Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings [Paperback]

Helene Boudreau (Author)

Book Description

Release date: December 1, 2010 | Age Range: 9 and up | Series: Real Mermaids | Lexile Measure: 670L (What's this?)

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...

"Absolutely fresh and sweet, a quirky coming of age story."
-The YA-5

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5–8—Jade, 13, has enough problems. Her mom drowned a year ago, she's overweight, and her crush can't even remember her name. Then, she gets her period for the first time while trying on bathing suits for her best friend's pool party. At home, a relaxing bath in Epsom salts turns into a nightmare. She nods off in the tub and, upon waking, finds that her legs have been replaced by a scaly mermaid's tail. Her father doesn't seem surprised, only sad, and he reveals that she inherited this trait from her mother, a "Pesco-sapien," part fish, part human. The combination of salt water and the onset of puberty apparently triggered the change. Luckily Jade is able to return to her human state after some time out of the water. During a walk by the pier, she discovers that her mother is actually still alive and trapped in the lake by some not-so-nice mer-people. This leads to a frenetic, sometimes confusing, attempt to save her. Jade's father, who never seems to be able to get to his cell phone, is well-meaning but bumbling, leaving Jade mostly responsible for her mother's rescue. Flat characters and cheesy moments require the suspension of disbelief. Readers looking for an entertaining mermaid tale will be better served by Tera Lynn Child's Forgive My Fins (HarperCollins, 2010).—Mandy Lawrence, Fowler Middle School, Frisco, TX
(c) Copyright 2011.  Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

From Booklist

Jade’s fourteenth birthday means more than just an extra candle: a soak in a warm Epsom-salted tub of water exposes a mermaid’s tale—attached to her! She also discovers that her mother wasn’t drowned after all but is a mermaid who is being held hostage by rogue merfolk intent on discovering the secret of changing into human form. Can Jade get the right kind of help to bring her mom back home? What begins as a coming-of-age story becomes a mildly suspenseful chase-and-rescue mission. There are subplots involving classic adolescent moments like Jade’s first serious crush, a semi-serious third-wheel threat to a long-standing best friendship, and a single dad coping with his daughter’s first period. The first-person narrative brings Jade’s experiences up close and personal for readers who know what it’s like to have secrets and feel like a fish out of water. A quick read, at times a little flat, with touches of humor; give this to girls not quite ready for snogging. Grades 6-9. --Cindy Welch

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky; 1 edition (December 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402244126
• ISBN-13: 978-1402244124
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.6 x 7.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (71 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #127,180 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hélène Boudreau is the author of the picture book I DARE YOU NOT TO YAWN (Candlewick) and the tween series REAL MERMAIDS (Sourcebooks/Jabberwocky) as well as other books for children and young adults.

Visit her at http://www.heleneboudreau.com/

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book! May 4, 2012

A Kid's Review

Format:Paperback

This book is a great story about a girl who figures out she's a mermaid. However, this book does NOT just blend into the background with all the other teen mermaid books. It has a real story behind it- something more than just a girl who has a fishy secret.
I have to warn moms that this book is not for girls who don't know are aren't comfortable with puberty. Jade (the main character/mermaid) gets her period and talks about other, um, big girl stuff.
But for girls who are going to read this book, you are very smart and you know how to choose a good book. :) When I read it on vacation, I couldn't put it down. Literally, we have pictures of my cousin and I squished into a chair reading. It may not have been the most comfy setup, but hey, it was worth it for a great book like this one!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book April 10, 2012

By HUNG THAI

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Good book...but I don't recommend it for little kids because it involves kissing and some romance...anyway it's a wonderful book!

Hope this helped:)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Tween Read! April 16, 2011

By Reading, Writing and Waiting

Format:Paperback

Really cute book for tweens! This novel has just the right amount of sass to keep those tweens reading on. The voice is really fresh and the story is really cute, but is a little lower aged than what I perfer to read.