Madigan, L.K. The Mermaid's Mirror
Houghton Mifflin/Clarion/Graphia/Kingfisher 2010 313p 16.00
978-0-547-19491-2 hs VG-BN
A look into a mermaid's mirror changes Lena's life forever. Lena's fascination with the beach is so strong that it leads her to sleepwalk on the shore. She has always been drawn to the ocean and is tired of watching from the beach while her friends experience the excitement of the waves. Her father -- a former surfer himself -- refuses to allow Lena to take surfing lessons.
The ocean's lure soon leads Lena to disobey her father's edict. Then she spots what can only be a mermaid. To glimpse the mysterious mermaid again, Lena surfs Magic Crescent Cove -- a dangerous area even for experienced surfers -- where she wipes out and nearly drowns. The mermaid rescues her and presses a small gold key into her hand.
As Lena races to discover what secrets the key will unlock, she must come to grips with her past and her heritage. By the time the key reveals Lena's secret, readers will be fully engaged in the novel that begins like a teen problem novel but ends as a fantasy/romance, when Lena finds out she is only half human. The ending will disappoint romantics, but the vivid settings, authentic characters, and interesting plot twists make this a compelling debut novel. Fantasy Welliver, Hilary
Showing posts with label Madigan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Madigan. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Madigan, L.K. Flash Burnout.
Madigan, L.K. Flash Burnout.
Houghton Mifflin/Clarion/Graphia/Kingfisher 2009 332p 16.00
978-0-547-19489-9 ms/hs
Can a boy have both a girlfriend and a girl friend? Photography is the lens through which Black tries to understand the female mindset while growing into manhood. Belly laughs and insightful moments for both male and female readers. Grades 8-12. Blake is in love with his girlfriend, Shannon, who shares his quirky sense of humor. He shares his passion for photography with Marissa, a girl in his class. Marissa and he become closer when he photographs a homeless person in a skid row portion of town. When he asks for her comments, she freaks out as she recognizes the homeless person as her mother. Blake keeps her secret and befriends her as they search for her mother, first on the streets, then the morgue. As Blake grows into manhood during the course of the novel, he is constantly befuddled by the workings of the female mind. He juggles his girl friend and her problems as well as his girlfriend and all her drama. Funny conversations about family, teachers and fellow classmates will resonate with any high school student. First time author Madigan has the pulse of high school life. Blake is a “good guy” who in a weak moment destroys his relationship with Shannon, tries but cannot solve the guilt and problems of Marissa, gets his driver’s license, and comes to understand that loyalty, love, and friendship have consequences when trust is breached. Each chapter starts with a quote about photography some serious, some funny. A playlist of songs to help Blake cope with his lost love complete the book. Blake is a wonderfully funny guy that anyone would like to have as a friend. Grades 8-12. Realistic Fiction McNicol,Lois
Houghton Mifflin/Clarion/Graphia/Kingfisher 2009 332p 16.00
978-0-547-19489-9 ms/hs
Can a boy have both a girlfriend and a girl friend? Photography is the lens through which Black tries to understand the female mindset while growing into manhood. Belly laughs and insightful moments for both male and female readers. Grades 8-12. Blake is in love with his girlfriend, Shannon, who shares his quirky sense of humor. He shares his passion for photography with Marissa, a girl in his class. Marissa and he become closer when he photographs a homeless person in a skid row portion of town. When he asks for her comments, she freaks out as she recognizes the homeless person as her mother. Blake keeps her secret and befriends her as they search for her mother, first on the streets, then the morgue. As Blake grows into manhood during the course of the novel, he is constantly befuddled by the workings of the female mind. He juggles his girl friend and her problems as well as his girlfriend and all her drama. Funny conversations about family, teachers and fellow classmates will resonate with any high school student. First time author Madigan has the pulse of high school life. Blake is a “good guy” who in a weak moment destroys his relationship with Shannon, tries but cannot solve the guilt and problems of Marissa, gets his driver’s license, and comes to understand that loyalty, love, and friendship have consequences when trust is breached. Each chapter starts with a quote about photography some serious, some funny. A playlist of songs to help Blake cope with his lost love complete the book. Blake is a wonderfully funny guy that anyone would like to have as a friend. Grades 8-12. Realistic Fiction McNicol,Lois
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)