ALA Booklist (Thu Nov 30 00:00:00 CST 2023)

In the third Emily Windsnap adventure, lightly illustrated like its predecessors, the half-mermaid heroine finds that her idyllic existence is beginning to tarnish. First, it seems her recently reunited parents may separate; then, Emily's discovery of Neptune's discarded wedding ring leaves her struggling under a curse that could erase one of her identities. Kessler expands the mer-people's backstory here, providing greater perspective on Neptune's wrathful nature. As with the preceding books, though, what will most delight readers are the details of undersea life, from course work in hair brushing to scale polish for decorating tails.

Horn Book (Thu Nov 30 00:00:00 CST 2023)

As a child, Goodall dreamed of traveling to "wild untouched Africa." This book effectively incorporates excerpts from her writings, revealing her passion for research. The text also provides glimpses of Goodall the woman: extroverted, flirtatious, and adoring. Bardhan-Quallen never glamorizes her subject's life, emphasizing instead her hand-to-mouth existence and unflagging efforts today. Black-and-white photographs are included. Bib., ind.

Kirkus Reviews (Thu Nov 30 00:00:00 CST 2023)

Back for a third adventure, Emily Windsnap, half-human/half-mermaid, has settled into life with both parents on and around Allpoints Island, where she's found a new best friend, Shona, a mermaid "all girly and sparkly, with shiny long blond hair." But her parents' arguments worry her. Perhaps they are planning to split up. On a class trip she finds a diamond ring King Neptune wants, but it won't come off her hand. Neptune's angry response is to send her far away where she finds a castle inhabited by a dark-haired, green-eyed boy, a semi-mer like herself. Together, the three young people find the ring's missing counterpart, undoing a 500-year-old curse and making possible peace between humans and merfolk—including her own parents. The improbable plot is told in first person, quickly paced and supported by plenty of descriptive detail about the appearance of the characters and the colorful underwater life. This should be an easy sell to girls looking for a friendship story with more than a touch of make believe. (Fiction. 9-12)

School Library Journal (Thu Nov 30 00:00:00 CST 2023)

Gr 3-6-Half-human/half-mermaid Emily should be happy. She's living with her recently reunited parents (a human mother and merman father), she has a best friend, and she loves her new school. Still, this third book in the series finds her preoccupied with her parents' escalating bickering. After awakening King Neptune's fearsome monster in book two, Emily has vowed to stay out of trouble, but that is exactly what she finds in a magic ring from the ocean floor. When the king finds out that she has hidden it from him, he is furious and puts a curse on her: at the next full moon, she will become all human or all mermaid, whichever he chooses. So begins an adventure that takes the girl to a secret castle where she learns that she may not be as unique as she previously thought. Kessler combines the whimsy of life as a mermaid with the problems of an average middle-schooler. She keeps the story moving, with each chapter posing a new problem. Plenty of dialogue and Ledwidge's soft, dreamlike line drawings add textual and visual interest, making for a zippy story in an attractive package. Fans of mermaids and things that sparkle are the likely audience for this light fantasy.-Adrienne Furness, Webster Public Library, NY Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

Voice of Youth Advocates (Thu Nov 30 00:00:00 CST 2023)

In this third installment of the series about twelve-year-old Emily, Neptune has allowed merfolk and humans to live in harmony. Emily is ecstatic to be living with both her merman father and her human mother. Emily herself is a mix-human on land and mermaid at sea. But these days her parents seem to argue constantly. Emily is terrified that they will separate again and that she will have to choose between them. The real trouble begins when Emily finds a diamond ring at the bottom of the ocean. Neptune wants the ring, and when she is unable to take it off her finger, he puts a curse on her. If she does not hand it over before the next full moon, she will lose the ability to change form. Then a storm conjured by Neptune's rage strands Emily and her best friend, Shona, alone in the middle of the ocean. The story really takes off when Emily decides to explore a mysterious castle visible in the distance. There she meets a boy desperate to save his family, encounters an ancient mystery, and learns a secret from Neptune's past. This quick read is light and charming but also heartfelt. Emily's overactive imagination and excessive worry about her parent's marriage ring true for a girl her age. After many anxious moments, the fairy-tale ending will satisfy the target audience, especially those who have enjoyed the previous two books in the series.-Angela Carstensen.