Copyright Date:
2020
Edition Date:
2020
Release Date:
06/01/20
Pages:
196 pages
ISBN:
1-7282-1420-3
ISBN 13:
978-1-7282-1420-7
Dewey:
Fic
LCCN:
2019042130
Dimensions:
21 cm.
Language:
English
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews
On her 13th birthday, Molly learns the truth about her mermaid heritage in this series opener.Molly Seabrook and her four sisters live in a lighthouse and work in their mother's fish-and-chip shop. Molly's job is to dress up as a giant haddock and pass out flyers advertising the shop to people on the pier. It's not a job that guarantees her any popularity, and Molly's a frequent target of the pretty, blonde class bully. On the night of Molly's birthday, her mother and older sisters drag her down to the water's edge and let her in on the family secret. Now that she's come of age, Molly will sprout a tale and gills whenever she gets too close to large bodies of water. But unlike her sisters, who adore being half-mermaid (their long-absent father is human), for Molly it's just more fuel to the fire of her self-loathing. How can she ever be popular, or even just ordinary, if she becomes a big, helpless, floppy fishgirl every time she gets too near unexpected water? Molly's adolescent miseries provide a believable note of heft in an otherwise-lighthearted tale full of fart and puke jokes. Clunky Americanization of this book first published in the U.K. in 2019 adds confusion but does not materially detract from the humorous charm. Most characters are white, and Molly's best friend is of Chinese descent.Delightful froth with just a touch of early-adolescent angst. (Fantasy. 9-11)
Will Molly sink or swim? Molly Seabrook's dull seaside life is turned upside down when she turns 13 and is let in on the family secret: she's PART-MERMAID Molly isn't exactly thrilled. Not only does she already have to dress up as a fish to promote the family seafood restaurant, but now she actually is part fish? Growing up is hard enough without sprouting a fish tail in math class, or disguising your gills from the cute boy at the ice cream stand. Molly will have to navigate the stormy sea of social awkwardness, best friend fallouts, and the World's Most Embarrassing Family--all while attempting to hide her (Very Weird) new double identity.