Mairi's Mermaid by Michael Morpurgo

Book Type: Children's Book
Author: Michael Morpurgo
Pages: 48

Summary(goodreads.com):
Robbie says swimming is easy. You just have to pretend you’re a mermaid. But that doesn’t help Mairi. She isn’t even sure that mermaids are real!



My Review: 
Learning how to swim is a milestone in every little merchild's life that requires patience...and sometimes a little help from merpeople! I loved the main concept of the book; every creature needs help now matter how big or small. By helping each other, Mairi and the mermaid solved their problems. The book also teaches patience and perseverance.

I loved the small details in the book. On every page, a fish makes a comment about what's going on. I also loved the cute illustrations and how tiny the merpeople were! I give this book (****) 4 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

The Little Mermaid by Francesca Rossi

Book Type: Children's Literature
Author: Francesca Rossi
Pages: 64

Summary(goodreads.com):
When she falls in love with the prince she rescues during a storm, the Little Mermaid sells her voice to a witch for the chance to become human. But if her prince doesn't love her back, she could lose it all . . .

My Review:
The Little Mermaid  is a timeless classic mermaid story. While some authors use amazing illustrations and words with their rendition, others fall a little flat. I would say this book falls into the mix of good and bad. 

While the mermaids in this book are beautiful, the background colors fall a little flat. The ocean is full of life and color, and the illustrations do not portray this. Although the text is somewhat like the original Anderson version, the ending is vastly altered.

So is this the original The Little Mermaid? You be the judge!
I give this book (***) 3 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie 

(12) Mermaid Tales: Treasure In Trident City by Debbie Dadey

Book Type: Novel
Author: Debbie Dadey
Pages: 128

Summary(goodreads.com):

When Rocky finds a seaweed scroll that describes an abandoned pirate ship bursting with jewels, the students are tripping over their tails with excitement. There's only one problem: the treasure is supposedly guarded by pirate ghosts! But a few silly ghosts aren't going to keep prima donna Pearl away from fame, fortune, and diamonds as big as a merman's fist.
The hunt is on! Pearl recruits fellow merkids Rocky and Wanda to help her track down the treasure by swimming all the way past Whale Mountain. But when they discover the pirate ship, they hear eerie moans and groans coming from within. What's making those sounds? Could the pirate ghosts be real? And can the merkids get the jewels before becoming someone or something's lunch?

My Review:
I was a little surprised that Debbie Dadey decided to write a book about the mean girl of the series. However, I actually enjoyed this mermaid tale! I really love how so many interesting sea creatures were mentioned, such as bootlace worms and black dragonfish. I also found the plot to be more exciting compared to the other books in the series.
I only wish that Pearl would change her bad and bratty attitude! She's very annoying, and I wish she would change. I loved that this book teaches the value of life over possessions, and teamwork.
I give this book (****) 4 stars. 

(11) Tides by Betsy Cornwell

Book Type: Novel
Author: Betsy Cornwell
Pages: 304

Summary(goodreads.com):
When high-school senior Noah Gallagher and his adopted teenage sister, Lo, go to live with their grandmother in her island cottage for the summer, they don’t expect much in the way of adventure. Noah has landed a marine biology internship, and Lo wants to draw and paint, perhaps even to vanquish her struggles with bulimia. But then things take a dramatic turn for them both when Noah mistakenly tries to save a mysterious girl from drowning. This dreamlike, suspenseful story—deftly told from multiple points of view—dives deeply into selkie folklore while examining the fluid nature of love and family.

My Review:
I'm very pleased with the summer reading challenge so far! I've managed to find a lot of selkie books! What I loved about this book was the New England-in-the-summer setting. It reminded me of summers here on Long Island. I also loved how Noah had a crush on the mystery girl, Mara. She was definitely an intriguing character. The reader slowly unravels the mystery along with Noah. There's also many contemporary issues mentioned, including body image with girls, eating disorders, the pressure of fashion magazines on young women ,gay relationships, and how science has an evil side.
I also had a few problems with the plot. I found it unrealistic that at the end of the book, the adults let the teenagers confront the bad guy all by themselves. Why didn't the adults help them out? There are also issues of child abuse and animal abuse, so anyone sensitive to these issues should not read this book. I also found the book to be very graphic, and it was difficult to get through certain parts.
I wasn't especially crazy about how the plot progressed, so I give it (***) 3 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

