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Mermaid Park
Sixteen-year-old Amy Rush doesn't expect much from her summer at the Jersey shore, until she stumbles on Mermaid Park, an old tourist spot where girls dress in fabulous costumes and put on underwater shows. Working at the park changes Amy's life in more ways than she could have imagined. She finds romance, a newfound self-confidence, and discovers breathtaking revelations about long-buried family secrets.
249 pages, Hardcover
First published July 7, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
April 30, 2016
I do not recommend this book.
It had great premise. I've always loved mermaid stories and a book about a Mermaid Park was intriguing. But to be flat-honest, this book is depressing.
From page 1 to the end.
Amy is the protagonist who's verbally abusive step-dad never gets told off by her mother, or her mother's best friend who knows the guy is a jerk. And more than once, they want Amy to take responsibility for his behavior. What is wrong with people? There is no likeable character whatsoever.
The only reason I continued reading past the onslaught of abusive language from the step-dad, was when Amy met Dylan. I thought, well at least there will be a nice romantic part of the book. But no. At first, the story builds up this summer romance, but after the first kiss, Amy decides she doesn't like Dylan anymore--without any explanation as to why. She has a record of this, it seems.
None of the characters were fleshed out that much, especially the mother's friend, Lynne, who Amy stayed with. You would expect Lynne to be the bold, protective aunt-like friend but she isn't and though she admits the step-dad is a jerk, she says it's Amy's fault too.
Let's get this straight -- it's her step-dad who is cussing at Amy, he has an anger problem, and if h hasn't already been hitting them, he soon will. Amy is the victim. She isn't an instigator, she's the only one sane enough to tell him he's wrong.
Amy then finds out the family secret but it's revealed with less than 20 pages left and there is no redemption of it. Her grandfather isn't told he has a granddaughter. Amy does the mermaid show, her sister (who is verbally abusive to Amy as well) see the show but that's how it ends.
It ends with them in the car on the way home with the step-dad--no one told him he was wrong, the mother doesn't leave him though he's a jerk and abusive. Amy hasn't learned anything. She just accepts the fact that people aren't perfect.
This book sucks. It has no justice whatsoever. The mother won't confront the step-dad - ridiculous. The book just ends without any -- -ugh, this book isn't worth your time. It's depressing with no uplifting moments, not even from Amy. She isn't likeable, she's negative (not that she really has a reason to be positive, I guess) and I am really disappointed in this book.
If you're thinking it's a beach read -- nope. It's not a love story. It's a book without hope that ends with the character accepting that the step-dad and how her family treats her, is normal and okay.
IT'S NOT.
Don't be like Amy. Don't take abuse from people. Get away from it, get help, surround yourself with people who care about you and love you, not people who shoot you down. Not people who let others shoot you down.
It had great premise. I've always loved mermaid stories and a book about a Mermaid Park was intriguing. But to be flat-honest, this book is depressing.
From page 1 to the end.
Amy is the protagonist who's verbally abusive step-dad never gets told off by her mother, or her mother's best friend who knows the guy is a jerk. And more than once, they want Amy to take responsibility for his behavior. What is wrong with people? There is no likeable character whatsoever.
The only reason I continued reading past the onslaught of abusive language from the step-dad, was when Amy met Dylan. I thought, well at least there will be a nice romantic part of the book. But no. At first, the story builds up this summer romance, but after the first kiss, Amy decides she doesn't like Dylan anymore--without any explanation as to why. She has a record of this, it seems.
None of the characters were fleshed out that much, especially the mother's friend, Lynne, who Amy stayed with. You would expect Lynne to be the bold, protective aunt-like friend but she isn't and though she admits the step-dad is a jerk, she says it's Amy's fault too.
Let's get this straight -- it's her step-dad who is cussing at Amy, he has an anger problem, and if h hasn't already been hitting them, he soon will. Amy is the victim. She isn't an instigator, she's the only one sane enough to tell him he's wrong.
Amy then finds out the family secret but it's revealed with less than 20 pages left and there is no redemption of it. Her grandfather isn't told he has a granddaughter. Amy does the mermaid show, her sister (who is verbally abusive to Amy as well) see the show but that's how it ends.
It ends with them in the car on the way home with the step-dad--no one told him he was wrong, the mother doesn't leave him though he's a jerk and abusive. Amy hasn't learned anything. She just accepts the fact that people aren't perfect.
This book sucks. It has no justice whatsoever. The mother won't confront the step-dad - ridiculous. The book just ends without any -- -ugh, this book isn't worth your time. It's depressing with no uplifting moments, not even from Amy. She isn't likeable, she's negative (not that she really has a reason to be positive, I guess) and I am really disappointed in this book.
If you're thinking it's a beach read -- nope. It's not a love story. It's a book without hope that ends with the character accepting that the step-dad and how her family treats her, is normal and okay.
IT'S NOT.
Don't be like Amy. Don't take abuse from people. Get away from it, get help, surround yourself with people who care about you and love you, not people who shoot you down. Not people who let others shoot you down.
