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Flipping the Scales #1
Flipping the Scales
Meredith and Marina’s lives have been flipped upside down. When the translucent skirt that straight-A-student Meredith finds hidden on the beach gets wet, it transforms her legs into a mermaid tail. Despite the evidence in front of her, she insists that becoming a mythical creature isn’t scientifically possible. Marina is allowed to experience one day per moon cycle among the humans. After hiding her tail on the beach that morning, she takes her first timid steps on land. When she returns at sunset to find it missing, she is left stranded and alone. For the first time in her life, Meredith doesn’t have all the answers. As she searches for a way to return to normal before the next full moon, she makes waves among the school of mermaids. Meanwhile, Marina uncovers information about her past, and for the first time in her life, she must stand on her own two feet and take the lead on her own adventure. As Meredith senses her human side slipping away, a forbidden way to change back entices her. But it comes with a Marina wouldn’t be able to return to the ocean.
251 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 12, 2014
About the author
Pete Tarsi
3 books36 followersPete Tarsi writes books that he hopes his daughters will enjoy. Three down, and so far, so good.
He graduated from MIT with a degree in Creative Writing and Physics, and he considers himself fortunate that he gets to do both. When he's not writing, he can be found teaching high school science, directing theatre, or spending time with his three lovely daughters. He grew up in a small town north of Boston and still lives in Massachusetts.
He graduated from MIT with a degree in Creative Writing and Physics, and he considers himself fortunate that he gets to do both. When he's not writing, he can be found teaching high school science, directing theatre, or spending time with his three lovely daughters. He grew up in a small town north of Boston and still lives in Massachusetts.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 1, 2014
Pete Tarsi’s debut Young Adult novel “Flipping the Scales” is a wonderfully refreshing and entertaining mermaid story with one foot firmly planted in the familiar surroundings of an island beachside community, and the other foot (or is it fin?) submerged in a magical underwater world populated by “mers” (as the story’s mermaids and mermen prefer to call themselves). The tale’s two immensely likeable leads initially don’t fare well at all when removed from their natural habitats, and the story gets a lot of comic “fish out of water” mileage out of the situation when the teen girl and her mermaid counterpart are forced to switch places.
There are life lessons taught along the way, and Tarsi’s background as a high school teacher is evident in the importance his narration attaches to classroom learning (even though he slyly subverts that aspect in a way at one point), but this story works first and foremost as a totally involving piece of escapist entertainment. The summertime setting where almost every day features glorious, perfect weather makes this a great beach read, as well as an ideal way to shake the winter blahs. Meredith and Marina are surrounded by a colorful and quirky supporting cast whose banter supplies a steady stream of laughs, and who emphasize the novel’s most appealing theme: the importance of friends and family. (And, yes, there’s romance, too.) There are others who don’t wish our heroines well, though, and even the protagonists aren’t always on their best behavior, providing the story with its conflict and making for several harrowing moments.
Tarsi has dreamt up some new variations on old “rules” governing mermaids and their spending time on land (cleverly, the characters observe that “real mermaids” don’t turn out to be exactly like “fictional mermaids”), and he’s come up with some charming slang for the teen mers (“It flows!”) Diehard mermaid enthusiasts might find themselves wishing that more of the book had taken place underwater (there’s a roughly 50-50 split between the action that takes place in the sea and the scenes set on land), but this reader appreciated the emphasis on the storyline centering on the mermaid’s time among the humans, as the author managed to make the everyday details of life in our world more immediate and involving than those of the underworld kingdom. (I imagine we’ll get more of a feel for day-to-day life among the mers in the second and third books of this trilogy.) It should be mentioned, though, that one scene in particular--- temporary mermaid Meredith frolicking among some dolphins---is worth several great white whales’ combined weight in gold as enchanting fantasy moments go.
This reviewer is, admittedly, both the incorrect gender and a few decades too old to qualify for the target audience for this book. However, I think that parents and other older family members who pick this book up as a gift and start to idly leaf through it might be pleasantly surprised to find themselves compelled to see it through to the end. Tarsi’s considerable skills as a writer include not pandering or writing down to his intended audience; the bright, inquisitive leads don’t leave you with a sickish sensation that this world is being passed down to a generation of dullards, and the adults aren’t portrayed as idiots or monsters. (Tween and teen readers take heart, though: the young characters are unquestionably the leads here, set everything into motion and solve all of their own problems.) It has a cheery, optimistic worldview that’s miles removed from the dystopian vision of a YA novel like “The Hunger Games”, but that avoids being sickly sweet or overly precious. The highest compliment that I can pay it is that I’m anxious for the release of the second book in the series (“Skipping the Scales”) so that I can find out what happens to these characters next.