(9) the Selkie Girl by Janis Mackay

Book Type: Children's Book
Author: Janis Mackay
Pages: 32

Summary(goodreads.com):
Fergus lives with his father by the sea, but is lonely. He wants a friend more than anything. One day Fergus finds treasure on the beach: a beautiful fur blanket hidden in the rocks. But Fergus doesn't know that his treasure belongs to someone else - a selkie girl has lost her seal skin and can't go home to the sea without it. Will Fergus give his new friend what she needs, and risk being lonely again?

My Review:
Yay! I was so happy when I found that my local library had a new selkie children's book to explore :) After the last couple of selkie books that I've read, I was expecting another let down. However, this story was beautiful! The text is not juvenile, so adults and mer-children can enjoy it together. The illustrations were breath taking, especially of the selkie women. They really captured the alluring magic of selkies.

This book teaches young children the true value of friendship and promises, but also the lesson that if you love someone or something, set it free.
I give this book (****) 4 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

(8) Water Shaper byLaura Williams McCaffrey

Book Type: Novel
Author:Laura Williams McCaffrey
Pages: 224

Summary(goodreads.com):
Margot is the daughter of a king, but she is beloved by neither his court nor his kingdom. She has “water in her blood,” a trait associated with magic and looked upon with distaste and suspicion. When she meets Orrin, a foreign king who is respectful, not scornful, of her affinity for water, she flees with him to his castle by the sea, though she soon realizes he is not as benevolent as she first thought. Intertwined with Margot’s story is that of Bird, a storyteller who must tell stories for Orrin, though he can barely stand him. When Orrin steals the Book of the Sea, a magical gift given to Margot by her mother, Margot knows she must run away once again, and the threads of the two stories begin to intertwine.


My Review:
When I first saw that this book involved selkies, I was so excited. It's sometimes hard to find good selkie books, especially in the YA genre. When I delved into the first chapter, I immediately fell in love with the medieval historical vibe.

...But that's pretty much all I enjoyed.

Half way through the book, and I was still waiting for something to happen. About three quarters of the book lacked energy, and I didn't feel any excitement while reading this. I also did not enjoy Margot, the main character. She lacks strength, and constantly feels the need to impress Orrin. Although this book says it involves selkies, it took forever to get to the selkie part!
The ending really made me say, "That's it?"
I unfortunately did not like this book at all, and I don't recommend reading it. It was confusing, boring and lacked the selkie elements that it promises. 
I give this book (**) 2 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

(6) The Little mermaid by Robert Sabuda

Book Type: Children's Book
Author: Robert Sabuda
Pages: 12

Summary(goodreads.com):
A beloved under-the-sea tale is now a pop-up masterpiece, from expert craftsman Robert Sabuda.

Come along on a magical journey under the sea in this stunning pop-up adaptation of the beloved fairy tale The Little Mermaid, expertly crafted by renowned paper engineer Robert Sabuda. Amazing three-dimensional paper structures pop off each page, bringing this classic underwater adventure to life. This visually stunning tale of adventure, true love, and sacrifice is sure to become a favorite in any story-lovers library.


My Review:
Believe it or not, this book has been sitting on my shelf, waiting to be explored for two years! I was just so busy with other mermaid books that I forgot about this gem that I bought with Christmas money :) 
I love how the author simplified the original text; it's perfect! Its easy to understand without skipping over the original beauty of Hans Christian Anderson's writing. But what really made this story come to life was the amazing pop ups!
I have never seen a more beautiful pop up book!
That being said, this isn't exactly safe in a merchild's hands. These pop ups are very delicate!!!
Adults should accompany children and be careful when you open it! Some of the pop ups got a bit annoying when I was reading the book. They got stuck when I tried to open them, and I accidentally ripped one because it didn't open right :(
I loved this book and it really is a beautiful gem in anyone's mer-library, but be careful with the pop ups, especially around children! However, this would make a perfect bedtime story :)
I give this book (***) 3 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

