The Selkie's Daughter

by Linda Crotta Brennan

A richly imagined fantasy set in Nova Scotia where a young girl—part selkie, part human—must save her family.

I am human upon dry land. I swim as selkie on the sea.

Brigit knows all the old songs and legends by heart: of Neve, the daughter of the sea god; of the warrior Finn MacCool; and of people who are not quite human. But Brigit knows the truth. It’s evident in the webbing between her fingers– webbing that must be cut. She’s the daughter of a selkie. A truth she must keep secret from everyone.

But someone in her village is killing young seals. Angering the king of the selkie clan, who vows revenge. A curse that will bring storm, sickness, and death. To protect those she loves, Brigit must find a way to Sule Skerrie, the land of selkies, to confront the Great Selkie and protect the young seals from harm.

Like sitting by a warm fireplace, The Selkie’s Daughter is an imaginative fantasy, steeped in Celtic mythology and rich with detail. Perfect for fans of mermaids and Studio Ghibli-esque stories.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Mythology, Childrens, Family

211 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 2, 2024

About the author

Just out! The Birth of the United States.
Coming soon: Women of the Ocean State: 25 Rhode Island Women You Should Know and When Rivers Burned: The Earth Day Story.
I’m the author of a number of books for children, including The Black Regiment of the American Revolution (Moon Mountain Publishing, hardcover 2004, paperback 2005), a nonfiction book for intermediate readers, and the picture books, Flannel Kisses (Houghton Mifflin, hardcover 1997, paperback 2006) and Marshmallow Kisses (Houghton Mifflin, hardcover 2000, paperback 2007). I've also written for the educational market, electronic media, and magazines including Cricket, Highlights, and Smithsonian’s Click magazine. I’m listed in Something About the Author, vol. 130, published by the Gale Group.

Until recently, I worked as a Library Reference Assistant, serving on the Rhode Island Teen Book Award Committee, and the Young Adult Round Table. Currently, I’m an instructor with the Institute of Children's Literature and present a variety of writing workshops for children and adults. I’m a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and the Author's Guild. For more information, visit my website at www.lindacrottabrennan.com.

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lot darker than I expected! CW: cutting of webbing in hands, death of family member, grief, violence against animals, mentions of alcoholism. 3.5 stars

What Worked: This was my first time reading a book that was steeped in Celtic mythology and lore as well as my first exposure to Selkies. Brennan did an excellent job introducing new readers to their history, abilities, and connection to Brigit's community. As with a lot of middle grade books, there are conversations that address bullying and the development of new friendships that ultimately serve as a support system for Brigit. Speaking of Brigit, Brennan did an EXCELLENT job with her character development. She isn't fearless, but she's brave and is willing to do anything to save both her community and family. There is a passion that exists in her that leans to always doing what it right regardless of how difficult it may seem. Themes like that always resonate with me as a reader.

What Didn't Work: The element of this book that did not work for me is one that I can't discuss in details due to spoilers. There is a death of a character that I didn't sit right with me because it felt extremely unjustified. Throughout the course of the novel, Brigit is left grieving the loss of this character and that grief is never fully addressed. Unfortunately, this took away from the book.

Overall, this was an interesting read! I know that Brennan has written other novels that I may check out in the future.

[Brok3n · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nova Scotia Selkies

The publisher has done an unusually good job of summarizing Linda Crotta Brennan's The Selkie's Daughter, so I won't bother. Read the publisher's blurb, if you haven't done so already!

What you will perhaps not realize from the blurb is how well this book evokes Nova Scotia and the Celtic legends on which it is based. Each chapter begins with a verse of song about Neve, Finn MacCool, and the selkies. These verses are so well chosen -- when I read them, I hear them as song

I am human upon dry land.
I swim as selkie on the sea.
And when I’m far and far frae land,
My home it is in Sule Skerrie.

Sule Skerry is a real place. However, you could not get there from Nova Scotia in a few hours in a small boat, as The Selkie's Daughter implies -- it's on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Nova Scotia of The Selkie's Daughter is vivid. It's a hard land -- this past Nova Scotia. I assume that children in Nova Scotia now have cell phones and modern schools and, like all Canadians, are covered by Health Insurance. Even the selkies!