There are life lessons taught along the way, and Tarsi’s background as a high school teacher is evident in the importance his narration attaches to classroom learning (even though he slyly subverts that aspect in a way at one point), but this story works first and foremost as a totally involving piece of escapist entertainment. The summertime setting where almost every day features glorious, perfect weather makes this a great beach read, as well as an ideal way to shake the winter blahs. Meredith and Marina are surrounded by a colorful and quirky supporting cast whose banter supplies a steady stream of laughs, and who emphasize the novel’s most appealing theme: the importance of friends and family. (And, yes, there’s romance, too.) There are others who don’t wish our heroines well, though, and even the protagonists aren’t always on their best behavior, providing the story with its conflict and making for several harrowing moments.
Tarsi has dreamt up some new variations on old “rules” governing mermaids and their spending time on land (cleverly, the characters observe that “real mermaids” don’t turn out to be exactly like “fictional mermaids”), and he’s come up with some charming slang for the teen mers (“It flows!”) Diehard mermaid enthusiasts might find themselves wishing that more of the book had taken place underwater (there’s a roughly 50-50 split between the action that takes place in the sea and the scenes set on land), but this reader appreciated the emphasis on the storyline centering on the mermaid’s time among the humans, as the author managed to make the everyday details of life in our world more immediate and involving than those of the underworld kingdom. (I imagine we’ll get more of a feel for day-to-day life among the mers in the second and third books of this trilogy.) It should be mentioned, though, that one scene in particular--- temporary mermaid Meredith frolicking among some dolphins---is worth several great white whales’ combined weight in gold as enchanting fantasy moments go.
This reviewer is, admittedly, both the incorrect gender and a few decades too old to qualify for the target audience for this book. However, I think that parents and other older family members who pick this book up as a gift and start to idly leaf through it might be pleasantly surprised to find themselves compelled to see it through to the end. Tarsi’s considerable skills as a writer include not pandering or writing down to his intended audience; the bright, inquisitive leads don’t leave you with a sickish sensation that this world is being passed down to a generation of dullards, and the adults aren’t portrayed as idiots or monsters. (Tween and teen readers take heart, though: the young characters are unquestionably the leads here, set everything into motion and solve all of their own problems.) It has a cheery, optimistic worldview that’s miles removed from the dystopian vision of a YA novel like “The Hunger Games”, but that avoids being sickly sweet or overly precious. The highest compliment that I can pay it is that I’m anxious for the release of the second book in the series (“Skipping the Scales”) so that I can find out what happens to these characters next.
September 2, 2015
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
This book is beyond adorable. It’s a very enjoyable tail (haha!) about a human and a mermaid that switch places. I loved Tarsi’s twist on the mermaid myth, and how he made it completely his own.
Mermaids are able to come to land for one day during the full moon. When two mers, Lorelei and Marina, come on land one month, disaster strikes when Marina’s tail goes missing. Enter Meredith, a studious seventeen-year-old human who accidentally stumbles across Marina’s tail and is unconsciously driven to put the tail on and go into the water.
Marina and Meredith are literally fish out of water as they try to adapt to their new habitats while their friends try and figure out a way to get the girls back to their normal states. All the characters in this book are wonderfully unique, different and likable.
The mermaid world that Tarsi creates is brilliantly done, and is never too far-fetched or unrealistic. Meredith and Marina learn new things because of their experiences, and the importance of friends and family. Meredith, who was always a very studious girl, learns to be more self-confident and not take life so seriously, while Marina, who was averse to being on land, learns the value of having new experiences and that it’s sometimes worth taking a risk.
Tarsi split the book 50-50 from Marina being on land with Meredith’s friends Jill and Hailey, and Meredith being in the sea with Lorelei. I loved the world Tarsi created the under the sea, and loved how Tarsi overemphasised the simplicity of everyday life. Driving and even kissing is something we take for granted, but is all a brand new experience for Marina.
Even though this book is a young adult novel, its language would speak to a younger audience, perhaps 12 onwards. But it’s still enjoyable enough for me, at 21, to appreciate. I’d love to pick up the sequel and see Tarsi expand this world of the mermaids and see what else he can create.
This book is beyond adorable. It’s a very enjoyable tail (haha!) about a human and a mermaid that switch places. I loved Tarsi’s twist on the mermaid myth, and how he made it completely his own.
Mermaids are able to come to land for one day during the full moon. When two mers, Lorelei and Marina, come on land one month, disaster strikes when Marina’s tail goes missing. Enter Meredith, a studious seventeen-year-old human who accidentally stumbles across Marina’s tail and is unconsciously driven to put the tail on and go into the water.
Marina and Meredith are literally fish out of water as they try to adapt to their new habitats while their friends try and figure out a way to get the girls back to their normal states. All the characters in this book are wonderfully unique, different and likable.