(4) The Little Mermaid Paperback Series: Arista's New Boyfriend by M.J. Carr

Book Type: Novel
Author: M.J. Carr
Pages: 70

Summary(goodreads.com):
The mermaid princesses can't wait to arrive at the new summer palace - all except for Arista, that is. This is to be a summer of dinners, dances, and lots of aristocratic boys! But boys or no boys, summer without her favorite sea horses to ride is not Arista's idea of fun until she discovers the brand-new stables at the summer palace - and the stablehand, Dylan. Suddenly summer takes an exciting turn for the better! Spending time with Dylan is great, but Arista worries how King Triton will react to her new boyfriend. Will she have to keep Dylan a secret from her father forever?


My Review:
I'm so excited to be reviewing another paperback in The Little Mermaid series :)
I really liked that I was instantly able to connect to Arista, especially when she misses her pets. When I have gone on vacation, I too, have a hard time parting from my Cat-fish and my little goldfish. I also really liked how genuine and cute Dylan and Arista's relationship was, and that a princess fell for a stablehand. 

I got really annoyed when Ariel and her sisters constantly talked about boys. It was a little too much and made them seem like airheads! I also found the title of this book confusing. Although Arista and Dylan seem to secretly like each other, it was never announced that they were boyfriend and girlfriend.
This book was okay, but a bit boring. It wasn't the best Little Mermaid book I've read. 
I give this book (**) 2 stars. 

(1) The Little Mermaid: Ariel's New Treasure

Book Type: Children's Book
Author: Mary J. Fulton and Eric Binder
Pages: 32

Summary(goodreads.com):
When a young girl loses a golden seahorse necklace in the ocean, Ariel finds a way to return it.

My Review:
I'm so excited to begin The Mermaid Reading Challenge with a The Little Mermaid book! What I loved about this book was the story. It was beautiful and sometimes sad, especially when Ariel couldn't communicate with the little girl. 
I also loved the illustrations! They were a perfect example of Disney's beauty. Also, the story is not written with simple words and sentences, so both little, and grown Mers will enjoy this :)
I really loved this book and plan on adding it to my personal Mer-Library! I give this book (*****) 5 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

Tara and Her Talking Kitten Meet A Mermaid by Diana Cooper

Book Type: Children's Book
Author: Diana Cooper
Pages: 80

Summary(goodreads.com):
When a flood overwhelms her village, Tara enlists the help of her old friends the fairies and the Unicorn to help save a boy from drowning. Learning from this event, Tara undertakes a special mission to clean up the oceans. By organizing her school and with the help of politicians, Tara successfully builds a campaign to raise public awareness about environmental concerns. The fourth adventure in a magical series, this imaginative story creates clear discussion points allowing parents and teachers to talk to children about actions and consequences while offering ideas on ways to interact with and protect the earth.

My Review:
I loved this book! It was really creative and original. This seems to be a series, but you don't have to read the other books, since some of the background info is explained. I really like how this book introduced children to elemental magic, such as auras and light, and even archangels. Ash-ting the cat is my favorite character. He is so fickle, and reminds me of my own cat! I also like that the author went into different ways that the oceans are ruined by humans, but explained it in a way that was easy for kids to understand. The only negatives I have are that the language is a bit simplified and juvenile, so adults might not enjoy reading this. Also, the story seems to end abruptly, and I wanted more of a clearer ending. I give this book (***) 3 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

The Little Mermaid by Ronne Randall

Book Type: Children's Book
Author: Ronne Randall
Pages: 32

Summary(goodreads.com):
This Parragon fairy tale classic picture book features revised text ideal for beginning readers along with vibrant new illustrations. Children will love to follow along with their favorite characters!