It's a beautiful story of past time and old stories that you won't find in Grimm's Fairy Tales or even, as far as I know, a Walt Disney film.

I thank NetGalley and Holiday House for an advance reader copy of The Selkie's Daughter. This review expresses my honest opinion.

Blog review.

[Becky Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful, but also heart wrenching, story of a young girls search for her identity and where she fits in.

[Aura · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I would like to thank the author, publishers and NetGalley for writing, publishing and giving me the opportunity to read this amazing book!
Rating: 4.8/5

I don't even know where to start for this review.. I just finished this book and I'm stunned by how mesmerizing this book was. It just made my standards went higher!

I love how it portrayed the historical era
The realism of the village life and fishing
And a mix of mythology and fantasy in it!

The writing was so beautiful, The tales that are in the start of every chapters, The lyrics of the songs, they took me back to the historical times
And of course Peter! He's like those people who ONLY believe in science
I loved to see how his character developed

And how Brigit comes to accept that She's a Selkie's daughter
And how she endured those mocking and taunting from the others
And Margaret she's really strong and her father it was a perfect portray of a toxic home (personally I think the father is toxic)

All the characters' personality and everything was well written and executed properly

At first I was very skeptical of this but the deeper I goes the more attached I become to this book.

It was so captivating that when my phone died and I could not stop so I read it while it charging not caring about any risks (infact I wrote this right after while charging >_<)

It might be hard for people who are not into this kind of genres to get into it but with it's unique plot, storyline and writing I think most people might be able to do so!

I recommend this book to everyone who wants to feel a wave of emotions and go for an adventure together with the characters!

[Barb reads......it ALL! · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love tales of the selkie, there are dragon tale lovers and tales of faeries lovers....but I've always been partial to the seal/women of the north seas.
While this is darker than I expected in some places for a middle grade book, it's a terrific tale of being different, friends who stand by your side and family love.

[Cherie • bookshelvesandtealeaves · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great middle great novel! I don’t read them often because I find them so hit and miss but the premise sounded so good I just had to take the chance and I’m glad I did.

This gave me big The Thorns Remain vibes, but for children.

I loved Brigit, our main character. She’s half-selkie and half-human and she’s such a fierce, brave, lively character. I loved her journey towards self love and acceptance and not worrying as much about what the villagers think, and I loved that doing that allowed her to open her heart to them more and realise that not everyone is against their family.

I loved her friendships with both Margaret and Peter, too. Margaret in particular just captured my heart. She was Brigit’s biggest champion and it made me feel all warm and fuzzy every time.

I would have loved to spend more time with the selkie’s, though. I feel like we barely scratched the surface of their lives and history and what it means to be kin.

The plot is quite simple, but this story is magical and full of gorgeous Celtic mythology. Such a cosy read and definitely one to add to your tbr.

[Moonkiszt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Linda Crotta Brennan's The Selkie's Daughter introduces readers to Brigit who is the selkie's daughter. . . through her mother she is half of the sea and half of the land. The author's story is woven through with Celtic wonder, legend and tradition, especially as it relates to selkies. Not mermaids, mind you, these are seals, some of whom are able to shed their seal skin from time to time and step out and live on land as if they are humans. In the case of this sweet family, a lovers become a mother and father from their of seaside ignited love story. It's one of those arresting romances that cannot end well, but something good may come of it - and while much is lost, hopeful choices are made.

Before reading I intended to share this story with my grandkids, but upon further reading was very engaged myself, but was convinced that this was not one for them in their pre-teen years.

Brigit's story has pain with it - her seal heart keeps spreading to her limbs and there's a sympathetic neighbor who knows how to trim the webbings back (it happens repeatedly) - that was rather hard reading. And there are some other darker parts of the tale that convinced me to not share this story with my grandkids at this time. Yet because the story told does such a good job of carving out good responses to being outcast in closed-minded communities, I will recommend it to them when they are older, especially if their interests lean toward myths and Celtic legends.

*A sincere thank you to Linda Crotta Brennan, Holiday House/Peachtree/Pixel+Ink|Holiday House and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #TheSelkiesDaughter #NetGalley 25|52:46e

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

5.6

It's definitely a neat idea, and overall a sweet story. It is a little weak, it reads a lot like a first story rather than something written after years of craft. But it wasn't bad, solidly middle of the road.