The mermaid world that Tarsi creates is brilliantly done, and is never too far-fetched or unrealistic. Meredith and Marina learn new things because of their experiences, and the importance of friends and family. Meredith, who was always a very studious girl, learns to be more self-confident and not take life so seriously, while Marina, who was averse to being on land, learns the value of having new experiences and that it’s sometimes worth taking a risk.
Tarsi split the book 50-50 from Marina being on land with Meredith’s friends Jill and Hailey, and Meredith being in the sea with Lorelei. I loved the world Tarsi created the under the sea, and loved how Tarsi overemphasised the simplicity of everyday life. Driving and even kissing is something we take for granted, but is all a brand new experience for Marina.
Even though this book is a young adult novel, its language would speak to a younger audience, perhaps 12 onwards. But it’s still enjoyable enough for me, at 21, to appreciate. I’d love to pick up the sequel and see Tarsi expand this world of the mermaids and see what else he can create.
October 15, 2015
“One day, Marina. It will be like no other experience.”
Flipping the Scales is a magical tale of friendship, loyalty, and the ability to adapt. The story is set during summer break, where Meredith is sent to spend her vacation with her best friend, Jill, and Jill’s cousin, Hailey. They live on a private beach, a perfect place for two mermaids, Lorelei and Marina, to “disrobe” their tails and spend one day of fun amongst humans. But when Meredith finds the shimmering object and puts it on, she accidently transforms and becomes a mermaid herself. Unable to retrieve her tail, Marina is forced to stay on land, while Meredith is forced to live in the water.
This story was so unique and captivating that I couldn’t bear to part from it. I snuck in time to read, anywhere I could, just to be included in this enchanted predicament. The plot sucked me in, becoming very complex, wetting my appetite for mystery, romance, and suspense. The characters where diverse, yet endearing, and their development was beautiful to behold. Meredith is introverted and detests the water; while Marina really didn’t want to surface on dry land. What a predicament they must endure as they are out of their element and forced to face their polar opposite. And the mermaid realm! Oh, the mermaid realm was so lush and inventive, literally every flip of the tail was thoroughly described. If one has ever dreamt of becoming a mermaid, this book truly fulfills that desire.
(Deep sigh) . . . This book strangely fed a hunger that resided deep within my soul. Perhaps it’s because I was a part of an elite group of girls trying to save a mermaid? Or maybe because I became one myself? Or could it be that I was whisked away to a sunny beach from the comfort of my pink armchair? Whatever it was, I know I thoroughly loved EVERY minute of it. And I can’t wait to read book two!
This book receives five shining stars!
Flipping the Scales is a magical tale of friendship, loyalty, and the ability to adapt. The story is set during summer break, where Meredith is sent to spend her vacation with her best friend, Jill, and Jill’s cousin, Hailey. They live on a private beach, a perfect place for two mermaids, Lorelei and Marina, to “disrobe” their tails and spend one day of fun amongst humans. But when Meredith finds the shimmering object and puts it on, she accidently transforms and becomes a mermaid herself. Unable to retrieve her tail, Marina is forced to stay on land, while Meredith is forced to live in the water.
This story was so unique and captivating that I couldn’t bear to part from it. I snuck in time to read, anywhere I could, just to be included in this enchanted predicament. The plot sucked me in, becoming very complex, wetting my appetite for mystery, romance, and suspense. The characters where diverse, yet endearing, and their development was beautiful to behold. Meredith is introverted and detests the water; while Marina really didn’t want to surface on dry land. What a predicament they must endure as they are out of their element and forced to face their polar opposite. And the mermaid realm! Oh, the mermaid realm was so lush and inventive, literally every flip of the tail was thoroughly described. If one has ever dreamt of becoming a mermaid, this book truly fulfills that desire.
(Deep sigh) . . . This book strangely fed a hunger that resided deep within my soul. Perhaps it’s because I was a part of an elite group of girls trying to save a mermaid? Or maybe because I became one myself? Or could it be that I was whisked away to a sunny beach from the comfort of my pink armchair? Whatever it was, I know I thoroughly loved EVERY minute of it. And I can’t wait to read book two!
This book receives five shining stars!
November 18, 2015
When serious and studious Meredith and her carefree friend Jill go to an island to stay with Jill's cousin, Hailey, for a few weeks during the summer, something unexpected happens: Meredith finds a skirt, tries it on, and transforms into a mermaid.
Honestly, I wasn't sure I was going to be able to finish this book at first because Hailey is very over-the-top with her teen lingo. Everything is an acronym (OMG, TTTH, SWIM, etc). I have teens and they sometimes text that way, but don't really speak that way, yet once I got to know Hailey better, it fit her personality, which is very fun and crazy, and I wasn't bothered as much. She's very gung-ho about life and jumps in to do whatever she can to help out.