February 15, 2013
It was a good and light read. This is a book one should read when you just want to relax or chill. The plot is not as complicated as I expected it to be. I think I was just deceived by the title and the description. It is one of those books that will make you think of a different plot then you'll learn it isn't what you are expecting.
To tell you honestly, I was expecting a fantasy fiction about mermaids. Well, it was not exactly the case. I thought there will be magic involve or secrets to be revealed but it was not. Well there was one, but it was not that really nerve-racking as I imagined it to be. It was a good book, don't get me wrong. I think I just had high expectations.
Anyhow, off to the good points. I love the guts the protagonist has. She was really feisty and at the same time awkward. She's really shy and not that confident, but she is firm on what she believes in and she stands for what she thinks is right. I love how she speaks her mind and being talented at the same time. Maybe I saw the younger version of me in her that is why I was sort of fond of her even if she was also that stubborn in making decisions. I also love how realistic the story was and it still has room for some creativity and imagination for the readers.Another is that I love the little romantic element on the side. I find the events really subtle and sweet which made me giddy to read more about the relationship's progress being molded in the story.
To tell you honestly, I was expecting a fantasy fiction about mermaids. Well, it was not exactly the case. I thought there will be magic involve or secrets to be revealed but it was not. Well there was one, but it was not that really nerve-racking as I imagined it to be. It was a good book, don't get me wrong. I think I just had high expectations.
Anyhow, off to the good points. I love the guts the protagonist has. She was really feisty and at the same time awkward. She's really shy and not that confident, but she is firm on what she believes in and she stands for what she thinks is right. I love how she speaks her mind and being talented at the same time. Maybe I saw the younger version of me in her that is why I was sort of fond of her even if she was also that stubborn in making decisions. I also love how realistic the story was and it still has room for some creativity and imagination for the readers.Another is that I love the little romantic element on the side. I find the events really subtle and sweet which made me giddy to read more about the relationship's progress being molded in the story.
March 31, 2014
Mermaid Park was a very good book with an interesting story. a young girl is trying to deal with her family and being a normal teenager with a life. her mom, step dad and sister all go down to Wildwood for a weekend in the summer and while they are there, she meets a guy who she really likes. she also is wandering around one night and happens to turn up at mermaid park where you can watch mermaids swim and put on a show. immediately she is intrigued by the mermaids and tells herself she will work here and stay for the whole summer. Amy never gives up trying to accomplish her dreams and shows a lot of courage through out the whole book. i recommend this book to people who have a dream and want to pursue it.
March 8, 2012
I think this book was okay, but it was fun to read. This story is about Amy Rush, a 16 year old who is tired of the distance that has grown between her and her sister, Melissa (Mel for short), tired of her stepfather's, Tom, yelling and torture at her and her mother's blindness when she can't tell its a bad thing. But, everything changes when she goes to the New Jersey shores and sees the beautiful, magical Mermaid Park. Girls dressed in sequined tail fins, flipping and dancing gracefully, putting on shows that put the audience under a spell. Amy would love to work there, since she's an excellent swimmer. But Lynne, her mother's godmother, tells her not to go there, but Amy wouldn't listen. There is the reason why. For the whole summer, she worked there, But, while she was there, there was something that she found about about her mom's past life. A secret, that will be revealed, including why she can't go there. The character I'm going to do today is a Amy. Amy, an average 16 year old, who is in the swim team at school, who has problem with family. Amy, she did one thing that changed their family. During her summer, she went to beach. Lynne told her not to go to to far from the beach, where the secret is. The Mermaid Park. Amy is such an independent person, pretty and smart. She loves to swim. One day, she was wondering farther down the beach, than she was suppose to, until, she spotted the Mermaid Park. So, after begging her mom to stay here for the whole summer, she works there now, at least for the summer, as the trash picker. Amy's glad she's working in the park, but she want to be more than just the trash picker, she wants to be one of the "mermaids", dipping and diving, loop de loops, spinning, graceful dancing, dressed in beautiful tail fins. But one day, she did. Later, she became the person who moves all the props in each scene. When a girl named Deena (one of the girls who hate Amy at the park) bruised her lung because she didn't manage to get to an air hose in the tank to breath air to continuously swim in the tank fast enough, Amy filled in for her. It was so fun. Later, Stephanie's (the only girl at the park who likes Amy and befriended her and became Amy's mentor when learning how to be a "mermaid") brother, Steven, who is autistic (I think I read to many books with autism in it), is having trouble with his new roommate in the hospital, so Stephanie came to help. She handles Steven way better than her parents. Stephanie loves her brother very much. Now, Amy has to fill in for her, as the Mermaid Queen. They are putting on a how about this Mermaid Queen. Stephanie was suppose to be the queen, but because of her brother, Amy fills her in. Amy is so happy. But when Lynne found out she's been here and when Mel ran away from home because of Tom, the truth is finally revealed. Amy's Mom used to be Mermaid Queen, and she married Skip (or Harold because Skip was a nickname), the love of her life and Skip, was in fact, Bruce's (the Mermaid Park manager)son. Skip died in a car accident one day, which left Amy's mom in tears, a scar in life. That's the reason why she doesn't like to be in the Mermaid park, because it brings her bad memories. But, Amy did bring a change in her family, Mom is not blind anymore, Mel is friends with Amy now, and Tom, well, I don't know. When all secrets are revealed, it feels so much better, and now Amy can live a new, happy life now. All thanks to the Mermaid Park. That seriously changed Amy's life, and her family's life. I guess it was worth it to go to that park, because Amy did something to change everyone's life.