[Analie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the Celtic mythology in this beautiful story. While there is grief and tragedy, there is also a lot of hope, strength, and growth in both Brigit and Peter’s characters. The prejudice of their fishing village and harm that gossip causes would make for a great discussion with young readers.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fascinating, mystical, exhilarating story! The Selkie’s Daughter brings to life the mythical selkie, a creature who can shift between a seal in water and a human on land. Selkies are found primarily in Celtic mythology. Selkies can be friendly and helpful to humans or vengeful and frightening. In this story, the reader sees both aspects of their personality. The book tells of a young girl whose mother is a selkie and who shows some selkie characteristics herself. The novel has several themes – family, friendship, fishermen, bullies, community, and of course, the mystical selkies. I loved the book because it contains many natural storylines, always underscored by the beautiful myth. Each chapter begins with a song or poem verse about Celtic traditional figures of lore or about selkies. Linda Crotta Brennan’s writing is quite simple yet magnificent in its storytelling. The Selkie’s Daughter is a lovely story, suitable for young people or adults.
Thank you to NetGalley and Holiday House for the opportunity to read the ARC of this novel.

[Wylde-reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this arc.

I rated The Selkie’s Daughter 5/5 stars.

while I am not the target audience for this book, I love Selkie’s and their lore, so when I read the description of this book, I knew I had to read it. This book is truly a sweet story about a girl who is half Selkie and half human, trying to find her place in the world. It was rich and beautiful, and I greatly appreciated the authentic Celtic references. Brigit’s adventure was heartfelt and fun, and I really enjoyed reading this. I wish this book was longer, because I never wanted to leave this story.


I’m so glad I took a chance on this read, and I will definitely be picking up a physical copy to add to my young readers shelf.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a beautiful story about a young girl's search for her identity. I love books set in Canada and the imagery in this was stunning. It really envoked the feeling of a small fishing town.

The mythology of selkies is not something that I have come across often in literature and this book provides a great introduction to it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this lovely book!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75 rounded down
This is a perfect bridge book for those young teens/older tweens! I am also a sucker for folklore and this books is dripping in it - with the song lyrics at the beginning of each chapter, to the character's dialogue, to the protagonist herself. It was a beautiful world to enter into and I only wish I could've remained there longer. The pacing was a bit off and seemed more rushed than it necessarily should be, but made up for with an engaging story that teaches readers about Nova Scotia and mythology.
contains animal cruelty, mutilation to hands, death of a young child

[Glenna Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brigit loves her mother, father, and brother Willie as well as the small fishing village in Nova Scotia where they live. That said, she doesn't love all of the people in the village. She especially doesn't like the ones who are bringing the bane of the Great Selkie. Since the troublemakers won't stop, it is up to Brigit to stop them, which she can do if she is willing to give up her secret of being a selkie's daughter.

[Manoek (manoeksbooknook) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 ⭐

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to put down, this tale of adventure is beautifully set in Nova Scotia and beautifully told!

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Selkie's Daughter by Linda Crotta Brennan is about a young girl named Brigit who tries to come to terms with being both human and a selkie. Brigit has heard of all the old tales about selkies, sea goddesses, and other magical creatures that are not quite human. She should feel proud that she is the daughter of a selkie but she knows it’s a secret she has to keep from everyone. Her aunt, Alys, cuts the webbing between her fingers to help the truth from coming out and to keep Brigit safe from other people.

As Brigit and her family try to keep her secret, a villager has been hurting baby seals and selling their fur. When the Great Selkie hears of this, he brings his wrath to the village. Brigit decides to travel to Sule Skerrie, the land of selkies, to confront the Great Selkie about the truth. Brigit feels that only the guilt party should be punished and not everyone in the village.

I thought the book was an interesting read. It was a quick and straightforward read with not many twists or turns. I do wish it had a bit more humor to the story as it was quite grim and serious for a young protagonist. I felt I would have enjoyed the book more if it had lighter moments. I did enjoy reading about the lore about the selkie and the Sule Skerrie. The author included a snippet of selkie lore at the beginning of each chapter but I wish it was made like a fun fact about selkies. Instead it was a poem. I would have preferred it to be more story-based, like a snippet of a folklore, song, or

[Srivalli (Semi-Hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Publication Date: 02nd Jan 2024

3.7 Stars

One Liner: A fast-paced read

Brigit is half-selkie, half-human. Her mother is a selkie. Everyone in the little village suspects it. Naturally, Brigit has to deal with bullies at school. However, that seems to be the least of her concerns.