I really enjoyed the creativity that went into this story. Mermaids have always fascinated me and I love reading about they ways of transformation, way of life, and myths surrounding them. I loved seeing characters develop in unexpected ways, due to being thrust into circumstances out of their control. Marina and Meredith have the most to lose and I love the friendship that's built between them.
I loved seeing all of these girls work together, on both land and in the sea. There are many dilemmas and big decisions to be made that can't be taken lightly and the thought and action processes were fun to experience. This is a great read for a teen (or even pre-teen), especially one who enjoys mermaids. This is a book I could let my daughters read.
Content: very mild romance; nothing else of note. Clean!
*I received a copy in exchange for an honest review*
Honestly, I wasn't sure I was going to be able to finish this book at first because Hailey is very over-the-top with her teen lingo. Everything is an acronym (OMG, TTTH, SWIM, etc). I have teens and they sometimes text that way, but don't really speak that way, yet once I got to know Hailey better, it fit her personality, which is very fun and crazy, and I wasn't bothered as much. She's very gung-ho about life and jumps in to do whatever she can to help out.
I really enjoyed the creativity that went into this story. Mermaids have always fascinated me and I love reading about they ways of transformation, way of life, and myths surrounding them. I loved seeing characters develop in unexpected ways, due to being thrust into circumstances out of their control. Marina and Meredith have the most to lose and I love the friendship that's built between them.
I loved seeing all of these girls work together, on both land and in the sea. There are many dilemmas and big decisions to be made that can't be taken lightly and the thought and action processes were fun to experience. This is a great read for a teen (or even pre-teen), especially one who enjoys mermaids. This is a book I could let my daughters read.
Content: very mild romance; nothing else of note. Clean!
*I received a copy in exchange for an honest review*
July 5, 2016
*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
Overall, I thought this book was a sweet, summery tale of friendship and finding yourself that young readers and mermaid fans would enjoy. The writing was good and the book reads very fast/is easy to follow, though I did have a few problems with the romance(s) and connecting to some of the characters. I will have a full review up on my blog soon!
Overall, I thought this book was a sweet, summery tale of friendship and finding yourself that young readers and mermaid fans would enjoy. The writing was good and the book reads very fast/is easy to follow, though I did have a few problems with the romance(s) and connecting to some of the characters. I will have a full review up on my blog soon!
January 31, 2015
Some of you just may remember that episode of The Smurfs where Smurfette put on these magical dancing shoes and then couldn’t get them off her feet and was forced to keep dancing and dancing. Well, that episode was based on
The Red Shoes
by Hans Christian Anderson who also wrote
The Little Mermaid
. Since neither of these stories – as originally written – had the sort of Disneyesque ending that people prefer these days, we’ll end the comparison with
Flipping the Scales
by Pete Tarsi right here. Just hold on to that idea about Smurfette not being able to get those shoes off her feet for the next few paragraphs.
It is sunrise one morning and summer vacation is already two weeks old. At least it is for teen-aged human girls. However, the two girls coming ashore on an island beach are not human; at least not in the conventional sense. The girls are named Lorelei and Marina and they are mermaids looking to spend a day amongst the human population to enjoy all sorts of things like ice cream. At least Lorelei is - she’s done this before. Her companion isn’t so sure and would happily turn tail and head for deep water at that moment. In the world that Mr. Tarsi has created for this story, merfolk have the ability to shuck their tails on the day of the full moon and walk amongst us. Their tails are an iridescent skirt-like garment which once removed, must be carefully hidden near the sea lest it fall into the wrong hands. Without it, they will be stranded on the shore, unable to return to their ocean home.
Lorelei has done this many times but Marina is a novice who is finally cajoled into hiding her tail and joining her best friend for a day of adventure. Marina is not the only teen-aged girl who has been cajoled into doing something she would rather not. Jill and her best friend Meredith are on their way to that very same island to spend three weeks with Jill’s cousin, Hailey, and her parents. Pete Tarsi doesn’t name the island in question but it’s OK to think of Block Island or Martha’s Vineyard if you like.
Meredith is an extremely bright young lady with two over-achieving parents. Her mother is no Princeton Mom and has thus lashed her daughter to a treadmill of no fun, no boys and no dating until she is well established in her career, some twelve or fifteen years hence; even longer if she decides to pursue one or more advanced degrees. Meredith is heavily into extracurricular activities and she is permitted to enjoy them as long as they serve to further burnish her high school transcript. With all that knowledge stuffed into her head, she regularly plays the pedant, much to the annoyance of Jill and most everyone else her age. Meredith’s main objective for the next three weeks is reading, reading and more reading. No time for anything resembling fun.
