The End Of The Summer Reading Challenge 2015!

Hello Merfolk!

Well it's that amazing time of year again; autumn! I can't wait to feel cool, cozy and cuddle up with a mermaid book :)

This summer I was very busy, so unfortunately I was only able to read 12 mermaid books :( 

Oh well. Better luck next year!

Swim by soon for more awesome mermaid books, and dont forget to check my other blog for some updates.

-Sirenita The Selkie 

Stay tuned for some evil mermaids this fall ;)

(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

(10) Mermaid Tales: Dream Of The Blue Turtle by Debbie Dadey

Book Type: Novel
Author: Debbie Dadey
Pages: 128

Summary(goodreads.com):
Kiki Coral can see the future;can she save a friend from his dangerous fate?

Kiki Coral has an amazing gift: she can see the future. She doesn't have visions very often, but they are always surprising! When Kiki sees a vision of her classmate Rocky Ridge coming face-to-frightening-face with a gigantic leatherback turtle, she is frightened to the tip of her shiny purple tail. Can Kiki save Rocky from his dangerous fate? What if no one in Trident Academy believes her scary prediction?




My Review:
 This is the 7th book in the Mermaid Tales series, and I am starting to get quite bored with these books. First, I wanted to know more about when Kiki first got her visions.  How old was she? What was her first vision? I did love some of the themes and concepts in this book. I loved how it teaches children about trusting their friends, and how to work on a team, I also love that the leatherback  turtle's endangered status was mentioned.

Later on in the story, Pearl forces Kiki to work on their project using plastic bags. How would they know what this is, if they are confused about items in the people museum? The mergirls always question what human items are since they never see them every day.

This wasn't a very exciting mermaid tale, and Marvin the sea turtle, which was the most anticipated sea creature, only appeared for 2 pages!
I give this book (**) 2 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

Hey Merfolk!
I've found a whole bunch of selkie books I cant wait to share with you! :)
Check back this weekend for new book reviews!
-Sirenita The Selkie