Someone in the village is killing young seals, though they know it’s forbidden. The selkie folk are furious and vow revenge. Brigit and her family are stuck in the middle. She had to find a way to save the young seals, expose the criminals, and face the Great Selkie. But can she succeed?

The story comes in Brigit’s first-person POV.

My Thoughts:

I knew I had to read this when I saw the title. I recently wrote a short story with a half-selkie girl as the protagonist. I also wrote another story with the Celtic Brigit (goddess) as the main lead. Seeing the book seemed like the universe sending me a message (yet to figure out what it is).

The book is short, just 200+ pages, and a quick read. Set in Nova Scotia (a Canadian province in the Atlantic), the story takes place over a few days, giving us a glimpse into the lives of locals and Brigit’s family.

The starting is solid, even if it could be painful/ scary for young readers. There isn’t much character development, and most of them are surface-level. Yet, Margaret and Peter stand out.

I love how each chapter starts with a verse about traditional Celtic personalities (and sometimes selkies). They help create the mood and the atmosphere. In fact, the atmosphere is spot-on and much better than the characterization. I could visualize every scene and become a part of the landscape.

The book deals with various themes like family, friendship, community, bullying, greed, sacrifice, choices, etc. None of it is in detail, so it doesn’t overwhelm the readers. However, the contents are darkish and may not suit all young readers (check the trigger warnings at the end).

The fantasy elements are woven into the plot and are present just as much as required. It is seamless and uses the selkie mythology well. That said, I wouldn’t have minded if it was more prominent.

The climax is also fast-paced, which adds to the tension. However, it is over too soon. We see only a glimpse of Brigit’s bravery.

This could easily be a bigger book with more detailing and an in-depth character arc. Of course, that might make it suitable for adult readers. The premise calls for some intense darkness and drama.

To summarize, The Selkie's Daughter is a good attempt at introducing mythical creatures to young readers. It’s an engaging read and should keep them hooked.

Thank you, NetGalley and Holiday House, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

#NetGalley #TheSelkiesDaughter

***

T.W.: Death of a child due to illness, chopping web skin from hands, and murder of baby seals (these aren’t graphic and written with care, but they are present).

[Faith Elizabeth Hough · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love stories that blend old-world legends with new-world settings, so I was thrilled to read the description of the recently-released The Selkie’s Daughter, by Linda Crotta Brennan:

"A richly imagined fantasy set in Nova Scotia where a young girl—part selkie, part human—must save her family...
Brigit knows all the old songs and legends of Neve, the daughter of the sea god; of the warrior Finn MacCool; and of people who are not quite human. But Brigit knows the truth. It’s evident in the webbing between her fingers– webbing that must be cut. She’s the daughter of a selkie. A truth she must keep secret from everyone.
But someone in her village is killing young seals. Angering the king of the selkie clan, who vows revenge. A curse that will bring storm, sickness, and death. To protect those she loves, Brigit must find a way to Sule Skerrie, the land of selkies, to confront the Great Selkie and protect the young seals from harm.
Like sitting by a warm fireplace, The Selkie’s Daughter is an imaginative fantasy, steeped in Celtic mythology and rich with detail. Perfect for fans of mermaids and Studio Ghibli-esque stories."

A few things I especially loved:

—the setting.
I suppose L. M. Montgomery got me hooked on stories set in Eastern Canada. I also have ancestors from this part of the world, so it holds a special pull for me. Linda Crotta Brennan did a brilliant job of bringing the Nova Scotia coast to life, vividly and intriguingly.

—the characters.
Oh, Brigit was wonderful! Heroic and bold when she needed to be, but also quiet, compassionate, and conflicted. The secondary characters are complex and conflicted as well; Alys and Margaret, Brigit’s aunt and cousin are both caring and kind to Brigit while turning a blind eye to the evil in their immediate family. I loved Peter, the newcomer to the village and Brigit’s faithful friend, as well as his uncle Agnus, the village’s Catholic priest. In a time when books are saturated with Catholic priests turning out to be the bad guys, I was touched to see Father Agnus was a priest like the ones I know: balanced, generous, and possessed of a hearty sense of humor.

