventura even recommends his store if you want your own custom tail. However, from my online searches I have seen that he has had a lot of negative feedback as to how he conducts himself and how his tails turn out. I think Ventura should have also added in FlipTails and Merbella Studios; both of them make INCREDIBLE tails!


Bad Mer-Reccomendations:
Towards the back of the book, Ventura recommends some good movies, such as Splash! and Mr. Peabody And The Mermaid, but also recommends Peter Pan and Harry Potter, which only involve a few minutes of mermaids, not a whole movie! I was surprised that H20 wasn't mentioned, something I plan on reviewing myself in the future.

In conclusion, I feel that Ventura really missed the mark on this book. There seemed to be a lack of real research into creating a diverse and well thought mermaid book, and this was disappointing. Unfortunately, I give this book (**) 2 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

Mermaids: The Myths, Legends and Lore by Skye Alexander

Book Type: Short Story Collection/ Information about mermaids/ Cultural diversity/ Mythology
Author: Skye Alexander
Pages: 224

Summary(goodreads.com):
The allure and mystery of mermaids has taken hold of our psyche for ages. From the Irish merrows who come on land to search for human husbands to the fake Fiji Mermaid made popular by P.T Barnum, these sea maidens (and sometimes men) can be found in folklore and mythology from every tradition in the world.

Inside this captivating collection, complete with beautiful illustrations throughout, you'll discover the myths surrounding these enigmatic beings, explore the common symbols associated with them, and learn tales of merfolk from around the world. Dive into "Mermaids" and get swept away!


My Review:
When I first picked up this book, I was a bit worried that I would become bored, especially since traditional tales was never my cup of sea salt. However, my thoughts quickly changed and I fell flukes over fins for this book! 
What I loved most about this book is how thorough it was; it really covered every aspect of the mermaid legend, and even what mermaids mean in pyschology! Cool! Ive never really thought of why mermaids have such sex appeal until I read this. Sure, they flaunt their beautiful bodies, but they are dangerous and elusive, which Alexander also explores in depth. 

Traveling The World: Different Legends From Around The Globe:

Alexander also explains that in different parts of the world, mermaids can mean good fortune or an ill omen, and this was really interesting to compare and contrast different meanings in other cultures and countries. Some of the countries you will visit are Mesopotamia (The Middle East), Great Britian, Ireland, Denmark, Russia, Africa, India, Australia and North America. I truly loved the diversity of this collection, and loved exploring what different parts of the world think about mermaids. I had never heard of some of the legends mentioned in this book, so it was refreshing to see some new mers! 

I also loved that throughout the book, Alexander has little passages about mermaid sightings. Did you know Christopher Colombus and Henry Hudson saw mermaids? Maybe it was a selkie, like me! :)

More Than Just Mers:

Here are some of the creatures besides mermaids mentioned in this book:
- Ondines     -Sirens     -Mermen     -Water Gods and Godesses     -Selkies
- Nixes 
The legend of Matthew Trewella is even in this book, which is the base of the Ingo Series!
But there is so much more! 

The Negative:
The only bad thing I have to say about this book is that if you are not interested in traditional stories or old tales and fables, even classic literature, this book might not be the choice for you. At times, the book can be a bit boring since many of the stories are similar with slight differences in plot.

This book was an awesome find for my mermaid library! I love how rich and diverse it was, and it's a great resource for those who want to learn more about different water creatures and diverse cultures. I give this book (****) 4 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

Flipping The Scales by Pete Tarsi

Book Type: Young Adult (YA)
Author: Pete Tarsi
Pages: 250

Summary(goodreads.com):
When the translucent skirt that straight-A-student Meredith finds hidden on the beach gets wet, it transforms her legs into a mermaid tail. Despite the evidence in front of her, she insists that becoming a mythical creature isn’t scientifically possible.
Marina is allowed to experience one day per moon cycle among the humans. After hiding her tail on the beach that morning, she takes her first timid steps on land. When she returns at sunset to find it missing, she is left stranded and alone.
For the first time in her life, Meredith doesn’t have all the answers. As she searches for a way to return to normal before the next full moon, she makes waves among the school of mermaids. Meanwhile, Marina uncovers information about her past, and for the first time in her life, she must stand on her own two feet and take the lead on her own adventure.
As Meredith senses her human side slipping away, a forbidden way to change back entices her. But it comes with a consequence: Marina wouldn’t be able to return to the ocean.

