Reviews (31)

Excellent trilogy - Kara Dalkey's so good!
I read this trilogy when it first came out. Having read Kara Dalkey's "Little Sister" I was willing to try anything she wrote. It was certainly a fresh story with endearing characters. Although a tad predicable and corny at moments, it's not as much as similar books. The story does have a clever ending that will make you smack your head and wonder why you didn't put that together, though. All in all, if you like fantasy/fairy tale books you will enjoy this series. Very easy read, though not necessarily quick.

It.. uh.. could have been better, but...
Well, I loved most of this book. I read it when I was about 12 I think, and it was the first real fantasy I had ever read. I read it really quickly, and I had every intension of reading the other books in the trilogy. Until the end anyway. ^_^; It was really shocking towards the very last pages, and there was some killing and blood. I know some people say it's perfectly decent for 8 year olds, but it still seems pretty iffy. It just depends on perspective, I guess.

An interesting story
Ascension is by far my favorite book of the trilogy.It is about a young mermaid who dreams of being an Avatar of Atlantis.In a surprising twist of events she finds her world of Atlantis falling apart with only herself left to save it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Atlantis    4. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Fantasy    5. Children: Grades 4-6    6. Fantasy fiction    7. Fiction    8. Historical - Exploration & Discoveries    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Mermaids    11. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    12. Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. Fiction    4. Juvenile Fiction    5. Mermaids    6. Readers - Chapter Books    7. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    8. Short stories   

Reviews (5)

Wonderful Story!
My [...] daughter and I listened to this on CD in the car.She hated everytime the car stopped!The book is full of vocabulary words, but they are well explained in context.From start to end a wonderful story!We can't wait for more!

The first book in a lovely, well-crafted adventure series
After tragedy strikes in New York City, the Oakenfeld children --- twelve-year-old Susan, nine-year-old Charles, and five-year-old Murray --- receive news that they are going to live with their Uncle Farley in Canada for a while.
Cliches, Formula and Disappointment
It is obvious the writer used a canned formula he thought would be a financial success.Too bad many uninformed parents are falling for it and buying the book for their children.Big disappointment.Nothing original or thought provoking here. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Family - Siblings    5. Family - Stepfamilies    6. Fiction    7. General    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Juvenile Science Fiction / Fantasy    10. Mermaids    11. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    12. Time    13. Uncles    14. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (7)

Spellbinding "tail"
These are the mermaids that sailors feared -- vain, nasty little finned misses who don't hesitate to call up storms if it suits them. Mollie Hunter is in prime form here, in the tale of two brave kids who struggle to free their village from a vindictive mermaid. Not a Disney mermaid
Eric Anderson was the only fisherman in the village who laughed at the tale of the mermaid whose favourite place was the Drongs, the huge rocks off the coast of the village. (They're real, by the way, lying off Hillswick Ness in the Shetland Islands of northern Scotland.) Great
My friend read this book and she said it was a real good book Now I'm reading it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Fiction    4. General    5. Grandfathers    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Legends, Myths, & Fables - Other    8. Mermaids    9. Mermaids and mermen    10. People & Places - Europe    11. Juvenile Fiction / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Single Title   

Reviews (1)

Cute
I've always had a fascination with mermaids.I'm working on building my own personal library and decided to buy this book.This book is geared toward children.The book lists a few facts about merfolk.It covers mermaid legends from several different cultures.Some of the stories in this book are considered to be true.Being a children's book, it does not go into much detail.The pages are full of colorful illustrations.I would not call them beautiful or realistic but some are cute and interesting.This is not my favorite mermaid book, but I think younger children might like it.
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Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Literature - Classics / Contemporary    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Country/Ethnic-General    5. Folklore & Mythology    6. History - General    7. Juvenile Folk Tales / Mythology / Fables    8. Juvenile History    9. Juvenile Nonfiction    10. Juvenile literature    11. Mermaids    12. Social Science - Folklore & Mythology    13. Sociology    14. Juvenile Fiction / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Single Title   

Reviews (3)

An Excellent Children's Book
This book has become a mainstay in my children's library. I read this book to them over and over again. My 3 daughters never tire of it. The way the tale is written allows the reader to inflect his/her own creativity in delivering the story to an entranced child's ears. You can choose to sing parts of the tale, you can inflect tonality and create the dialect as you see fit, as well.Along with the wonderful, unique artwork, this book will become a classic children's tale for generations to come!

