Customer Reviews

Sea Change

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Miranda Merchant of New York City is a girl of science, fact, and rational thought. So when she's introduced to the legends and myths of surrounding Selkie Island off Georgia's coast, her summer destination, she easily dismisses them. Why would a logical girl believe in the kraken and other such made up frivolities? Instead, she tries to focus on cleaning out her deceased grandmother's familial summer home and navigating the awkwardness of Southern formalities. But meeting Leo changes everything. Leo, the deeply mysterious local boy from the wrong side of the island, challenges all Miranda knows from friendship and love to her very perception of reality. But what happens when this scientist-in-the-making leans that what she dismissed as just stories of Selkie Island might actually be true and closer than she thinks?

Sea Change is a beautifully crafted mystical romance. My interest in this novel was piqued before I so much as read the summary because the cover art for Sea Change is some of the most beautiful and alluring I've ever seen. I'd classify this novel as mythological rather than paranormal, but there's no denying that the story, if not the characters, is magical. Friedman has a way of creating such a believable and likable heroine in Miranda; her affinity for logic, feelings of being the odd one out, and determination not to show her weaknesses make her particularly easy for me to relate to. There is a thick sense of mystery that pervades this story, especially surrounding Leo, which fueled my interest in this story further. The reader, along with Miranda, is kept guessing until the very end, and all the twists and hidden secrets maintain a high level of suspense and excitement. Although all the little clues point in one direction, I can't help but both love and hate how Friedman never actually states what Leo is; the mythology buff in me squeals over discovering such a cool creature, but my skeptic side writes if off as all coincidence. Unfortunately, I can't come out with my suspicious because the journey to these is half the story, but I can say that Sea Change will warm your heart, open your eyes to all of life's possibilities, and make ever the hardest headed person start to believe in true love and myths.

Fans of Friedman's writing in The Year My Sister Got Lucky will be similarly delighted in this fantastic and romantic tale. Readers will also enjoy this novel is they liked Evermore and Cruel Summer by Alyson Noël and Amor and Summer Secrets by Diana Rodriguez Wallach. I really hope there will be a sequel to Sea Change so I can follow the rest of Miranda and Leo's relationship and see some of the loose ends tied up.

If I could be on Selkie Island I would never want summer to end. What a history of sea creatures, heirs and southern hospitality this island has. Magnificent.

I loved Miranda, me and her, we'd get along. It was tough watching her struggle to fit in with the other girls on the island, the southern belles. But it was nice seeing her find a little group to hang out with. I really liked that she wasn't dropped into the story and she had this nice backstory of a boy that had once been more than a friend and a best friend that was no longer even a friend. It made Miranda seem more realistic.

Like others have said it would have been nice to just have a touch more about the mermaid/merman lore of the island, it was hinted at repeatedly but nothing ever was for sure. I wanted that for sureness. But I found Miranda and Leo's summer love really fun and interesting. I do wonder if their story will continue?

I also loved Miranda's family history, her parents story, her grandmother's story, that definitely helped take the story to another level. It helped create this beautiful world for the characters to exist in. This is definitely a wonderful summer story!

Most people think that mermaids and mermen, aka "Merfolk," are creatures of myth and legend and that they don't exist. But what if they do exist? We rooted for Ariel and her prince to live happily ever after, so with that in mind allow the fantastical aspect in your brain to take over for a moment and you have Aimee Friedman's newest book, SEA CHANGE. With an air of mystery and some romance, this book will suck you in with the cover alone. It's just gorgeous, foreshadowing things to come.

Miranda is spending the summer on Selkie Island, a small island off the Georgia Coast. She is helping her mom pack up the house her grandmother left to her mother when she died. You ask anyone who lives around there about Selkie Island and they can tell you all sorts of interesting local legends and lore.

The most interesting one is about the Merfolk. According to the legend, Captain McCloud fell in love with a mermaid, married her, and they lived on an island he named Selkie, which is the Scottish word for a creature than can turn from a seal into a human. They had several children, who took after their mother and were Merfolk - human on land and fish-like in the sea. Many of their descendants are still living on the Island today.

But Miranda is a girl of science who needs proof and knowledge to proceed forward. Did I mention she is headstrong and stubborn, as well? She is not one of the those girls that swoons at the sight of a gorgeous guy. But then she meets Leo......

There is something about Leo. He is not like the people that flock to the Island over the summer. Leo is a local - he lives on the Island year-round. Miranda is instantly drawn to him, but remember, she is a girl of science, and this so goes against her logical nature. There is just something about Leo, and no matter how attracted she is to him, it's just not sitting right with her.

Just go for it, girl! I know many girls who would love to have a guy like that. But could Leo possibly be hiding something, or is there really something to the stories Miranda has come across?

To put it simply, I liked this story because I really enjoyed Miranda and Leo and the realm of possibilities. It was the magical possibilities that drew me in. I would have been very happy leaving the other characters out and just reading about Leo and Miranda. It was implied what Leo was, but never said outright, and this just made the story all the more enjoyable. Friedman leaves you hanging at the end, too. I would like to see a second book that delves deeper into Miranda and Leo's relationship.

All in all, this book is absolutely a great summer read.

Reviewed by: coollibrarianchick

I liked the idea of mermaids/men; however, the story was rather boring and tended to repeat itself in numerous places. It got boring and monotonous. I kept hoping it would pick up a bit or at least the characters would turn likeable instead of annoying (especially our hero - some of her choices/ideas were very irritating).