My Review:
** I was given this book by Pete Tarsi in exchange for an honest and fair review. **

It's a funny story of how I heard of this book. I was contacted on goodreads.com by the author, Pete Tarsi himself! He asked me to review and read his book and give an honest review.  Well merfolk, I can honestly say that this was an awesome mermaid book! I also thought the cover was cute and eye catching. Not only was the tail beautiful, but the girls on the front helped me to picture what the characters look like. 

The Characters:
The first thing I loved about the book were the characters. I have to admit, I was a bit nervous about a male author writing about teenage girls, especially about how the dialogue would play out. However, Tarsi created female dialogue that was realistic, but also extremely charming and funny! There were two characters that I really identified with. One of the girls is named Meredith, and she is a total bookworm (like me!) and also gets annoyed with girl drama and air-headedness (also like me!)  I also really loved Hailey. She is a bit of a goof, and she's totally funny, and to some, hard to take seriously. However, she has a big heart, especially when it comes to mermaids. Her collection in her room reminds me of my own, and it even made me a bit emotional to read about the special items in her collection. 

The Setting:
The island where the story takes place reminded me so much of my home; Long Island, especially the eastern end, which is known as a beautiful vacation destination. The details were clear and focused, which helped me to immerse myself into the plot. 

The Plot:
I really loved that Tarsi took a different spin with this book. With so many mermaid YA books out there, the plot only involves elements about romance, or a mermaid's curiosity with humans. The plot in this book is unique and I really enjoyed reading it! 
I think the only negative thing I have to say about this book is that I wish there was a bit more shock and surprise when Jill, Meredith's best friend, finds her with a mermaid tail.

In conclusion, I really recommend checking this book out. It was fun and girly, and also teaches the value of friendship, but most of all, it was filled with mermaidness!
I give this book (*****) 5 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

The Little Mermaid Paperback Series: Reflections of Arsulu by Marilyn Kaye

Book Type: Novel/ Paperback
Author: Marilyn Kaye
Pages: 77

Summary(goodreads.com):
Everyone at the palace thinks Adella's new best friend, Arsulu, is wonderful. But Ariel has her doubts. Why is it, she wonders, that ever since Arsulu came to stay with them at the palace, strange and terrible things have been happening?
A suspicious Ariel decides to spy on Arsulu to see if she's really to blame. That's when she learns the horrible truth about Arsulu. But how can Ariel convince her sisters that their dear, sweet guest is really a danger to them all?


My Review:
This is the second paperback that I have read in this series, and it was okay. I love seeing Ariel's life before her big movie, so it's always fun to read these. There are also pictures in this book, but they aren't colored; instead, they are black and white line drawings, waiting for a child to scribble in them, appearing to be coloring book illustrations. I wanted to see some life in them. This is The Little Mermaid after all, one of the most vibrant movies in Disney history!

Let's take a look at the title. What do you see in the name, Arsulu? If you dont see it, highlight below to reveal the spoiler:
Ursula
I just found the title to be a bit to obvious, which lead me to no surprises or shock. It was also interesting to see how childish all of the princesses used to be, but this also presented a problem to me as a reader. I felt that this book had too much of the sister's bickering dialogue, and it got annoying after a while. This wasn't one of my favorites, but its a cool collector's piece.
I give this book (***) 3 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

Ariel: The Birthday Surprise by Gail Herman

Book Type: Chapter Book/ Easy Read/ Young Adult
Author: Gail Herman
Pages: 96

Summary(goodreads.com):
Ariel's sister Aquata is having a birthday celebration. It's going to be a fun-filled day, complete with a special concert, and Ariel is excited about visiting her family. If only Prince Eric could go under the sea, too. At the party, Aquata wishes that Ariel could stay with them forever. At that very moment, a rare solar eclipse hits, and the wish comes true! Will Ariel ever be able to break the spell and return to Eric-and her life as a human?

My Review:
I first saw this book on Amazon.com as a recommendation from my purchase history. The book offered a small sample and I seemed to enjoy it so I said, what the heck? I'll buy it, especially since I LOVE The Little Mermaid. What really captured my attention was the new perspective. Usually, Disney only features Ariel before she met Eric, or books based off the main movie. However, this book takes place after she is married, so I found it refreshing.  I also loved that this book wasn't written in a super juvenile fashion, so young adults who love Ariel will also enjoy this book. The book also features beautifully colored illustrations that really add to the magic of the Underwater Kingdom :)

Although this book has a lot of good features, I personally found the actual plot to be a bit flat and boring. This surprised me, since I never found a Little Mermaid book to be boring! I feel that there are better books to read if you love Ariel as much as I do. I give this book (***) 3 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie 

Ingo Series by Helen Dunmore

Book 1: Ingo

Book Type: Novel/ Series
Author: Helen Dunmore
Pages:
Book 1 (320)
Book 2 (336)
Book 3 (329)
Book 4 (320)

Summary(Amazon.com):
Sapphire's father mysteriously vanishes into the waves off the Cornwall coast where her family has always lived. She misses him terribly, and she longs to hear his spellbinding tales about the Mer, who live in the underwater kingdom of Ingo. Perhaps that is why she imagines herself being pulled like a magnet toward the sea. But when her brother, Conor, starts disappearing for hours on end, Sapphy starts to believe she might not be the only one who hears the call of the ocean.

In a novel full of longing, mystery, and magic, Helen Dunmore takes us to a new world that has the power both to captivate and to destroy.

My Review:

*Note: Because there are four books in this series, I have grouped the review into one instead of reviewing each book*
What I Loved:

To me, the ocean heals, helps and comforts... but also draws you in, just like how these book drew me into its pages! What I love about this series is that I found Sapphire to be a girl I could relate to, even though she is very young. She is strong-willed, defiant, caring but also has this need to be near the sea, just as I do. I have always been drawn to the ocean, even as a toddler, so I could relate to Sapphire's desire to be in the sea almost constantly. 

Book 2: The Tide Knot 

Throughout series, there is a constant theme of adventure and excitement that takes place in the sea. There are also elements of mythology blending with elemental magic, such as Earth Magic, Air Magic and Water Magic, so readers who love magic of this nature, will love this series. 

The warm, cozy Cornwall countryside and coast was beautifully painted through words by Dunmore. At times throughout the series, I felt like I was walking through the fields with Conor and Sapphire to their friend's farm, or taking a cooling swim in the cove. Conor and Sapphire were characters that both surprised, and intrigued me. It was difficult to imagine such mature decisions coming from these two young adults, but it really worked! I also loved that as the series progressed, Sapphire matures, and so does Conor. 

There is one concept that really struck me, and Faro discusses this with Sapphire. People, like divers, think and believe that the sea is accepting them, but the harsh reality is that they are the invaders, and they are not truly protected in Ingo. I think this is so true, and agree with it completely.

I also loved that as the series progressed, we see Conor and Sapphire realize the dangers of Ingo as well. With such young characters, development is extremely important in a series, and Dunmore nailed it :)

Book 3: The Deep

This Didn't Work So Well:

Although this series  possessed qualities that I do find enjoyable, I found some parts annoyed me a bit. Any reader will most likely agree that the mother, named Jennie, is the most annoying character by far. Jennie is very critical and constantly complains about her life to her children!  Faro, Sapphire's mer-companion, has a bit of an unpredictable personality, and he was confusing to figure out. One moment, he cant stand the thought of anything human, yet he tolerates Sapphire's company. His personality comes off as a bit condescending, smug and arrogant, but I believe he has a good heart.  

I also felt that at times, Sapphire is way too critical of herself, Elvira, Faro's sister, and her own brother. She calls herself stupid way too much, but meanwhile, she is a very intelligent girl.

Book 4: The Crossing Of Ingo

I have to say, I was slightly disappointed with the ending of this series. Without giving too much away, I will just say that I felt that it was a bit open ended, and some issues weren't fully resolved or explained, and as a reader this both confused and annoyed me. However, this is an excellently crafted series that Mer readers will love! I give this series  **** (4 stars)
-Sirenita The Selkie

PS: There is another book in this series, but it is seperate from the main storyline. I'm working on getting it for you guys :)