—the pacing.
I expected a slow story, to be honest. And while I won’t say that The Selkie’s Daughter was fast-paced and adventure-packed, its perfectly drawn out drama and tension left me wanting to turn page after page. I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next!

All in all, this was a story I will heartily recommend and can’t wait to share with my children.

[Jamie Steinberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet Brigit lives a bittersweet life. She resides in a little village with her brother Willie, her human father and her Selkie mother. That makes Brigit half-Selkie and her hands show the webbing to prove it, a fact she must hide from everyone. All that changes when someone begins killing seal pups, which brings on a curse that punishes the good and the bad. Can Brigit protect the pups and come to terms with her double life? Grab a seat and dive into the beautiful tale that is The Selkie’s Daughter.

Brigit is a young girl who longs for friends, but the others of her age aren’t very warm and friendly as they suspect her to be the daughter of a Selkie (someone who in water is a seal, but on land – when they shed their skin – takes on human form). Brigit keeps her secret hidden by having the webbing between her fingers cut – a painful experience for her. When Peter moves to town, he and his pup Tolly take to Brigit immediately as he has no knowledge of the rumors about her and her family. Sadly, things take a dark turn for the town when someone begins killing seal pups, which brings the ire of the Selkie community. With scarce food and the town suffering, Brigit’s father goes to great lengths to try to find fish and winds up crashing his ship and stranding him out at sea. Brigit is torn between letting her mom return to her Selkie form to save her dad – something that would keep her mother out to sea for seven years.

Author Linda Crotta Brennan does a beautiful job at weaving Celtic mythology with a tale filled deeply with heart. You immediately wish you could befriend Brigit and let her know that you don’t care what she is, it’s her heart that matters most and, boy, does she have a good one. Readers deeply invest in Brigit’s plight as well and deeply wish you could help save the seal pups. One qualm with this read is that while it wonderfully celebrates Celtic heritage it doesn’t offer pronunciation for names. Also, I wish that we had a better understanding of Brigit’s exact age. How young is too young to start shipping Peter and Brigit?

Minor comments aside, The Selkie’s Daughter is truly a heartwarming story that I think young adult readers will love. Could there be a sequel? Only Brennan knows, but I’d like to see more adventures of our heroine and whatever new friendships they bring.

[Paige V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brigit, a half-selkie heroine, sets out to save her dad and the selkie pups from getting killed.

Brigit is a half-human and half-selkie, a Celtic mythological creature that can shapeshift from seal to human. She lives with her selkie mother and keeps her true nature a secret. Unfortunately, Brigit's cousin and uncle have been hunting and killing Selkie pups for their pelts, which angers the Great Selkie, the leader of all Selkie. This has caused a lot of suffering in the village. In an attempt to help, Brigit's father decides to fish in Sule Skerrie, where the fish are abundant, but he goes missing. Now, it's up to Brigit to save her dad and the Selkie pups from being killed and restore the village's peace. Will Brigit be able to accomplish her mission?

What a fascinating book that delved deep into the world of Celtic mythology. The book was an insightful exploration of the Selkies, a mythical creature with the unique ability to transform from a seal to a human and vice versa.
What fascinated me the most was their immunity to illness, making them intriguing. The book was well-written, with each chapter starting with a poem related to the progenitor of the Selkies, Neve. This was a great way to set the tone for each chapter and prepare the reader for what was to come.

One of the main characters, Brigit, was an inspiring and determined person who stood up for what was right. Her courage and determination were evident throughout the book, and I found myself rooting for her from the beginning. Brigit's mother was beautiful, and her father was equally determined as Brigit, which made for an enjoyable family dynamic. Unfortunately, Brigit's cousin and uncle were not as kind, and they could have been more supportive of her.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a story about a brave person who stands up for what's right. The book is an engaging and informative read that will leave you feeling inspired and enlightened about the world of Celtic mythology.

