Sink or Swim

Whatever After #3

by Sarah Mlynowski

Once again my brother and I are in hot water . . . We weren't planning to mess up the fairy tales. The first two times we did it by accident. But when our magic mirror pulls us into the story of the Little Mermaid, we have no choice but to try and rewrite it. Let's just say the original story does NOT end happily! Now we need to:- Convince our mermaid to keep her tail- Plan a royal wedding- Avoid getting eaten by sharksWe've got to find a happy ending for the Little Mermaid . . . before she's fish food and we're lost at sea forever!

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Fairy Tales, Childrens, Audiobook, Retellings, Fiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 2013

About the author

Sarah was born in Montreal, Canada. After graduating with an honors degree in English literature from McGill University, she moved to Toronto to work for Harlequin Enterprises. While she never met Fabio, she used her romance publishing experiences to fuel her first novel Milkrun.

Since then, Sarah has written four additional novels for adults: Fishbowl, As Seen on TV, Monkey Business, and Me vs. Me; the New York Times bestselling middle grade series Whatever After; the middle grade series Upside-Down Magic (with Lauren Myracle and Emily Jenkins); and the teen novels Bras & Broomsticks, Frogs & French Kisses, Spells & Sleeping Bags, and Parties & Potions (all in the Magic in Manhattan series), as well as Gimme a Call, Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have), Don't Even Think About It, Think Twice, and I See London, I See France. Along with Lauren Myracle and E. Lockhart, Sarah also wrote How to Be Bad, and along with Farrin Jacobs, she wrote See Jane Write, a guide to writing. Sarah also co-edited two bestselling charity collections (Girls' Night In and Girls' Night Out), and has contributed to various anthologies (American Girls About Town, Sixteen: Stories About That Sweet and Bitter Birthday, 21 Proms, First Kiss (Then Tell), Fireworks, and Vacations from Hell).

Sarah is also a co-founder of OMG BookFest, a celebration of books aimed at the early to middle grade reader (ages 7-12) that brings together commercial and award-winning authors with underserved local communities for an exciting experience of books, games and activities.

Sarah's books have been translated into twenty-nine languages and optioned to Hollywood. She now lives in New York City with her husband and two daughters.

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series continues to give us a fresh new twist on an old fairy tale. Without being preachy, Mlynowski deftly unmasks the stereotypes and cringe-worthy bits. Then Abby and Jonah work together to bring about a better ending to the story. It is the small details that add so much to the enjoyment for the reader like Abby's jewelry box featuring new images after she has visited a tale, the descriptions of the way yellow abounds in the Kingdom of Mustard, and the wedding scene, just to name a few. I absolutely love this series!

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about Abby and her little brother Jonah going to another fairy tale. Instead of Snow white or Cinderella, they go to the little mermaid. Abby teachers the little mermaid to read and write, so that the prince and his family can understand her. But the prince doesn't care and the little mermaid doesn't like it. She breaks up the wedding and she made a deal with the sea which. Abby and Jonah take a potion that can make humans breathe under water for ten hours. They take the potion and go under the water. They find the little mermaid's sisters and father and go to the sea which. She gives the little mermaid's voice back for a date with the little mermaid's father. Just as the deal with the king was made, Abby and Jonah's potion ware off and they were starting to fall asleep and couldn't get out of the water. If you want to find out what happens next, then read the book.



I liked this book because the little mermaid did want she wanted to and didn't care hat other people say. She went to the sea which and she got legs, but no voice and she was okay with that and I like how she is brave and kind. I think that this is a great book for girls and people who are brave and know what it is like to take huge changes. You should read this book.

[~tea~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only thing i remember from this book was that it was hilarious

[Zari.Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

دوران ابتدایی می رفتم کتابخونه و کتابای این مجموعه رو امانت می گرفتم می خوندم:))))
یادش بخیر❤️‍🩹✨️

[☀︎El In Oz☀︎ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5

Man why was the little mermaid such an idiot and so annoying??

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is so fun! Just the right fluff for COVID-19

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the tenth time I have read a story in this series. About 6 years ago I read a few of these stories with my oldest. Now my youngest is reading them to me, and her sister has handed down the first several stories in the series. For some reason we skipped this story when I was reading them with my oldest. But so far it is one of my youngest daughter’s favourite story. These stories have great staying power. Even as an adult I can enjoy these books, not only the first time but rereading them again and again.

Mlynowski does aa great job with this book and with all we have read in the series. My oldest was a reluctant reader. Back then when we read, I would read two pages for every page she read to me. Later she read a few of the books in the series to her aunt and gram on a road trip. And She got to the point where she could rip through one of these in a few sittings. Our whole family loves these stories from 10-year old’s to 79 year old’s. It is a wonderful series.