My Review:
I was disappointed with the illustrations, as well as the plot of this book. I wanted more life and maturity for such a beautiful story, and made the Little Mermaid look 5 instead of 15.
The adaptation of the story was okay, but a lot of the major details from the original were left out, so it made the story boring and predictable. I don't recommend reading this adaptation. I give this book (**) 2 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

Mermaid Tales #6: The Secret Seahorse by Debbie Dadey

Book Type: Novel
Author: Debbie Dadey
Pages: 112

Summary(amazon.com):
Of all the creatures in the ocean, sea horses are Echo Reef’s favorite. They’re sweet and gentle and they glide through the water so gracefully. When Echo discovers that Rocky Ridge, one of her Trident Academy classmates, has his own pet sea horse, she wants one right away. Not everyone agrees sea horses should be pets, however—perhaps they are happiest when swimming freely. But Echo thinks that if Rocky can make a sea horse happy, she can too! Can’t she?

My Review:
I was intrigued how the plot of this book would turn out, especially since it's about keeping wild animals as pets, something that is unfortunately very common today. Echo's obsession with seahorses is so cute. She reminds me of little girls who love ponies and horses :) 
There are two main lessons that kids will learn in this book. The first one is always be prepared and focused in school, especially when it comes to tests and quizzes. Second, the book focuses on the issue of keeping wild animals as pets, and the dangers it comes with as well. Sadly, I was disappointed with the ending, and I felt that it ruined the whole point of this lesson (which I won't give away). Overall, this Mermaid Tale was okay, but I didn't like it as much as the others. I give this book (***) 3 stars. 
-Sirenita The Selkie

Alonzo and Molly the Mermaid (Adventures of Alonzo the Chicken) by Debbie Kelly

Book Type: Children's Literature, Introduction to Chapters
Author: Debbie Kelly
Pages: 56

Summary(goodreads.com):
When Molly the Mermaid is kidnapped by the Pesky Pirates things don't look too clever. But then they hadn't reckoned on Alonzo, the world's first chicken superhero! With the help of Sid the Squid, Delores the Dolphin and the other sea creatures, our clucking hero swims in to save the day. This cracking, first book in the 'The Adventures of Alonzo the Chicken' series, Alonzo and Molly the Mermaid is a barmy, maritime adventure for early readers. Debbie Kelly has written a fun and swashbuckling book which accompanied by Monika Filipina Trzpil's delightful illustrations will delight young readers. With mermaids, pirates and a superhero chicken this is great fun for boys and girls alike.

My Review:
When I first found this book on my library's online catalog, I was a bit skeptical. A chicken? And a mermaid? I had to find out for myself! What I loved most about this book was the creativity, and how different it was from other children's books. Alonzo the chicken is definitely a character who stands out to me amongst other books I've read. I also loved the illustrations; they were so quirky and cute!
The only negative I have about this book is that it's meant for children learning how to read chapters, so adult readers might find the writing style a bit juvenile. This is also a series, so the book ends on a good cliffhanger! I give this book (****) 4 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

Mermaid Tales #5: The Lost Princess by Debbie Dadey

Book Type: Novel
Author: Debbie Dadey
Pages: 128

Summary(goodreads.com):
Not one of the merkids in Shelly Siren’s third grade class can believe the shell-shattering news: Shelly is a princess! A real princess! It’s been a deep, dark secret in Trident City, but now everyone knows—and Shelly doesn’t know how to act. Should she start wearing a glittery crown? Or move to a grand undersea palace? Will her friends have to call her Princess Shelly? She knows it’s an exciting turn of events, but Shelly’s not sure she can truly fit the royal part. Can she find a way to be a princess and stay herself?

My Review:
I really enjoyed this book! What I loved most about it was Shelly's character and how she is such a good role model. She has all the qualities of a true princess such as kindness, modesty, friendliness and helpfulness as well. This story also reminded me of the classic tale, The Prince and The Pauper. I also really liked that this was a coming-of-age story, and Shelly is learning to grow up and make her own decisions regarding her ancestry. In one instance, Shelly uses her new authority for good instead of being a bully.
Lastly, this book also teaches that real friend will love you no matter what.
This is one of my favorite Mermaid Tales in the series and I give it (*****) 5 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

The Selkie Bride by Melanie Jackson

Book Type: Romance Novel
Author: Melanie Jackson
Pages: 290

Summary(goodreads.com):
Recently widowed, Megan Culbin has inherited more than just a quaint cottage on the Scottish coast; she has inherited the ire of an ancient monster - and the protection of a virile Selkie warrior.