What a marvelous book!
My children sat spellbound as we read this book.We loved this story for the original plot, the strange dialect (not too heavily used), and the unusual art work.

This was a good book about a little girl and a mermaid.
I am a fifth grade student at North Hills Traditional Academy. And,yes, I like this book. I like this book because the pictures are pretty. I like this book because the words are beautiful. I like this book because ittells a sweet story. This book is for people who are caring. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Afro-Americans    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 2-3    5. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Black American    6. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Single Title    7. Folklore    8. Mermaids    9. People & Places - United States - African-American    10. United States    11. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / African American   

Reviews (7)

I loved diving into this book!
I read MMM in one go. simply because I fell in love with Mary Margaret from the beginning. She is so likeable, with so much depth. Many times throughout the book, I thought back of when I was a little girl spending time with my grandmother. Good books take us to other places and this book did just that for me.
Fantastic story girls will love
Mermaid Mary Margaret is a wonderful story that really captures the feelings of a young mermaid-obssessed girl. It is funny, touching, and tender all at the same time. This would be a great gift for kids about to go on a cruise!

HI!
I'm telling you, your books dissapoint NO ONE! They are creative, spunky, and if we all knew you well enough, we'd know they're not all completely fiction! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 3-4    3. Cruise ships    4. Family - Multigenerational    5. Fiction    6. Grandmothers    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Mermaids    9. Social Issues - Death & Dying    10. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    11. Social Issues - General    12. Widows    13. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - TV / Movie Tie-ins    2. Children: Grades 3-4    3. Dolphins    4. Fiction    5. Mermaids    6. Movie Tie - In    7. Sisters   

Reviews (2)

Karen's mermaid
I was allways a fan of BSC and little sister series.In this book Karen's little house family and the Pikes go to the Jersey shore together.Margo Pike turns out to be a big bragger and brat(I agree) and brags so much that Karen accidentely tells her she saw a mermaid.Of course Margo dosen't believe her and decides to play a trick on Karen.She,her brother Nicky,and sister Vanessa write notes to Karen pretending to be a mermaid. But not only do they write how much the mermaid likes Karen they also ask Karen for a lot of stuff a barette,a comb etc., then Margo sends her final note for some snacks called Murin mermaid chow.Karen goes looking for them and Margo and Nicky finally tell her.Karen gets really mad and dosen't talk to Margo,Nicky or Vanessa.But then something happens(not telling you what) and they make up and everything.I donn't really like Margo she's a selfish bossy bratty bragger who enjoys making people look bad.

Karen's Mermaid
Karen get letters from a so called mermaid. The mermaid ask for a lot of things and karen stupidly leave the mermaid the things she askes for. in the in the end karen finds out thats it not really a mermaid ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. Fiction    4. Mermaids    5. Social Issues - General   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. Juvenile Fiction    4. Juvenile literature    5. Legends, Myths, & Fables - General    6. Mermaids    7. Mermaids and mermen    8. Readers - Beginner    9. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    10. Juvenile Fiction / Readers / Beginner    11. Mermaids - Juvenile literature   

Reviews (1)