***** CONTAINS SPOILERS *****


Miranda is smart and great at science. It reminded me of the days when I was a kid and I wanted to be a scientist, so reading all the little science-y facts throw in made me geek out. Through out the book, I always imagined Miranda to be close to going to college and forgot that she was only 16.

We're introduced to Miranda's mom as soon as she reaches Selkie Island and just as soon we're introduced to her mother's childhood friend and later her daughter CeeCee who's an exact image of her mother. The girl gave me anxiety every time she talked, I thought she was going to combust right there, during the heir party and gobble Miranda up from excitement. Then there's T.J. Mr. I'm-too-good-for-a-full-name. I don't know why, but this group of characters really annoyed me. Everything they were saying and doing seemed so unnecessary. And I guess it annoyed me how CeeCee just assumed she knew what was good for Miranda and how Miranda didn't stand up for herself, she just allowed herself to be set up with T.J. by pretty much everyone.

I loved Leo, he was mysterious and he seemed real compared to the rest of the island. I loved his cute and sweet efforts and how much of a gentleman he was.

The story was a little odd, there was a lot of arguing over what seemed like trivial things. Misunderstanding and no effort in clearing up those misunderstandings. I found myself screaming for Miranda to explain what she was really feeling instead of just going along with what everyone else wanted. Also, you never find out why everyone talks bad about the Fisherman's place.

While I did enjoy this read and I did look forward to scenes with Miranda and Leo, their relationship wasn't at all rushed and I really liked that... the ending left me feeling incomplete. It left room for a sequel, but I haven't heard of anything as far as a sequel goes. I'm really hoping for one, I wouldn't mind seeing more of Leo :)

There's not much to say about this book. Granted, the description on it made me wanna go out and borrow it from the library, and good thing I did. I put time aside from doing other important things to read this book with the hope that it was really good. It starts off good, but from the middle towards the end it falls flat. I couldn't help but feel like I wasted my time reading this book after finishing the last page. I thought there would be a big reveal from Leo to Miranda, but there wasn't. In the end, her concrete proof of Leo being something not human comes from whatever she saw while she was drowning. Hardly solid proof for someone who's supposed to be so scientific and only believe in the solid results of experimentation. I guess it's a different kind of romance book but it wasn't good to me. And her mother practically changing personalities over night was slightly annoying.

The beginning of this tale was good. I had all kinds of ideas floating aroudn in my head about where the story would go, but it never got there. It had it's romantic moments and other moments, but it never got to where I would hope it would go. The ending kind of felt rushed and unfinished. I hope there is a second part because I would read it! I just wished the first one would have gave a little more about the direction of the characters. A great quick read, but not in my top all time favs.

Miranda Merchant's life was grounded in science that is until she meets Leo, the mysterious young man on Siren Beach. As she gets to know Leo better she starts to feel differently about her scientific theories about life and love.

PLEASE DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE BOOK




Many seem to believe the title "Sea Change" is in reference to Leo being a merman or not. I do not believe this is the true meaning of the title.
The definition of Sea change, which is actually from the Shakespearean play, "The Tempest;" as stated in the dictionary means: any major transformation or alteration. It can also mean, any change brought about by the sea.

So, it means any major transformation or alteration, this can very easily be brought to believe that Leo is "transforming" into a merman with the change brought about by the sea. However, let us look at it in a different way.

Let's completely change our viewpoint from Leo to Miranda, no, she is not a mermaid. But, a transformation can be not only physical but mental, can it not? So I feel that Miranda is transforming into the girl she is by the end of the book, she is beginning to live again, and she lets her past come to rest, especially about Greg, her ex-boyfriend. Leo helps her realize that not all life is scientific and logical, but there are many mysteries to life, including love and trust that cannot always be explained with 1+1=2 logic.

Aimee Friedman's SEA CHANGE tells of teen Miranda Merchant, who escapes a hot summer in New York City to go to an island steeped in legend and more. When she discovers a mysterious boy who is hiding a unique secret, she finds her life changed by romance and intrigue in this satisfying fantasy.

What a wonderful book! This is a perfect summer read, or just perfect for when you wish it could be summer. So grab yourself a sweet tea and plunge into SEA CHANGE.

Miranda Merchant has just left New York city to spend the summer on the small Southern island of Selkie. Her rather eccentric grandmother recently passed away leaving Miranda's mother her house on Selkie. From the moment she arrives, she knows that she is not in her element and that this is going to be a very strange summer.

The island itself is almost frozen in time. There are no cars allowed and there seems to be an air of Southern hospitality and the place has a rich and mysterious history. Along with this, Miranda begins to notice that there is also a distinct separation between the classes on Selkie. She meets her neighbors, who are very well off and a bit on the snobby side. They all dress well and have impeccable manners, which makes her feel a little self conscious in her "comfortable" clothing. Miranda is more into science than fashion, but these people seem nice enough, so she does her best to fit in.

Things appear to be going well enough, but Miranda can't help but think that there is more to this island than meets the eye. It all begins with an old book she finds in the library of her grandmothers house that tells tales of a fantastical sort, explaining the true origin of the islands inhabitants. She is certain that there deep secrets hidden on the sandy shores of Selkie, but she has no idea that what she is about to dig up may effect her for the rest of her life. While she is searching for the truth, she meets a gorgeous local boy who may hold the key to unlocking her heart as well as truth about her own family's history. But only by understanding the past can Miranda and her mother change the course of their futures.

This is a beautifully written and romantic coming of age story that will completely transport you into the pages. I swear, I felt the Sea Breeze ruffling my hair and smelled the salt water. It could have been the air conditioner blowing on me, but I doubt it. I think the chills I got were from the amazing and vivildy drawn story.