It was interesting reading this one for the first time with my youngest. Usually I have an idea of what is coming, and can answer her pressing questions. Not this time. It is another excellent take on a familiar fairy tale. My daughter’s favourite parts were the mermaid being taught to read and write. And that he sisters and father stepped up and saved her from the Witch, and in a very surprising way. There was far more humour in this story than some of the others. It was a really fun read.

The writings in this story and the whole series is excellent. My daughters and I love reading them together. And again in this one the retelling of this story is full of surprises. It is a great book in an excellent series. My daughter wishes she could give it more than 5 stars.

[Lana · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK - A princess story where the princess is named LANA and the kingdom's favorite color is YELLOW!?!?! What's not to like!?

[Addison]

It was cool did you like it I liked it bye

[~Bellegirl91~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

How cute was this one! I actually liked this Little Mermaid twist and Abby and Jonah this time changing the actual story so that the little mermaid won't die compared to the depressing original Hans Christian Anderson version. For a kids story/twist this one was adorable and Jonah cracked me up even more. The narrator actually does a really good job on these stories and I enjoy her for kids books. As hard as they are to get on Libby right now because of so many holds and long waits, I'm so glad my library actually has these on CD so I can listen to them! They're short, quick reads and listen to (only 3+ hours, never 4 as far as I know) and if you're a mom looking for good fun books for your kids who love fairytales or for any books in general for your kids to read, these are it! This is another series I'd love to own someday for my own future kids alongside the

I Survived Collection #1-18 (I survived series)

Goddess Girls The Glittering Collection (Charm Bracelet Inside): Athena the Wise; Aphrodite the Diva; Artemis the Loyal; Medusa the Mean (Goddess Girls) and

Gustav Gloom and the People Taker (Gustav Gloom) series and I'm sure a few others I can't think of at the moment. But this Whatever After set I'd totally love hands down! They're adorable, well written, and fun reads.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My students continue to enjoy this series. More surprising, so do I. This time we visit the original Little Mermaid tale and discover, despite Disney's Hollywood ending, we WANT Jonah and Abby to change this story. There must be some way to stop the Little Mermaid from dying at the end. Mlynowski does a great job of pointing out the story's morals without being heavy-handed and brings us a satisfying and not-quite-so-Hollywood rewrite. Fast and fun, this series just keeps putting out great tales for burgeoning chapter book readers, especially girls.

[Sabine · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Sink or Swim" is a really good book. Abby and Jonah have a magical mirror that transports them to fairy tales. This time they go to The Little Mermaid. Abby and Jonah don't like the way the original story ends so they decide to change it. Hopefully nothing goes wrong!I liked this book because I'm a huge fan of the little mermaid so reading a different version really made this book fun. IO'd recommend this book to my little cousin Melody once she's old enough to read chapter books. She loves adventures and fairy tales so this is a good book for her.

[Jessica (BookRockGoddess) Bolton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really cute kids book but I think I am just to old for it. I love juvenile books but this one is more for elementary age. Still a story that my younger self would have loved.

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!
I think I started reading this On 23 and done on 25..

[Sarah Khalil A.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sink or Swim by Sarah Mlynowski is a fun and engaging novel that takes readers on a wild and wacky adventure. The story follows the misadventures of a group of friends who find themselves stranded on a deserted island after their cruise ship sinks. As they struggle to survive in this new environment, they must also confront the various issues and conflicts that arise between them.

One of the strengths of the book is its relatable and likable characters. Each member of the group has their own unique personality and quirks, and readers will find themselves invested in their individual journeys and rooting for them to succeed.

The humor in the book is also a standout feature, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments scattered throughout. The comedic timing and witty dialogue keep the story light and entertaining, even as the characters face some truly challenging situations.

Altogether, Sink or Swim is a fun and enjoyable read that is perfect for anyone looking for a lighthearted adventure with plenty of heart and humor.

[Sting Key · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love stories about the beach! So this was probably one of my favorite Whatever After books so far!
Usually when you see books about fairy tales, they always leave out The Little Mermaid. I love mermaids, and I love that Lana is so nice, brave, and smart!
I also absolutely hate the prince, and usually, that would make me like the book less, when one of the characters acts like that, but in this situation it made me like the book more!
I would totally recommend, especially if you like mermaids!

[Ellie Ann]

Oh my goodness, I’d forgotten about these books until I remembered this one watching the Little Mermaid! They were my favorites when I was younger! They were so fun and adventurous with some great sibling content… this is yet another book I regret taking to the used bookstore for credit🤦🏻‍♀️😅

[Daise Ribeiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leitura que fiz com minha filha, é o terceiro livro da coleção. Gosto dessa série e da forma como a autora brinca e mexe nas histórias clássicas de contos de fadas. Seu texto tem humor e não é cansativo. Já seguimos para o livro quatro.

[Yalemi Morales · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 8 year old daughter and I absolutely loved reading this fun adventure book together.

[Eunji Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book was my very first whatever after series book i've read even tho its the 3rd book

[Katie Buckingham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute middle grade stories about kids who travel thru a magic mirror into favorite fairy tales. They try to help each herione and make the story better.

[N.a.f.a.s · Rating 3 out of 5]

اتمام
۲۶/اردیبهشت/۰۴
جمعه
13:54

[Hannaneh · Rating 3 out of 5]

not bad. (the audiobook was perfect.)

[Arisha (Free Palestine 🇵🇸) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sara mynowski I love you you make me happy when ochem makes me sad

[Avery]

I didn't like this book very much

[Leila Rumeila · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Little Mermaid is one of my favorite fairy tales so i was excited to listened the audiobook and it's good.

Different ending with the original which is so tragic, instead this one turned into a happy one, yeay!

[Brooke McDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book "Whatever After Sink or Swim" by Sarah Mlynowski is about a young girl named Abby and her little brother Jonah who go down to their basement to get some answers to questions like, who are you, from their magic mirror that lives in their basement. However, they get sucked into yet again another fairy tale. This time, they end up having to convince the little mermaid that she shouldn't trade her tongue for legs. I would rate this story 5 stars because it was really fun to read. I would recomend this book to people who like fantasy and adventure stories.

[Bookishrealm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yup this is the first book finished for the year of 2017! I started this series last year and I must say I'm thoroughly enjoying it. It's not the best writing in the world; however, it definitely makes for a fun read. Here are some things that I really love about this book and the series in general:

-The author definitely takes the original concepts of fairy tales and flips them around making them unique and different.
-She completely turns around the typical stereotypes associated with fairytales (example: all the girls have to be beautiful, they all need to be saved by princes, they can't do anything unless their kids)
-They're all fast, quick reads. I love that I can literally sit down for a little while and listen to these books and fly right through them.
-The narrator for the audiobooks is AMAZING. If you're considering reading or starting this series I would highly recommend the audiobooks.
-I loved that they touched on the original Little Mermaid story, not the Disney version.
-The change in name of characters and scenery is extremely entertaining.
-This a great way to get younger kids into reading especially if they enjoy fairy tales.

I would definitely recommend these stories. They all kind of have the same format with the concept that the kids get sucked into a fairy tale world and then they must figure out have to save the main character of that story; however, I will say that each story has it's own twists and turns so I wouldn't expect them all to be 100% the same. I really do enjoy these and probably will try to finish the series this year.

[Lgourley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once upon a time in the kingdom of Mustard lived the REAL Little Mermaid (Lana) who's story didn't end up so happily ever after. In this book, the 3rd of the Whatever After series, Abby and Jonah are on a mission to change the story of the Little Mermaid for the better. When Abby was getting ready to go on vacation to see her grandma her mother informed her that the trip is going to be rescheduled. Upset about the change of plans, Abby and Jonah decide to go to their basement and pay a visit to Maryrose, the magic mirror. Maryrose sucks them in and spits them out to different fairytales, this time they start their adventure in the ocean. That's when they see Lana saving Prince Mortimer. When Lana swims away frightened Abby and Jonah decide they have to find her before she makes a deal with the sea witch that won't turn out so great.

3rd grade

How would you compare Sink or Swim with the Disney version of the Little Mermaid?
How would you compare and contrast the "true" story of the Little Mermaid, Sink or Swim, and the Disney version?
How would you have changed this fractured fairy tale? Would you have done the same thing as Abby and Jonah? Why or why not?
What is your opinion of the character Abby in this story? Do you think she needs to let fate happen or change the ending? Why?
If you could change any fairy tale story which one would it be? How would you change it? Why?

Mlynowski, S. (2013). Whatever After Sink or Swim (Vol. 3). New York: Scholastic Press.

[Kami · Rating 4 out of 5]

- I have to admit these are becoming a little bit of a guilty pleasure for me.

- Abbey and Jonah are so much fun. Jonah really won the spotlight in this one. His fun loving nature just brings a smile to my face.

- My daughter is on an Ariel kick right now, and I think she'd love this book. I need to start reading middle grade to her. She is getting old enough.

- I can relate to Abbey on a few levels. It is werid to be able to relate to a 10 year old, but there you go. I used to be scared of water and swimming as well.

- I really like how these retellings are based on the original fairy tales and not Disney's versions. The Little Mermaid is not a happy story, and I love how that came into play.

- I really like how the mermaid took her life into her own hands. She made her own decisions in the end.

- Things are so much simpler in the eyes of child, and I love how the author used that.

- If you want a light, fluffly, and cute quick read, this series is for you!