April 24, 2023
One particular issue that made the book difficult to read was that the author seemed to unfairly blame the main character for her family's problems. The stepfather was verbally abusive, and the main character's younger sister hit her, yet she was always told she was the troublemaker in the situation. It was hard to read at times.
I found the main character's behavior with boys to be frustrating. She would lead them on, only to push them away when they got too close, referring to them as "lovesick puppies." Her sudden infatuation with a boy she met on vacation was so odd because after they kissed she stopped talking to him and decided that he was a "lovesick puppy". The way she treated him was confusing, she also randomly made out with a boy she barely even knew.
Lastly, the supposed "family secret" that was mentioned in the book's description turned out to be completely different than what I had anticipated. It felt like a contrived plot twist that did not add anything to the story. If anything, it left me feeling disappointed and annoyed. Overall, this book did not meet my expectations, and I would not recommend it to others.
I found the main character's behavior with boys to be frustrating. She would lead them on, only to push them away when they got too close, referring to them as "lovesick puppies." Her sudden infatuation with a boy she met on vacation was so odd because after they kissed she stopped talking to him and decided that he was a "lovesick puppy". The way she treated him was confusing, she also randomly made out with a boy she barely even knew.
Lastly, the supposed "family secret" that was mentioned in the book's description turned out to be completely different than what I had anticipated. It felt like a contrived plot twist that did not add anything to the story. If anything, it left me feeling disappointed and annoyed. Overall, this book did not meet my expectations, and I would not recommend it to others.
July 25, 2010
didnt really like it. the book is slightly misleading. You imagine something fantasy and get something reality. It as good for what it was though. A coming of age story. I wish there was a bit more myth and magic though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2023
The beginning is difficult to get through, with the childish bully of a stepfather (whom no adult ever properly calls out for mocking and taunting teenage girls?), and the "romance" is very odd, so I can only assume this is a 2005 attempt at coding a lesbian/asexual/not-yet-existent term for "only attracted to being a mermaid" character.
But the descriptions of the title location, the mermaid show, and the way she feels being there...pure magic, some of the most beautiful writing I've ever come across. The back of the (hardcover) is so right for highlighting the very first time this happens, even before she sets foot on the property:
(hopefully you can make this big enough to read!)
Thereafter, whether observing her first show as a paying guest, sneaking in after hours to practice swimming in the "tank" (not actually a man-made structure but a natural spring with a structure built around it, which is some very cool imagery), or simply admiring the mermaids' costumes while engaged in her menial janitorial duties by day, there's always this sense of the extraordinary tingeing the scene, like she was always meant to find this place, so intrinsically does she belong. Especially when she's in the water, sealed literally and figuratively in her own little world, and it's clear she's never been happier.
I also loved her finding about the history of the park and seeing photos of shows from years past, and while the ending is perhaps a bit predictable if you've read the summary, I forgot all about that so when I got there, it made me gasp...and then brought tears to my eyes, so perfectly done.
On a random note: I also really liked Stephanie, the lead mermaid, and the friendship they eventually form.
There's a bit of nostalgia for me too, based on its publication date that more or less aligns with my own high school years; I forgot how much I like books that feel modern but have little mention of cell phones and even less of the internet, because in the mid-2000s it was still perfectly possible to find yourself summering in a place where you didn't have regular access to or need to be online. That may be influencing my rating a bit too, but eh; I've decided I'm fine with rounding up on Goodreads, especially for books with a smallish number of ratings and unlikely to collect many more.
A pity that this is the author's only YA novel, and apparently last published book.
But the descriptions of the title location, the mermaid show, and the way she feels being there...pure magic, some of the most beautiful writing I've ever come across. The back of the (hardcover) is so right for highlighting the very first time this happens, even before she sets foot on the property:
(hopefully you can make this big enough to read!)
Thereafter, whether observing her first show as a paying guest, sneaking in after hours to practice swimming in the "tank" (not actually a man-made structure but a natural spring with a structure built around it, which is some very cool imagery), or simply admiring the mermaids' costumes while engaged in her menial janitorial duties by day, there's always this sense of the extraordinary tingeing the scene, like she was always meant to find this place, so intrinsically does she belong. Especially when she's in the water, sealed literally and figuratively in her own little world, and it's clear she's never been happier.
I also loved her finding about the history of the park and seeing photos of shows from years past, and while the ending is perhaps a bit predictable if you've read the summary, I forgot all about that so when I got there, it made me gasp...and then brought tears to my eyes, so perfectly done.