Like a lost branch of the Mabinogion
I really enjoyed this book. It tells the story of three companions, killers all: Niall the artist monk, Finnglas the warrior princess, and Pangur Ban, the white cat, who are thrown together under dreadful circumstances, but must come to depend on and even care for one another. Fay Sampson's prose is succint and compelling. Though the story is original, the style and overall feel of the book remind me of a retelling of ancient Celtic myths -- I almost felt like I was reading a lost branch of the Mabinogion. It also made me think of Gerald Morris's "The Squire's Tale" books (retellings of the Arthurian Gawain myths). One warning, there is a fair amount of violence and death in this story (though no worse than, say, "Redwall"). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Cats    2. Cats    3. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Fantasy    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Fantasy fiction    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Readers - Beginner    9. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    10. CATS_FICTION    11. CHILDREN'S FICTION    12. Fantasy    13. GOOD AND EVIL_FICTION    14. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Cats    15. MAGIC_FICTION    16. MERMAIDS_FICTION    17. MONSTERS_FICTION   

Reviews (1)

Extremely witty and well-written for a childrens' book!
Since seeing it when it first came out, I have had a special connection to the little mermaid, Disney-style...maybe it's because we both are Pisces at heart...I don;t know.Anyway, from reading this, you'd never know it hadanything to do with Disney...and that's a good thing!!And let me justsay...rather than being an evil sea-witch, Ursula should have been afashion designer for mer-people!Don;t know what I'm talking about?Readthe book (or at least look at the cover)!--"Seeker of a HaroldHill-type, yes I want to be deceived." ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children: Grades 3-4    2. Family life    3. Fiction    4. Juvenile Literature    5. Mermaids    6. Sisters   

Subjects:  1. Fantasy fiction    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    3. Mermaids    4. Fiction    5. Body, Mind & Spirit    6. Religion: general    7. Concepts - General    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Children's stories    10. Children: Grades 3-4   

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    2. Children: Kindergarten    3. Classics    4. Fairy Tales & Folklore - European    5. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Single Title    6. Fairy tales    7. Fiction    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Mermaids    10. Juvenile Fiction / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Single Title   

Subjects:  1. Children: Grades 2-3    2. Fiction    3. Juvenile fiction    4. Mermaids   

Reviews (1)

A Very Good Resource
In researching a paper I am currently writing on the mermaid in literature, I was surpised at the dearth of scholarship on this subject.Lao's book is more a coffee table piece than a scholarly discourse, but itis nicely researched and has pointed me to numerous literary works in whichmermaids are mentioned.I must say that the illustrations are not nearlyas interesting as those in, say, Ratisseau's beautiful book, but there ismore substance here. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art & Art Instruction    2. Folklore & Mythology    3. Folklore & Mythology - Mythology    4. Mermaids    5. Painting - Other Specific Subjects    6. Sirens (Mythology)    7. Social Science    8. Sociology    9. Special Subjects In Art    10. Special Subjects In Literature    11. Techniques - Painting - Specific Subjects    12. Folklore   

Reviews (1)

Seaside Palaces and Shell Necklaces
"I build myself a palace
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    2. Children: Kindergarten    3. Fiction    4. General    5. Imagination    6. Juvenile Nonfiction    7. Mermaids    8. Specimens    9. Toy and movable books    10. Juvenile Nonfiction / Social Science / Folklore & Mythology   

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Single Title    4. Fairy tales    5. Fiction    6. Mermaids    7. Mermaids and mermen    8. Movie Tie - In   

Reviews (1)

For the littler the better
I picked this book up for my five year old daughter.We have read it together every night for a week.She let an older friend (8 yrs old) borrow it and she thought that it was way too easy.It's challengingenough for very early readers, but the mystery was weak, even for a 5 yearold. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Beaches    2. Children's 4-8    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Fiction    5. Horror & Ghost Stories    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Legends, Myths, & Fables - Other    8. Mermaids    9. Mermaids and mermen    10. Nature & the Natural World - General    11. Readers - Beginner   

Subjects:  1. Children: Grades 1-2    2. Fiction    3. Mermaids    4. Mermaids and mermen    5. Spies