Happy Reading, Paige ❤️ 📚

Thank you, @holidayhousebks, for sharing this great book with me, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Ifa Inziati · Rating 3 out of 5]

Happy Pub Day to The Selkie's Daughter! This book is released on Jan 2, 2024. Thank you Holiday House and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

It's been a minute since my last Middle Grade read, and since I don't really follow the trend of this genre, I'm not sure if there's such thing as lower/upper MG like in YA. But if there is, this one leans more to upper MG due to its more complex theme and content (the book literally opens with Brigit getting her webbed hand CUT). I think it'll help to include some trigger/content warning too, such as blood, bullying, death of a family, and animals being harmed.

The Nova Scotia setting is stunning. It's rich with myths and history and folksongs. There is no indication when the story is set, but I assume it's not in recent days. The language does feel very MG with a bunch of exclamation points, but it doesn't lessen the beauty especially when it comes to descriptive paragraphs. Like other reviewers, I'm not familiar with selkies and I wish it would be explained more detailed. A little googling helps, though.

As for the characters, Brigit's character arc is something that readers can relate too, no matter the age. Margaret is a sweet kid; I'm glad Brigit has softened to her because she deserves better. At first, I thought there will be some romance going on between Brigit and Peter, but then I remembered this is MG and I'm glad because their friendship plus Margaret is more heartwarming.

Maybe after this I'll read more MG books. And maybe it would be more enjoyable if I understand about selkies before diving into it. I think contemporary fantasy lovers and upper Middle Grade readers who don't mind that things being told as is and 'not holding back' just because it's targeted for younger people would definitely like this one.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was made possible via an ARC through NetGalley.

The Selkie’s Daughter by Linda Crotta Brennan is a historical fantasy Middle Grade featuring Celtic folklore in Nova Scotia. Brigit is the daughter of Neve, a selkie, and a fisherman. Her village distrusts her due to the webbing on her hands, a sign of her selkie heritage, which her younger brother does not share. Brigit’s two friends are her cousin, Margaret, and Peter, a new boy in town who is the nephew of the local priest and loves science.

Seal pups are being killed, leading the selkie leader, Neve’s father and Brigit’s grandfather, curses their town, leading to a plague and storms that make it harder to fish, further dooming the town. Brigit’s father goes fishing and he’s stranded far from home. Brigit, Margaret and Peter take a boat to try to find him and Brigit embraces both parts of herself.

The Selkie’s Daughter is a story of grief, embracing being between two worlds, and friendship between children with different viewpoints. The book does feature a priest and several references to Christianity, Catholicism specifically, I believe as well as pieces of folk songs about Sive and Tír na nÓg, two important stories in Celtic folklore. The folk songs and broader representation of selkies are a great way to introduce younger readers to Celtic stories.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not many of the few villagers about like the fact Brigit's mother is a selkie – one of those seal women turned into human form and loving one of us human males. They certainly don't appreciate the sacrifice it meant to her. And so she has a human-like young son, and a daughter, Brigit, who we see at the start of this having her webbed hands trimmed down to human form. When a new boy around reminds Brigit of just some of the lore that abounds in her world here in Nova Scotia, they form a friendship. But that only shows the first in a step-chain of calamities, as some of the humans are doing something else the Great Selkie finds most disagreeable. This time its not forsaking one's own kind and dallying with the humans, to him this is much worse...

This was actually quite the concise, nifty novel, full of Gaelic-tinged verse and sentiment yet wearing it very lightly. Again, not too much is made of the specific coastal region we're witnessing, but it's there. And while some of the plotting may be a touch too obvious, for the under-twelve age range this is a distinctive piece. It talks of social ostracism, the chance of a cursed community, home, heritage and where one is destined to be – and does it all in the gently fantastical way the mythical characters allow. It's no world-beater, but I was glad for the chance to enjoy it – four stars feels about right.