On a random note: I also really liked Stephanie, the lead mermaid, and the friendship they eventually form.
There's a bit of nostalgia for me too, based on its publication date that more or less aligns with my own high school years; I forgot how much I like books that feel modern but have little mention of cell phones and even less of the internet, because in the mid-2000s it was still perfectly possible to find yourself summering in a place where you didn't have regular access to or need to be online. That may be influencing my rating a bit too, but eh; I've decided I'm fine with rounding up on Goodreads, especially for books with a smallish number of ratings and unlikely to collect many more.
A pity that this is the author's only YA novel, and apparently last published book.
May 26, 2020
Ever wonder what it would feel like to breathe underwater or swim like a fish? I know I do. When I was younger I would play in the pool and pretend I was a mermaid. I would see how long I could hold my breath, I would swim with my legs together. I even went so far as to buy a swimmable mermaid tail. I chose this book because I saw the cover and thought "this is the one for me."
Mermaid Park by Beth Mayall is a real-life fairy tale. Girl meets a guy on a family vacation, they fall in love, bla bla bla. That is what you might think about this book, but you are wrong. This book looks deeper into the challenges children with divorced parents face. The challenges of not fitting in. Amy Rush finds herself at the beach on a family vacation with her family who doesn't even notice her. One day she stumbles upon a tank full of... mermaids! She wants to stay and watch but she doesn't want to get caught by anyone so she leaves promising herself to come back. days later when her family is about to leave her sister breaks a window in the hotel and blames it on Amy. Amy is then forced by her mother to stay with her aunt at the beach and work to help pay for the window. This gives her the chance to get closer to her crush and see the mermaids again.
Just the title of this book is appealing but what really brought me in was the romance and magical aspect of the book. The tense atmosphere between Amy and her crush is intense but interesting considering after they kiss Amy seems to be bored of him. However, the mermaids are also very intriguing because they bring out the child and mystery in me. I was able to think through the mystery with Amy.
I really liked this book and I think the way the author used the divorce of her parents and her uncaring stepfather and mother was very clever and really aided in the book's storyline. However, I think that the time jumps were a little unclear at some point like Amy would be swimming or cleaning the tank, and then it is suddenly midnight and she is taking a midnight swim. Although there are some plot holes, I think this book was just wonderful and magical.
Mermaid Park by Beth Mayall is a real-life fairy tale. Girl meets a guy on a family vacation, they fall in love, bla bla bla. That is what you might think about this book, but you are wrong. This book looks deeper into the challenges children with divorced parents face. The challenges of not fitting in. Amy Rush finds herself at the beach on a family vacation with her family who doesn't even notice her. One day she stumbles upon a tank full of... mermaids! She wants to stay and watch but she doesn't want to get caught by anyone so she leaves promising herself to come back. days later when her family is about to leave her sister breaks a window in the hotel and blames it on Amy. Amy is then forced by her mother to stay with her aunt at the beach and work to help pay for the window. This gives her the chance to get closer to her crush and see the mermaids again.
Just the title of this book is appealing but what really brought me in was the romance and magical aspect of the book. The tense atmosphere between Amy and her crush is intense but interesting considering after they kiss Amy seems to be bored of him. However, the mermaids are also very intriguing because they bring out the child and mystery in me. I was able to think through the mystery with Amy.
I really liked this book and I think the way the author used the divorce of her parents and her uncaring stepfather and mother was very clever and really aided in the book's storyline. However, I think that the time jumps were a little unclear at some point like Amy would be swimming or cleaning the tank, and then it is suddenly midnight and she is taking a midnight swim. Although there are some plot holes, I think this book was just wonderful and magical.
April 15, 2025
2.5 stars. I debated what rating to give this book and I felt like 2.5 stars felt was a little cruel but,,, this book just didn't deliver what I wanted. I probably would have liked this a lot more if I was still a kid and therefore ,, the actual intended audience. Unfortunately at my big age it's a lot harder to look past mediocre plot development and unsteady character choices. this book had moments where you could tell it was trying to be wise or poignant but when mixed with how much of a clusterfuck all the disconnected details are it just doesn't work. None of the characters are fleshed out enough and so much of the plot is just side stories that aren't given another thought at all. Not to mention this book is sort of sad. There's not really a satisfactory resolution. Amys stepdad is verbally abusive to both her and her sister and he just stays for the whole book ! I thought that with Dylan as a character there would be a cute summer romance to help balance the negative aspects of the story but they kiss and she suddenly decides she's not interested anymore without any reason for it. To put it simply, in my opinion there is too much happening in this novel and not enough time for all of it. Not to get too caught up in reviewing a kids book but this one just had some big writing flaws that unfortunately spoiled a lot of my reading experience. The premise is enticing especially for an avid mermaid fan (like me) but it over promises and underdelivers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2017
Well, I'm honestly disappointed. From the beginning my attention was not grabbed. None of the characters were remotely relatable. When the "family secret" finally got revealed, it wasn't as huge of a secret as I thought it would be, but nonetheless at this point it was better than the beginning of the book. However, the resolution to the family secret was pathetic! Why do you ask?? Because there was no stinking resolution. Ugh!