Fortunately, Jill and Hailey are pretty much normal girls and they see it as their duty to make sure that Meredith has something not unlike a normal summer vacation; for her sake as well as theirs. Three weeks with an insufferable stick-in-the-mud is not their idea of fun. Once Meredith has been kitted out for some time by the sea, the girls head for the water, crossing the private beach in front of Hailey’s house – the very same beach on which our two mermaids had come ashore. Meredith finds this piece iridescent fabric that resembles a skirt. Even though she is not clothes crazy – or hair crazy or boy crazy – like Hailey and Jill, Meredith nonetheless decides to try it on. Surprisingly, it fits very well – too well, in fact – and things start to happen. Try as she might, Meredith can’t take it off and before you can say ‘Ariel’ three or four times, her legs are history and in their place is an orange mermaid’s tail.
When Marina and Lorelei return to the beach as sunset approaches, they discover that Marina’s tail has gone missing. Sunset waits for no mermaid and Lorelei returns to her natural element while Marina spends a long and lonely night by the water’s edge. It is not until the next day that she and Lorelei encounter the three girls and discover their mutual problem. There are no exceptions to the rules and both Marina and Meredith will have to wait until the morning of the next full moon before they can trade places and return to their normal lives. In the meantime, Marina is going to try and pass for human with Jill and Hailey’s help and Lorelei has the unenviable task of trying to help Meredith pass for mermaid. The next four weeks are going to be long ones for all concerned.
Pete Tarsi has three very fortunate daughters. He wrote Flipping the Scales for them and it is very much a fun read, easily surpassing almost any bedtime story imaginable. He has taken the simple idea of a human girl and mermaid accidentally switching places and has fleshed it out into a captivating story with five likeable characters with whom young ladies can easily identify. Mr. Tarsi’s story is suitable for readers from middle school to well within the high school age range. Anyone who has ever wished that they were a mermaid – or merboy – will delight in the world which he has created.
There is much more to Flipping the Scales besides the tail switch. There are a couple of nascent romances, an exploration of life both below and above the waves, an elementary physics lesson or two, and a couple of mysteries as well; not the least of which is just what sort of secret is Hailey hiding behind her bedroom door. There is plenty of action, adventure and discovery in Pete’s story and those who take the time to dive into this tale of tails will be happy to learn that the author plans to develop this into a three-book series.
As a reviewer who has read more than his share of mermaid stories, I am more than pleased to say that Pete Tarsi’s wonderful story is a welcome addition to the genre and is a ‘must read’ for anyone – female or male – who wants to explore this particular realm of fantasy. If you like and enjoy stories about mer-folk, do not let the book’s intended target audience put you off. Simply take the plunge and enjoy this wonderfully refreshing story.
It is sunrise one morning and summer vacation is already two weeks old. At least it is for teen-aged human girls. However, the two girls coming ashore on an island beach are not human; at least not in the conventional sense. The girls are named Lorelei and Marina and they are mermaids looking to spend a day amongst the human population to enjoy all sorts of things like ice cream. At least Lorelei is - she’s done this before. Her companion isn’t so sure and would happily turn tail and head for deep water at that moment. In the world that Mr. Tarsi has created for this story, merfolk have the ability to shuck their tails on the day of the full moon and walk amongst us. Their tails are an iridescent skirt-like garment which once removed, must be carefully hidden near the sea lest it fall into the wrong hands. Without it, they will be stranded on the shore, unable to return to their ocean home.
Lorelei has done this many times but Marina is a novice who is finally cajoled into hiding her tail and joining her best friend for a day of adventure. Marina is not the only teen-aged girl who has been cajoled into doing something she would rather not. Jill and her best friend Meredith are on their way to that very same island to spend three weeks with Jill’s cousin, Hailey, and her parents. Pete Tarsi doesn’t name the island in question but it’s OK to think of Block Island or Martha’s Vineyard if you like.
Meredith is an extremely bright young lady with two over-achieving parents. Her mother is no Princeton Mom and has thus lashed her daughter to a treadmill of no fun, no boys and no dating until she is well established in her career, some twelve or fifteen years hence; even longer if she decides to pursue one or more advanced degrees. Meredith is heavily into extracurricular activities and she is permitted to enjoy them as long as they serve to further burnish her high school transcript. With all that knowledge stuffed into her head, she regularly plays the pedant, much to the annoyance of Jill and most everyone else her age. Meredith’s main objective for the next three weeks is reading, reading and more reading. No time for anything resembling fun.