[Smallbob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC!✌️
A sweet and heartfelt story about friendship, family and overcoming obstacles.
I think Brigit is an excellent protagonist for middle graders to read about. She faces a great deal of adversity, from struggling to fit in at school, to facing fear and suspicion from her fellow townspeople due to her being half-selkie. However, she remains determined and never gives up, even when she faces terrible odds.
I also enjoyed reading about selkie folklore! I came into this with pretty basic knowledge about selkies, and without knowing much (or anything) about the Irish culture surrounding it, so I can't speak for the book's accuracy in this regard, but I feel I came away more knowledgable and cultured.
One thing I think could be added was a pronunciation guide; I am not familiar with the Irish language, so I had no idea how some of the names and places should be pronounced, and many readers may not know how to pronounce them either.
Also a content warning for kids: there is a significant character death, and while I feel that the book treats it with care and respect, it is better to be warned and prepared, and I think parents could take the opportunity to discuss it with their child.

[The Opal Grove Editing · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars
This was a really fun, easy to read story. I loved the development of Brigit throughout the story, and how she learned to accept all aspects of herself by the end of the book. The story was well-written, and heart-wrenching at times, but has such a great message for its middle school audience. The importance of family and friends is highlighted, as well as respect for the natural world. It was fast-paced and action packed, whilst still giving enough character interactions to feel a connection with them - especially Brigit and Peter.
I really liked the Celtic mythology aspects to it, but I would have loved to have seen more of the selkies and their world.
I will say that I think the books needs another pass through by an editor for formatting. There are odd spacings and hyphens, and sometimes speech by different characters are on separate lines. Also, the chapter titles were odd, with each chapter being titled 'm *number*C'.
Overall, a fun and enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book!

[Mishal Syed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always loved Celtic / Irish folklore and selkies specifically. This book has all this folklore (but in a Canadian setting--Nova Scotia for some reason). There are men who hunt and kill baby selkies, and there's a child death, so some parts are quite dark for MG, but it's extremely sweet overall. My favorite part of the narrative is the part where Brigit (spoiler-ish) briefly turns into a selkie and discovers their underwater world. This part has beautiful descriptions.

This book is a gentler version of a half-selkie story, where Brigit's mother was not kidnapped or forcibly married, which is a relief considering it's MG. There are not many MG selkie stories, but I've always had a fascination with selkies in general, and this does it for me. It doesn't gloss over the difficulty of living in a fishing town or Brigit's complicated relationship with her heritage (she literally has to get her fins cut off from between her fingers without anesthesia), but it's hopeful rather than despairing.

[The Opal Grove Editing · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun, easy to read story. I loved the development of Brigit throughout the story, and how she learned to accept all aspects of herself by the end of the book. The story was well-written, and heart-wrenching at times, but has such a great message for its middle school audience. The importance of family and friends is highlighted, as well as respect for the natural world. It was fast-paced and action packed, whilst still giving enough character interactions to feel a connection with them - especially Brigit and Peter.
I really liked the Celtic mythology aspects to it, but I would have loved to have seen more of the selkies and their world.
I will say that I think the books needs another pass through by an editor for formatting. There are odd spacings and hyphens, and sometimes speech by different characters are on separate lines. Also, the chapter titles were odd, with each chapter being titled 'm *number*C'.
Overall, a fun and enjoyable read.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This compelling fantasy novel about a part human, part selkie girl is rich in setting and details. Brigit and her family live in a small village in Nova Scotia where they have lived for generations. Her mother is a selkie, who has chosen to live on the land with her human family, but it is not without sacrifice. When disease and misfortune start to harm the fishing village, the townspeople are quick to blame Brigit and her mother -- and the selkies -- for their misfortune. In turn, the selkies are upset because of the brutal slaughter of selkie babies. When everything comes to a head, Brigit must gather the courage to save her family and her village, even while facing tragedy herself.
This is an unusual middle grade fantasy that is rooted in Celtic mythology. The historical fantasy setting works really nicely to give a sense of time and place. For upper middle grade readers, Brigit's first person narration is intimate and exciting.

[Jame_EReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you @rockstarbooktour @holidayhousebooks for having my kids and I on this booktour. My daughter enjoyed this one thoroughly.

👧🏻 review: I remember reading about selkie when I was in grade school and despite very few stories were available, this book offered many fascinating insights about selkie and Nova Scotia. I rarely read about Celtic mythology and this one gave me an interesting ideas about the history and origins. This book is about Brigit, Margaret and Peter’s friendship and their struggle to fight the seal killers and letting the community know their real reasons why they have to save the seals. It is such a heartwarming book overall and It is a perfect mythology book to read about the Celtic folklore.