July 5, 2017
I enjoyed this book although I found the plot kinda lacking. I was expecting a more intricately laid plot with many twists and turns from the summary, but I got a very straight laced plot. However, I still enjoyed this book and I really felt for the main character. I probably won't read this book again but I recommend it to anyone who wants and quick and easy read.
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May 31, 2019This book has a lot of mixed reviews but it was better than I thought it would be. I thought Amy was realistically portrayed as your average conflicted and moody teenager and I think I was much the same at that age. I guessed the family secret (well, at least most of it) revealed at the end of the book. This was a light and easy read, perfect for summer.
February 27, 2022
I love this book and I’ve read it several times throughout my teens and early 20s. It just felt so real and I resonated so much with the main character and how she manages to find herself even in circumstances that are not pleasant.
May 24, 2018
Fun summer contemporary read with a few twists! There were some parts that were a little too juvenile for my liking, but overall I liked the storyline. It was a nice quick read!
June 10, 2020
Not a bad story as far as teeny bopper summer stories go, but kind of terrible writing and zero likeable characters.
April 23, 2021
Charming. Is there a real life park like mermaid park and where is it so I can go?
July 3, 2021
6758)
July 31, 2022
I read this book years ago, and it still sticks with me. I wouldn't say it's the best book, but the fact that I still remember it all these years later tells me it's a good read.
February 1, 2015
DNF at around 80 pages.
I'm having trouble taking this review seriously. Because why should I? What reason has Mayall given me to take this ridiculous book seriously? She clearly put no effort into writing something realistic, and its entertainment value only lasts as long as you're willing to laugh at it. For me, that turns out not to be very long - I only have so much time, and I can't waste it on something like this.
Here's the problem: this does not read like a YA book. Not even close. This is a YA book in the same way that the Dork Diaries series is a YA book, for the most part. This reads like a MG book with occasional curses and references to sex. Everything about Amy, our protagonist, screams twelve years-old, despite the fact that she's meant to be sixteen. Her thoughts, her actions, her voice, none of it read like a teenager. I can't imagine any high school student saying something like this:
How can you read that and not roll your eyes at how cheesy it is? Amy could've been a well-developed character, but she read so young that it fell short. The writing didn't work for the same reason - Amy's voice just isn't believable for someone her age. Not only that, but there was quite a bit of awkwardness. I can tell that it wasn't edited very thoroughly, because there were quite a few blatant errors. In particular, run-on sentences were a problem, like this one:
The plot was mostly what you'd expect from this kind of thing, which is to say, silly. Most of the events concerned Dylan, our obligatory bland cute guy that we're supposed to absolutely adore, despite the fact that he doesn't have, y'know, characteristics. It couldn't have been more stupid if Mayall had tried.
This is probably my shortest review in a very long time, simply because there's nothing to say about this book. It's just another bland MG girl book - while it's certainly bad, it's not bad in a unique way. If you're into this kind of thing, I guess this isn't quite as bad as things could be. But if you don't already like MG girl books, this won't be an exception.
I'm having trouble taking this review seriously. Because why should I? What reason has Mayall given me to take this ridiculous book seriously? She clearly put no effort into writing something realistic, and its entertainment value only lasts as long as you're willing to laugh at it. For me, that turns out not to be very long - I only have so much time, and I can't waste it on something like this.
Here's the problem: this does not read like a YA book. Not even close. This is a YA book in the same way that the Dork Diaries series is a YA book, for the most part. This reads like a MG book with occasional curses and references to sex. Everything about Amy, our protagonist, screams twelve years-old, despite the fact that she's meant to be sixteen. Her thoughts, her actions, her voice, none of it read like a teenager. I can't imagine any high school student saying something like this:
In the bathroom, I took a long shower, shaved my legs, washed my hair. Washed yesterday off me. Today was a new day, one that I'd hope fully be spending with Dylan.
How can you read that and not roll your eyes at how cheesy it is? Amy could've been a well-developed character, but she read so young that it fell short. The writing didn't work for the same reason - Amy's voice just isn't believable for someone her age. Not only that, but there was quite a bit of awkwardness. I can tell that it wasn't edited very thoroughly, because there were quite a few blatant errors. In particular, run-on sentences were a problem, like this one:
I had been planning to ask [my mom] if [the beach] looked much different than when she used to come here every summer, where I pictured her golden tan in a white bathing suit, swimming strongly in the ocean.
The plot was mostly what you'd expect from this kind of thing, which is to say, silly. Most of the events concerned Dylan, our obligatory bland cute guy that we're supposed to absolutely adore, despite the fact that he doesn't have, y'know, characteristics. It couldn't have been more stupid if Mayall had tried.
This is probably my shortest review in a very long time, simply because there's nothing to say about this book. It's just another bland MG girl book - while it's certainly bad, it's not bad in a unique way. If you're into this kind of thing, I guess this isn't quite as bad as things could be. But if you don't already like MG girl books, this won't be an exception.