Fortunately, Jill and Hailey are pretty much normal girls and they see it as their duty to make sure that Meredith has something not unlike a normal summer vacation; for her sake as well as theirs. Three weeks with an insufferable stick-in-the-mud is not their idea of fun. Once Meredith has been kitted out for some time by the sea, the girls head for the water, crossing the private beach in front of Hailey’s house – the very same beach on which our two mermaids had come ashore. Meredith finds this piece iridescent fabric that resembles a skirt. Even though she is not clothes crazy – or hair crazy or boy crazy – like Hailey and Jill, Meredith nonetheless decides to try it on. Surprisingly, it fits very well – too well, in fact – and things start to happen. Try as she might, Meredith can’t take it off and before you can say ‘Ariel’ three or four times, her legs are history and in their place is an orange mermaid’s tail.
When Marina and Lorelei return to the beach as sunset approaches, they discover that Marina’s tail has gone missing. Sunset waits for no mermaid and Lorelei returns to her natural element while Marina spends a long and lonely night by the water’s edge. It is not until the next day that she and Lorelei encounter the three girls and discover their mutual problem. There are no exceptions to the rules and both Marina and Meredith will have to wait until the morning of the next full moon before they can trade places and return to their normal lives. In the meantime, Marina is going to try and pass for human with Jill and Hailey’s help and Lorelei has the unenviable task of trying to help Meredith pass for mermaid. The next four weeks are going to be long ones for all concerned.
Pete Tarsi has three very fortunate daughters. He wrote Flipping the Scales for them and it is very much a fun read, easily surpassing almost any bedtime story imaginable. He has taken the simple idea of a human girl and mermaid accidentally switching places and has fleshed it out into a captivating story with five likeable characters with whom young ladies can easily identify. Mr. Tarsi’s story is suitable for readers from middle school to well within the high school age range. Anyone who has ever wished that they were a mermaid – or merboy – will delight in the world which he has created.
There is much more to Flipping the Scales besides the tail switch. There are a couple of nascent romances, an exploration of life both below and above the waves, an elementary physics lesson or two, and a couple of mysteries as well; not the least of which is just what sort of secret is Hailey hiding behind her bedroom door. There is plenty of action, adventure and discovery in Pete’s story and those who take the time to dive into this tale of tails will be happy to learn that the author plans to develop this into a three-book series.
As a reviewer who has read more than his share of mermaid stories, I am more than pleased to say that Pete Tarsi’s wonderful story is a welcome addition to the genre and is a ‘must read’ for anyone – female or male – who wants to explore this particular realm of fantasy. If you like and enjoy stories about mer-folk, do not let the book’s intended target audience put you off. Simply take the plunge and enjoy this wonderfully refreshing story.
February 6, 2017
We are proud to announce that FLIPPING THE SCALES by Pete Tarsi is a B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree. This tells a reader that this book is well worth their time and money!
March 24, 2018
This is a very cute, fun, and fintastic YA mermaid book. One of the mermaids will make you think of Madison from Splash! This is a great summer read, perfect for the beach.
February 27, 2015
Flipping the Scales is a switching places fantasy aimed at young adult readers. Although the characters are 17, the situations and language are very tame and suitable for ages 10 and up.
Meredith is a studious 17 year old, going into her senior year of high school and focused on getting into a good college. She doesn't spend a whole lot of time having fun, and packed mostly books in her suitcase for a two week summer vacation. Her best friend Jill wants her to relax and have fun, to go with the flow at least for vacation at her cousin Hailey's house on a resort island.
Marina is also a 17 year old who is quiet and serious, with a best friend named Lorelei who tries to get her to lighten up and have fun on the same resort island. The difference is that Marina and Lorelei are mermaids, and their adventure entails transforming their tail into legs for one day during the full moon. Unfortunately, Meredith finds Marina's tail and mistakenly tries it on, transforming into a mermaid. Both are stuck impersonating the other until the next full moon when they can safely switch back.
Neither girl is familiar with the other's world, but with lots of help from their friends, this might just be the adventure of a lifetime.
It was fun to read another author's take on the mermaid world, and watch how his mermaids view the human world. Tarsi has fun with mermaid language, giving us teenage mer-slang as well as showing us there are still mean girl cliques under the sea, too.
Meredith is such a serious student that she describes things in textbook ways, or examines processes down at the scientific levels. Those parts made me chuckle as I know the author is a high school science teacher by day (mermaid author by night!)
My only critique would be the head hopping (a personal pet peeve), as the points of view are sometimes loose and interwoven. But all in all a solid debut from a new author with a fun new take on the mermaid world. I look forward to reading more books in this series, and totally recommend this for a fun, light read... and great for a beach read!
Meredith is a studious 17 year old, going into her senior year of high school and focused on getting into a good college. She doesn't spend a whole lot of time having fun, and packed mostly books in her suitcase for a two week summer vacation. Her best friend Jill wants her to relax and have fun, to go with the flow at least for vacation at her cousin Hailey's house on a resort island.
