Looking For a Good Book

High on a mountain live two girls, Clara and Maren – sisters by association rather than birth. Their guardian (for they are both foundlings) is known as ‘Auntie.’ During the day, they collect herbs for Auntie and in the evenings she tells the sisters fairy tales, filling their heads with stories of witches and fairies and faraway, magical lands.

One day Clara believes she sees scales just under the surface of Maren’s skin. Maren is becoming a mermaid, just as in some of Auntie’s stories! If Maren is becoming a mermaid, what does that mean for Clara? Clara tries not to think about it too much. What’s most important is getting Maren to the ocean – not an easy trip from the mountains. But Maren could die if she doesn’t get to water, so the girls (an friend of theirs) head for the shore. There will be obstacles in their way, however (like a nasty troupe of actors), with Maren growing weaker with each passing moment.

I don’t remember where I got this book but the fantasy elements really sounded fascinating.  I haven’t read much fiction with mermaids, but only because I don’t know of much.

The basic story was interesting as a concept, but it never really developed.  We start with a story about two girls of some questionable heritage, but then rather than being a story of these very unique girls it becomes an adventure/quest story. These pieces didn’t quite work together as well as they should have.

Although the book seems to be targeted toward a YA audience, the energy of the story isn’t strong enough and the pace seems to stagnant to carry the reader through the entire journey.

Looking for a good book? The Mermaid’s Sister by Carrie Anne Noble is a fairy tale for young readers but lacks the spark to make it truly enjoyable.

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The Mermaid’s Sister

author: Carrie Anne Noble

publisher: Skyscape

ISBN: 9781477820889

paperback, 236 pages