September 4, 2012
Mermaid Park is about sixteen-year-old Amy Rush and her extreme dislike of everything having to do with her family. Her stepfather verbally abuses her, mother doesn’t realize her lovely second husband is hurting her oldest daughter, and her sister is practically perfect in every way. So when she is forced to head off to the Jersey shore with the family and an add on with an extreme hair obsession (courtesy of her sister’s social life), Amy isn’t exactly happy.
But when they arrive at the motel owned by a childhood friend of Amy’s mother, she finds that it’s not as terrible as she thought. Sure, her stepdad’s abuse worsens, and her sister and company are horrid, she’s intrigued by Dylan, the resident beach guy. And there’s an unpopular pool right outsider her door in which she can keep up her swimming until team starts up again.
Finally, though, her sister goes too far, and Amy accidentally breaks a window. Helped along by her sister’s suggestions, her mother decides that Amy did it on purpose. And so it is decreed that Amy will stay at the motel all summer to work so she can replace the damaged window.
Enter Mermaid Park, the tourist attraction featuring real live mermaids swimming in their home tank, staying underwater for far too long to be human. Amy is amazed, immediately consumed by the idea of looking that graceful. And so she decides on her summer job, even though no positions are open at the park. She finally lands a gig as a sort of junior janitor, cleaning up after the girls who slide their legs into plastic fins and perform in a fish tank of epic proportions. Eventually her determination and patience pays off, and she is allowed to swim with the girls, finally as beautiful as they are. But being a fish isn’t that easy, especially when she has to go back to her everyday vacation life, pretending that she has a job at a pizza place because she is banned from the neighborhood around the park. But as the final show looms closer, can she keep the secret?
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But when they arrive at the motel owned by a childhood friend of Amy’s mother, she finds that it’s not as terrible as she thought. Sure, her stepdad’s abuse worsens, and her sister and company are horrid, she’s intrigued by Dylan, the resident beach guy. And there’s an unpopular pool right outsider her door in which she can keep up her swimming until team starts up again.
Finally, though, her sister goes too far, and Amy accidentally breaks a window. Helped along by her sister’s suggestions, her mother decides that Amy did it on purpose. And so it is decreed that Amy will stay at the motel all summer to work so she can replace the damaged window.
Enter Mermaid Park, the tourist attraction featuring real live mermaids swimming in their home tank, staying underwater for far too long to be human. Amy is amazed, immediately consumed by the idea of looking that graceful. And so she decides on her summer job, even though no positions are open at the park. She finally lands a gig as a sort of junior janitor, cleaning up after the girls who slide their legs into plastic fins and perform in a fish tank of epic proportions. Eventually her determination and patience pays off, and she is allowed to swim with the girls, finally as beautiful as they are. But being a fish isn’t that easy, especially when she has to go back to her everyday vacation life, pretending that she has a job at a pizza place because she is banned from the neighborhood around the park. But as the final show looms closer, can she keep the secret?
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May 29, 2013
Amy isn't looking forward to a three day beach vacation with her family. They'll stay at a motel owned by Lynne, her mother's godmother. She and her step-dad Tom bicker constantly. He is a bully, but Amy never misses a chance to stand up to him. Amy's sister's way of coping is to charm him, while her mother is good at ignoring conflict.
The vacation is as miserable as Amy expects it to be, but she loves the beach. She also meets someone at the pool who loves swimming as much as she does. So, Amy jumps at an opportunity to stay with Lynne for the summer and work. Lynne is good natured and easy going. Her only rule is that Amy stay away from the northern part of town. It should've been an easy rule to follow, but Amy sees an advertisement for Mermaid Park and she can't resist finding out more about it. The Mermaid Park underwater shows take place in a thirty foot deep tank and these underwater ballets are the most beautiful thing Amy has ever seen. She wants to be a mermaid. A champion varsity swimmer at school, she is sure she can learn the routines. Amy can't see any reason for Lynne's rule, so she applies for a job at the park.
Amy is a difficult teenager who uses sarcasm and aggressiveness to hide her self doubt. Before summer is over and her deception is discovered, Amy learns things about herself that she never could have imagined. Mermaid Park is a good read. The mystery is not that difficult to solve, but Amy's quest for maturity is well done, with a little summer romance thrown in.
The vacation is as miserable as Amy expects it to be, but she loves the beach. She also meets someone at the pool who loves swimming as much as she does. So, Amy jumps at an opportunity to stay with Lynne for the summer and work. Lynne is good natured and easy going. Her only rule is that Amy stay away from the northern part of town. It should've been an easy rule to follow, but Amy sees an advertisement for Mermaid Park and she can't resist finding out more about it. The Mermaid Park underwater shows take place in a thirty foot deep tank and these underwater ballets are the most beautiful thing Amy has ever seen. She wants to be a mermaid. A champion varsity swimmer at school, she is sure she can learn the routines. Amy can't see any reason for Lynne's rule, so she applies for a job at the park.