Marina is also a 17 year old who is quiet and serious, with a best friend named Lorelei who tries to get her to lighten up and have fun on the same resort island. The difference is that Marina and Lorelei are mermaids, and their adventure entails transforming their tail into legs for one day during the full moon. Unfortunately, Meredith finds Marina's tail and mistakenly tries it on, transforming into a mermaid. Both are stuck impersonating the other until the next full moon when they can safely switch back.
Neither girl is familiar with the other's world, but with lots of help from their friends, this might just be the adventure of a lifetime.
It was fun to read another author's take on the mermaid world, and watch how his mermaids view the human world. Tarsi has fun with mermaid language, giving us teenage mer-slang as well as showing us there are still mean girl cliques under the sea, too.
Meredith is such a serious student that she describes things in textbook ways, or examines processes down at the scientific levels. Those parts made me chuckle as I know the author is a high school science teacher by day (mermaid author by night!)
My only critique would be the head hopping (a personal pet peeve), as the points of view are sometimes loose and interwoven. But all in all a solid debut from a new author with a fun new take on the mermaid world. I look forward to reading more books in this series, and totally recommend this for a fun, light read... and great for a beach read!
July 17, 2016
I picked up Flipping the Scales because I was looking for a light read. The cover brought to mind the TV series H20: Just Add Water, mainly because of the orange tail. So I decided to give Flipping the Scales a go.
I have to say that I did like how Flipping the Scales was different from other mermaid stories. Jill and especially Hailey were well-versed in various mermaid stories and used that knowledge to try to help Meredith when she grew a tail. However, the stories the girls had heard weren’t accurate and Jill and Hailey ran out of options.
Now Meredith is stuck as a mermaid until the next full moon and Marina is stuck with legs. Both girls are going to have to find ways to assimilate while the await the full moon. Meredith has Lorelei to help her understand the ways of the mer while Marina has Jill and Hailey to teach her to be human.
I liked Marina’s character a lot. She was only stuck with legs because Lorelei had dragged her to the shore. Now she is completely stuck and Lorelei can’t be with her. That would be rather overwhelming.
I did not click with Meredith at all. She seemed to think she was better than everyone else because she was intelligent. She gets fixated on things that aren’t important and doesn’t seem to be very friendly. Maybe it is just me, but I didn’t like her.
Overall, I liked the story. There were some twists that I didn’t see coming and some surprises. I’m sure readers younger than me would really enjoy it. In fact, I am thinking of some of my students who would probably love it.
I received this book for free via Young Adult Insider for review consideration. This in no way affects my opinion of the title nor the content of this review.
This review first appeared at Orandi et Legendi.
I have to say that I did like how Flipping the Scales was different from other mermaid stories. Jill and especially Hailey were well-versed in various mermaid stories and used that knowledge to try to help Meredith when she grew a tail. However, the stories the girls had heard weren’t accurate and Jill and Hailey ran out of options.
Now Meredith is stuck as a mermaid until the next full moon and Marina is stuck with legs. Both girls are going to have to find ways to assimilate while the await the full moon. Meredith has Lorelei to help her understand the ways of the mer while Marina has Jill and Hailey to teach her to be human.
I liked Marina’s character a lot. She was only stuck with legs because Lorelei had dragged her to the shore. Now she is completely stuck and Lorelei can’t be with her. That would be rather overwhelming.
I did not click with Meredith at all. She seemed to think she was better than everyone else because she was intelligent. She gets fixated on things that aren’t important and doesn’t seem to be very friendly. Maybe it is just me, but I didn’t like her.
Overall, I liked the story. There were some twists that I didn’t see coming and some surprises. I’m sure readers younger than me would really enjoy it. In fact, I am thinking of some of my students who would probably love it.
I received this book for free via Young Adult Insider for review consideration. This in no way affects my opinion of the title nor the content of this review.
This review first appeared at Orandi et Legendi.
October 6, 2016
Meredith is all work and no play, planning to spend her summer studying for her senior year so she can get into a good college. but she's being dragged by Jill to Jill's cousin, Hailey's beach house for a month and expected to take her nose out of her book once in a while. During a walk on the beach, something catches her eye and she picks it up, a pretty skirt, that she tries on, and instantly turns into a mermaid. Jill and Hailey try to help her out, to get the tail off, but fail. Meanwhile, Merina, the owner of the tail is left stranded on land while her friend Lorelei goes back home for help from her dad. When the two groups finally meet and Meredith finds out she's stuck this way for a month, Jill and Hailey agree to take care of Merina while Lorelei takes care of Meredith.