My Review:
So, where do I start with this book? The awkward writing, the dullness of the plot... this book was really torturous to finish.

Pathetic Main Character:
The story starts off slow, with the reader being introduced to Megan Culbin and how she is on her way to Scotland. She's broke, just escaped an abusive relationship and tells the reader that she isn't skilled or talented. Yay? 
I mean really, this is not a person I wanted to root for. I also found the language difficult and antiquated, almost awkward to read at times as well.
I also hated the relationship between Megan and Lachlan. Megan is pathetic and willing to do anything for Lachlan, though she barely knows him. Lachlan is very rough with her, and doesn't show her much compassion until the last page in the book! 

Boring Plot:
This book did not have an engaging plot at all. After 100 pages into the book, I was still waiting for something exciting to happen, but it really flat lined with no action or events to captivate the reader. When Lachlan and Megan finally encounter the finman, an ancient and evil creature, I didn't feel nervous for them. The battle just seemed too easy to win.

Overall, I was really disappointed with this plot, and it was agonizingly boring at times. I give this book (*) 1 star.
-Sirenita The Selkie

Mermaid Tales 4: Danger In The Deep Blue Sea by Debbie Dadey

Book Type: Novel
Author: Debbie Dadey
Pages: 112

Summary(goodreads.com):
Late-breaking news from the Trident City Tide: There have been shark sightings in Trident City! No swimming alone! Pearl's father even hires a Shark Guard to escort her to school. Pearl starts stirring up lots of trouble with anything that has to do with sharks, even denouncing the skeleton Kiki has in her room. And then, to make matters worse, Pearl accuses Kiki of stealing her precious pearl necklace! And though the undersea waters are indeed filled with danger, Pearl just might discover that true friends can provide a sense of safety!

My Review:
I wasn't too thrilled that they had a book on Pearl. Pearl is the mean girl, the bully. She irritates me and seems to have it out for everyone. She reminds me of the bullies who bothered me when I was a young mergirl. I also didn't like how Dadey made it seem that sharks are killing machines. In fact, I think it would've been cool if a shark  entered the city and was friendly instead of being a monster. I really didn't like this particular book in the Mermaid Tales series. I give this book (**) 2 stars.

Mermaid Tales #3: A Whale Of A Tale by Debbie Dadey

Book Type: Novel
Author: Debbie Dadey
Pages: 128

Summary(goodreads.com):
The third graders at Trident Academy are traveling to the surface of the ocean for the first time ever for a exciting activity: They're going to visit a pod of humpback whales! But Kiki is less than thrilled. In fact, she's scared from the top of her head to the tip of her tail. After all, the enormous creatures could swallow her (and maybe her entire class) in one giant gulp! Kiki's pals Shelly and Echo try to help shrink her fears, and when a new friend comes along, a very big, whale-size friend Kiki's courage emerges, and the fun looms large.

My Review:
So far, this has been my favorite of the "Mermaid Tales" series. What I really liked about the main theme is that it teaches young merchildren that being scared is normal, especially being scared of your friend's reaction to your fear. I also love that this book teaches you to overcome your fears, whether it's with your friends or by yourself. Merkids will also learn that just because a creature is big, doesn't mean it will harm you; in fact, it might be friendly, like the humpback whales in this story! I really recommend reading this along with your little one if they are having a tough time overcoming their fear. I give this book (*****) 5 stars. 

Ariel's Royal Wedding by Apple Jordan

Book Type: Children's Book
Author: Apple Jordan
Pages: 32

Summary:
Ariel needs help to prepare for her first wedding as a human!

My Review:
Ariel is one of my favorite princesses, and I was so excited to read about her wedding. I really love how cute this book was, and I felt bad that Ariel was nervous and stressed while planning her wedding! This girl needed some help. I also loved that this book shows that family needs to be present at big celebrations, especially when uniting a kingdom of sea and land! The illustrations, as with many Disney books, were vibrant and full of inspiration for artists! Little merchildren will love reading this before bedtime.  I give this book (*****) 5 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

PS: This book also comes with a story about Sleeping Beauty!

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

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