Amy is a difficult teenager who uses sarcasm and aggressiveness to hide her self doubt. Before summer is over and her deception is discovered, Amy learns things about herself that she never could have imagined. Mermaid Park is a good read. The mystery is not that difficult to solve, but Amy's quest for maturity is well done, with a little summer romance thrown in.
April 21, 2009
Sixteen-year-old Amy’s family goes back to Wildwood, on the Jersey shore, for the first time since her mom married stepfather Tom. For Amy, Wildwood promises a summer of exciting new things—such as the interested cute pool boy, Dylan, who works at her godmother Lynne’s motel, or an enchanting park she stumbles across in North Wildwood, where mermaids perform mesmerizing routines in a huge tank for audiences.
Amy manages to convince her family to let her stay and find work. She’s thrilled to finally get away from the bullying Tom, indifferent mother, and perpetual liar Mel. She even manages to land a job at Mermaid Park. Cleaning trash and organizing the dressing room for the girls who play the mermaids, but still, it’s a job at a place where she believes magic can happen. Things even seem to be going well with Dylan. Amy discovers a whole lot of self-confidence she didn’t have before the summer.
As she learns more and more about how Mermaid Park functions, however, Amy ends up learning some things about herself and her family that seem to throw off everything she has believed about herself. Maybe this newfound knowledge will help her grow into a better person in the long run.
MERMAID PARK is a cozy little read set in the fantastically summery world of the Jersey shore. It’s a great book to bring down the shore with you, to be brought out when your toes are covered with soft, warm sand.
Amy manages to convince her family to let her stay and find work. She’s thrilled to finally get away from the bullying Tom, indifferent mother, and perpetual liar Mel. She even manages to land a job at Mermaid Park. Cleaning trash and organizing the dressing room for the girls who play the mermaids, but still, it’s a job at a place where she believes magic can happen. Things even seem to be going well with Dylan. Amy discovers a whole lot of self-confidence she didn’t have before the summer.
As she learns more and more about how Mermaid Park functions, however, Amy ends up learning some things about herself and her family that seem to throw off everything she has believed about herself. Maybe this newfound knowledge will help her grow into a better person in the long run.
MERMAID PARK is a cozy little read set in the fantastically summery world of the Jersey shore. It’s a great book to bring down the shore with you, to be brought out when your toes are covered with soft, warm sand.
December 31, 2013
Well, I was a bit disappointed by this one. It wasn't about real mermaids (nice oxymoron, though) but more about dysfunctional families.
Amy loves swimming, she's a bit unlucky with guys and she doesn't get along with her parents and younger sister. One summer her very unpleasant stepfather decides to take the whole family to the Jersey Shore to spend three days at the seaside.
Amy meets pool boy Dylan and accidentally discovers that This is a pretty strange behavior but the author doesn't even explain why she's doing that.
After that Amy and her sister fight and Amy broke a window because of that and she's forced to stay at the Jersey Shore to pay off her debt. She's staying at Lynne's, a friend of her mother, who suggests her not to go too North because it's dangerous or something. But then Dylan tells her differently and still I was wondering why in the first place Lynne warned her. As far as I understood she didn't know anything about .
Amy herself is not a pleasant character. I really disliked her when she dumped poor Dylan because she thought that she wasn't good enough for him. So stupid!
Amy loves swimming, she's a bit unlucky with guys and she doesn't get along with her parents and younger sister. One summer her very unpleasant stepfather decides to take the whole family to the Jersey Shore to spend three days at the seaside.
Amy meets pool boy Dylan and accidentally discovers that This is a pretty strange behavior but the author doesn't even explain why she's doing that.
After that Amy and her sister fight and Amy broke a window because of that and she's forced to stay at the Jersey Shore to pay off her debt. She's staying at Lynne's, a friend of her mother, who suggests her not to go too North because it's dangerous or something. But then Dylan tells her differently and still I was wondering why in the first place Lynne warned her. As far as I understood she didn't know anything about .
Amy herself is not a pleasant character. I really disliked her when she dumped poor Dylan because she thought that she wasn't good enough for him. So stupid!
October 21, 2010
Below is an excerpt from my original review. You can read my full length review here: http://thebookpixie.blogspot.com/2010...
"Set against a beautiful and enchanting backdrop, Mermaid Park is a complex and delicately woven combination of both serious situations and joyful ones. Don't let the light-hearted cover fool you. While still having a fun and magical side, Mermaid Park is also a grounded and thought-provoking story, making it a wonderful coming-of-age novel...........
Mermaid Park is one of those books that just really captured my attention. It was like a breath of fresh air amongst all the 'sameness' of some books. I would highly recommend this book to teen girls and feel that Mermaid Park deserves a bit more attention than it has received thus far. I'm hoping that Mayall will eventually crank out another YA book for my reading pleasure as I found myself absolutely captivated by Mermaid Park and look forward to reading it again in the future."