Meredith has to try to blend in with the mermaids, but it's hard. She questions everything and won't accept because I said so as a reason without some kind of proof why and nobody seems to have it; as far as I can tell, mers just believe everything they're told without question; nobody has a scientific brain. And then, of course, shy Meredith does not want to wear a seashell bra instead of her tankini top.
Meanwhile, Merina, who never wanted to come ashore in the first place, just misses home, but slowly comes out of her shell and really explores land with Hailey.
This book follows two really interesting stories, as two girls discover more about themselves while taking a break from their lives than they ever had while living them. I really can't find much wrong with this book besides the occasional typo. It's a great book for a YA reader and I'm looking forward to the next one. I want to find out why Merina has the only orange tail in the school.
Meredith has to try to blend in with the mermaids, but it's hard. She questions everything and won't accept because I said so as a reason without some kind of proof why and nobody seems to have it; as far as I can tell, mers just believe everything they're told without question; nobody has a scientific brain. And then, of course, shy Meredith does not want to wear a seashell bra instead of her tankini top.
Meanwhile, Merina, who never wanted to come ashore in the first place, just misses home, but slowly comes out of her shell and really explores land with Hailey.
This book follows two really interesting stories, as two girls discover more about themselves while taking a break from their lives than they ever had while living them. I really can't find much wrong with this book besides the occasional typo. It's a great book for a YA reader and I'm looking forward to the next one. I want to find out why Merina has the only orange tail in the school.
March 12, 2015
I love stories about people swapping lives and this is a fresh new take on the idea along with a fresh take on a mermaid story. Marina is a cautious mermaid and Meredith is studious and only thinks about studying and school, so when the switch happens, they are both like fish out of water and are forced to adapt to their new surroundings. Both Marina and Meredith must learn to live outside their comfort zones and both experience some typical teen issues in each others worlds while trying to beat the clock before the swap is permanent. Flipping the Scales is a fun, easy, and refreshing read for any age.
September 2, 2015
PDF version of "Flipping the Scales," by Pete Tarsi never missed a beat with me. I love the whole concept of two girls the same age both trying to enjoy there own life lives'. Until Meredith tries on a skirt and suddenly has a tail while the other girl is stuck with legs. Then these girls start living in the other ones life.
I love how the setting and plot it is straight forward and the author did his research to make them act and talk like teens. I loved the conflict and the amount of romance in this book. It wasn't all about romance which was nice. I can't wait for the seconded book in this series.
I love how the setting and plot it is straight forward and the author did his research to make them act and talk like teens. I loved the conflict and the amount of romance in this book. It wasn't all about romance which was nice. I can't wait for the seconded book in this series.
December 4, 2014
This is a refreshing YA fantasy novel in which teenagers sound like teenagers (to my high school teacher ears anyway) and still have depth. Even secondary characters leap off the page and have vitality.
The tale itself only suffers from being part of a longer story and leaving you with a taste for the sequel, as some of the most compelling questions remain unanswered. That said, it still strongly merits a read if you are a teen, know one, or ever were one and know the angst of not feeling like you belong anywhere.
The tale itself only suffers from being part of a longer story and leaving you with a taste for the sequel, as some of the most compelling questions remain unanswered. That said, it still strongly merits a read if you are a teen, know one, or ever were one and know the angst of not feeling like you belong anywhere.
January 22, 2015
"Flipping the Scales" by Pete Tarsi is an entertaining mermaid story. This book is highly imaginative and the author has created an amazing world with fantastical colours and characters. Really cute book for tweens! This novel has just the right amount of sass to keep those tweens reading on. My daughter has a very vivid imagination and adores this beautiful book so I would recommend this book for girls who like mystery, fantasy, and mermaids. Great job, Peter! You've written a beautiful story!
September 25, 2015
For full review, please go to: 5girlsbookreviews.blogspot.com, Twitter @camartinez and Facebook "5 Girls Book Reviews"
REVIEW BY: Arianna, age 12 years, 9 months
MAY CONTAIN SPOILER:
This book was extremely touching! I like how the characters never give up, they persevere through the journey.
My favorite character is Hailey because she does all she can to help her friends. When everyone else lost hope, she held her head high and fixed the problems. She has an amazingly pure heart that I love!
REVIEW BY: Arianna, age 12 years, 9 months
MAY CONTAIN SPOILER:
This book was extremely touching! I like how the characters never give up, they persevere through the journey.
My favorite character is Hailey because she does all she can to help her friends. When everyone else lost hope, she held her head high and fixed the problems. She has an amazingly pure heart that I love!
July 12, 2015
Excellent book for younger teens. The story makes the reader empathetic to all characters and teaches a great lesson on being a great friend. Imaginative and fun.
November 23, 2015
The perfect middle grade beach read. Go froth and feel the fluff.
December 28, 2015
Review to come :)
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews