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Mermaid in Chelsea Creek Paperback – July 1, 2014

by Michelle Tea (Author), Jason Polan (Illustrator)

4.2 47 ratings

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Everyone in the broken-down town of Chelsea, Massachusetts, has a story too worn to repeat—from the girls who play the pass-out game just to feel like they're somewhere else, to the packs of aimless teenage boys, to the old women from far away who left everything behind. But there’s one story they all still tell: the oldest and saddest but most hopeful story, the one about the girl who will be able to take their twisted world and straighten it out. The girl who will bring the magic. Could Sophie Swankowski be that girl? With her tangled hair and grubby clothes, her weird habits and her visions of a filthy, swearing mermaid who comes to her when she’s unconscious, Sophie could be the one to uncover the power flowing beneath Chelsea’s potholed streets and sludge-filled rivers, and the one to fight the evil that flows there, too. Sophie might discover her destiny, and maybe even in time to save them all.

Reading age

12 - 15 years
Print length

240 pages
Language

English
Grade level

6 - 9
Dimensions

6 x 1 x 8 inches
Publisher

McSweeney's McMullens
Publication date

July 1, 2014
ISBN-10

1938073959
ISBN-13

978-1938073953
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About the Author

Michelle Tea is the author of 4 9; memoirs, 1 9; novels and a collection of poetry. Her memoir Valencia is an underground classic and is currently being made into a feature film by 21 different filmmakers. She is the founder and executive director of RADAR Productions, a literary non-profit which hosts the monthly RADAR Reading Series (voted Best Literary Series by SF Bay Guardian Readers), the infamous Sister Spit Literary Performance tours, an annual poetry chapbook contest, and the Radar LAB Writers' Retreat in Akumal, Mexico. She is a former writer of horoscopes and a current reader of tarot cards. Jason Polan's illustrations are featured regularly in The New York Times. He lives in New York City.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ McSweeney's McMullens; First Trade Paper edition (July 1, 2014)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1938073959
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1938073953
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 12 - 15 years
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 6 - 9
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.16 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #3,001,312 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #5,876 in Teen & Young Adult Sword & Sorcery Fantasy
- #34,618 in Children's Fantasy & Magic Books
- #188,487 in Fantasy (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.2 47 ratings

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Reinhard Frisch

Reality and Myth Well Brought Together

Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2021

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I’ll start by saying I’m by no means part of the target audience for this book. For one thing, I’m old. I bought it and it’s sequel simply because I was curious about a story that combined a realistic depiction with a fantasy overlay of the city that I and the author grew up in, though about twenty years apart. I’d already read her memoir <The Chelsea Whistle> and learned that her house was only a couple of blocks from mine; I immediately recognized it from her description. Growing up, I had passed it literally thousands of time on my way to school and going downtown. And, no, the “flavor” of the neighborhood had changed through the years hardly at all. One is tempted to say “alas.” Actually, in essence, as a place to grow up in, live in, Chelsea doesn’t change a whole lot. I think Michelle Tea would agree, it’s a rite of passage, and hardly anyone emerges unscratched. Horatio Alger, by the way, also grew up in Chelsea a century before and made myth out of the reality as well. Anyway, to the point: I like the two books and look forward to sometime getting to the finale. For this old guy–and my wife, who has no Chelsea connection–the books carry off the blend of realism and fantasy just about seamlessly. Tea is also a very good, successfully vivid prose writer. I think the story would work well for the target audience as well.

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S. Perry

Great book, needs another editorial run-through for grammar/spelling/homophones.

Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2015

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I started this today and finished it today, all in one big bite. With an established love for mermaids, I was also delighted to find that the book delves into multiple different pieces of worldwide mythology. It dips its toe into one, and then dives head-first into Polish mythology. As a 3rd-generation Polish-derived person, I was delighted to see my own mythology and dilemma played out. The book doesn't talk down to its intended audience but also reads "up" very well - it's a YA novel enjoyable by adults.

I would have loved to give this 5 stars, and the only thing that keeps me from doing so is that the book has several glaring grammatical/language/spelling errors which show a need for a stronger editorial/beta-read process. Those moments knocked me out of the book and I had to clamber to get back in. However, I look forward to and have already purchased the next installment.

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Judithpratt

A different kind of heroine

Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2019

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Every fantasy is about a dethroned princess or an abused commoner who turn out to be the kingdom's savior. "Mermaid" twists this trope wonderfully.
Sophie Swankowski lives in rundown Chelsea, MA. She is grubby and undermotivated. Her mom is overworked and passive. Her grandmother runs a dump. But Sophie turns out to be a magic world savior who can talk to pigeons.
Of course she runs away from this magic for awhile, during which we get a tour through Chelsea's creek full of dead shopping carts and streets full of creepy teen boys. The writing is unusual while still readable. There is, of course, a sequel. I might even read it.

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SunshineAndRain

much to love, but plot unravels

Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2013

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I loved the writing in this book. I loved the imagery. The gritty, real, teen perspective in here is marvelous. Love the relationship between the main character and her overworked, exhausted mom. Loved how magic was intertwined with reality. Loved the talking birds. Alas, the plot unwinds in the second half of the book. The magic moves from lyrical to plain weird (like a neighborhood convenience store transforms? Huh?). The story is about the main character being the "chosen one" but we don't really find out what task she is being chosen for. I know there is a sequel coming, but I wish we learn about her ultimate quest in this book.

2 people found this helpful

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Laura

Need to read the next installment!

Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2014

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I had no idea this book was going to have a sequel when I started reading it. The author was mentioned on AfterEllen.com as someone to check out, and the premise sounded interesting. I'm so glad I did. The imagery and detail in this book are so captivating, it was so easy to visualize the characters and feel the emotions from them. The story was so interesting, I read it too fast. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, and can't wait to read the next one!

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Hanna Lauerman

Super enjoyable book with a diverse cast of interesting characters

Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2015

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Super enjoyable book with a diverse cast of interesting characters. It's fun to see Michelle Tea working in another genre -- If you read this and like it (and are over 18) I would urge you to read her poetry collection The Beautiful, which is a very different piece of work discussing her life as a prostitute.

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heta taylor

Unusual story about mermaids.

Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2014

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Beautifully written story about wanting more. Very sad and revealing. I enjoyed reading it out loud to my disabled daughter.

Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2018

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This is such an imaginative story.

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clear_tranquil

Beautiful imagery!

Reviewed in Canada on July 1, 2015

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Despite a slow start, this book captured my attention with it's magical realism. The plight young Sophie faces may not be a familiar one, yet as a girl on the cusp on young adulthood she is all to easy to relate to. The fantasy elements of this story were woven wonderfully with the pain and anguish of growing up. I can't wait to read more of this series - though waiting for the next instalment will be difficult.

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