"Set against a beautiful and enchanting backdrop, Mermaid Park is a complex and delicately woven combination of both serious situations and joyful ones. Don't let the light-hearted cover fool you. While still having a fun and magical side, Mermaid Park is also a grounded and thought-provoking story, making it a wonderful coming-of-age novel...........
Mermaid Park is one of those books that just really captured my attention. It was like a breath of fresh air amongst all the 'sameness' of some books. I would highly recommend this book to teen girls and feel that Mermaid Park deserves a bit more attention than it has received thus far. I'm hoping that Mayall will eventually crank out another YA book for my reading pleasure as I found myself absolutely captivated by Mermaid Park and look forward to reading it again in the future."
April 25, 2012
Sixteen year old Amy finally catches a lucky break when she gets to spend the summer on the Jersey Shore with her mom's godmother who owns a seaside motel. That's when her road to self discovery and adventures begin. Amy is just your run-of-the-mill teenager who is far from Miss Popular at her high school. She has a brat for a younger sister, a nagging mother and a difficult new step-dad who is constantly bullying her. Thrilled to get away from it all, she busies herself searching for work. She stumbles across Mermaid Park which is an underwater display headlining teenaged girls in breathtaking mermaid costumes. Being a champion swimmer herself, Amy is immediately drawn and stops at nothing to become one of the "mermaids". As she tries to weasel her way into the show and squash her fear of the 36-foot deep tank, she discovers romance, inner strength and unearths secrets about her family which were covered up for years. Readers will identify with Amy's battle to become more self confident and find it a truly pleasing summer read. This coming of age story is one not to be missed!
August 14, 2009
This Book Took Me For A Loop. In A Good Way. I Was Actually Leaving The Store When I Spotted It On The Shelf And Just WANTED It. As I Began Reading, I Realized This Book Is Not At All What I Expected. I Was Expecting Magic, Water, Mermaids, Beauty and Whole Bunch More Peter-Pan Like Characters. Instead It Was An Everyday Family On Vacation Enjoying The Beach. This Is A Wonderful Coming Of Age Teen Book That Anyone Would Enjoy Reading. Amy Can't Seem To Get Along With Anyone, But When You're A Teen It's Kinda Like That. Her Sister Is A Little Bully Who Hides Behind Stories Of Other Peoples Lives. Their Step-Dad Is More Than A Tyrant, And Amy's Mom Is Holding One Big Secret!! She Finds Comfort In One Of The "MERMAIDS" Working At Mermaid Park And A boy Who Cleans Pools And Tanks By The Name Of Dylan. This Book Takes A While To Unravel, But When It Does You're HOOKED. All In All It Really Is A Good Book.
READ IT!
READ IT!
September 1, 2010
No way can I resist a novel set on the Jersey Shore! This one is a pleasant afternoon's read with some beautiful details of story and setting, but is also a fairly formulaic coming-of-age story, featuring a whole checklist of familiar teen-lit plot aspects: difficult sibling relationship, difficult relationship with step-parent figure, summer romance with its ebb and flow, shocking discovery about self/family involving great coincidences (or are they matters of destiny?). Beth Mayall gets the anger and confusion faced by protagonist Amy spot-on, however, as well as Amy's fascination, to the point of compulsion, with the fading sideshow-style tourist attraction of the title. I wish there really were such a place down the shore. Oh, and I wish a manatee would swim north to NJ and visit it. For those who expect a fantasy rather than realistic fiction with a title like Mermaid Park, do look for the manatee.
December 1, 2016
Somewhat insipid novel about a bratty teen who spends the summer with her godmother at her mom's childhood vacation town. I didn't find much to like about the story, except maybe the mermaid tank. The main character is an obnoxious little twit, and her family, which is about six shades of dysfunctional, never really seems to come to any acceptable conclusion to me. The girl's stepdad is basically verbally abusive, but somehow that's just fine; meanwhile, who even knows what's going on with her little sister. So anyway, the main character basically just whines her way through the novel, acting like a little fool, yet somehow getting away with it, up until the big surprise plot twist. All righty then.
August 8, 2013
The whole book was so pretty and interesting. But I was so disappointed with the ending. It was so incomplete and—just hanging there that it was such a let down. I wish her mom would've ditched Tom. I know that it would've been a cliché but wouldn't it have been perfect? And I wish there was an epilogue where we could have seen Bruce's reaction. And Mel's book escapist tendencies were never addressed. This would've been a solid 4 star if only the ending was good enough.
But the rest of it was brilliant! I honestly thought there were going to be real mermaids but this was so much better and so much more magical.
But the rest of it was brilliant! I honestly thought there were going to be real mermaids but this was so much better and so much more magical.
December 14, 2011
It was a little confusing. I didn't excatly know where she stood with her family which is good in some ways because it made me want more and helped me feel what it was like in her shoes. I liked how her life didn't revolve around Dylan the whole summer. I think the author should have done more with the whole love scandal for Mermaid Park, so maybe the second one could be when she stays with her grandfather and goes t oschool there and loves in love with some guy while Lynne has some prolbems or something? I don't know, just a suggustion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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