Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings by Helene Boudreau

Title: Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings

Author: Helene Boudreau

Series: Hopefully!

Pages: 224

Published: Available now from Sourcebooks

ISBN: 9781402244124

Source: sent for review

 

Description: Freak of nature takes on a whole new meaning... If she hadn't been so clueless, she might have seen it coming. But really, who expects to get into a relaxing bathtub after a stressful day of shopping for tankinis and come out with scales and a tail? Most. Embarrassing. Moment. Ever. Jade soon discovers she inherited her mermaid tendencies from her mom. But if Mom was a mermaid, how did she drown? Jade is determined to find out. So how does a plus-size, aqua-phobic mer-girl go about doing that exactly? And how will Jade ever be able to explain her secret to her best friend, Cori, and to her crush, Luke? This summer is about to get a lot more interesting...

I Give This ...

 

I really liked the idea of this one.  But, once again worried that book might come across as to young.  I was both right and wrong, which always manages to surprise me.  It's another one of those books I will put away for when my girls get a little older.

I liked Jade.  She a young teen who's going through a lot.  She's dealing with those awful young teen years without her mom.  First crushes, first friend conflicts, first periods, and all of a sudden comes that mermaid's tale.  Some of the aspects of the story that are very much a part of everyday real life are what made the story a little juvenile for me.  Although I have to admit the first time she gets her period makes me both laugh out loud and cringe with the memory of my first time.  It's all really perfect for the age group this is intended for.  I did like her relationship with her dad, her best friends, and her crush.  It was cute and seemed very real.

I really liked the mermaid elements of this story.  How her mother came to land and developed legs was an interesting story.  Plus the thought of a mermaid drowning was interesting.  Add it what really happened to her mom and I was hooked.  It was fun and I really loved the courage and ingenuity that Jade showed to help her mom.  

I'm hoping this is going to be a series, because the problem wasn't really resolved.  I can't wait to see what happens next.