What do you think?
Rate this book
Girl at Sea
Sometimes you have to get lost . . .
The Girl: Clio Ford, seventeen, wants to spend the summer smooching her art-store crush, not stuck on a boat in the Mediterranean. At least she'll get a killer tan.
The Mission: Survive her father's crazy antics. Oh, and also find some missing underwater treasure that could unlock the secrets of civilization.
The Crew: Dad's wacky best friend Martin, his bizarre research partner Julia, her voluptuous daughter Elsa... and then there's Aidan, Julia's incredibly attractive, incredibly arrogant assistant. What's going on behind Aidan's intellectual, intensely green eyes, anyway?
As Clio sails into uncharted territory she unveils secrets that have the power to change history. But her most surprising discovery is that there's something deeper and more cryptic than the sea—her own heart...
...to find what you're looking for.
The Girl: Clio Ford, seventeen, wants to spend the summer smooching her art-store crush, not stuck on a boat in the Mediterranean. At least she'll get a killer tan.
The Mission: Survive her father's crazy antics. Oh, and also find some missing underwater treasure that could unlock the secrets of civilization.
The Crew: Dad's wacky best friend Martin, his bizarre research partner Julia, her voluptuous daughter Elsa... and then there's Aidan, Julia's incredibly attractive, incredibly arrogant assistant. What's going on behind Aidan's intellectual, intensely green eyes, anyway?
As Clio sails into uncharted territory she unveils secrets that have the power to change history. But her most surprising discovery is that there's something deeper and more cryptic than the sea—her own heart...
...to find what you're looking for.
323 pages, Hardcover
First published May 29, 2007
84 people are currently reading
6551 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 462 reviews
September 5, 2016
OHH EMMM GEEEE, I LOVED ITTTTT :]]] -excuse me while I gush for a few moments- I loved this book!!!! The ending was kind of a surprise but I liked it!!!! I thought it was a well- written book and was a good mix of mystery and romance. Building suspense in every word, this book can bring tears to your eyes or laughter to your mouth. This would have to be Maureen Johnson's best book for me. I would recommend it, of course :) Please read this book, you won't regret it.
February 16, 2009
Ok. I have to comment on the cover. WTF? That girl on the cover could never, ever be Clio. I’ve noticed a pattern with Maureen Johnson’s books: Find a picture of a pretty, slim girl (with no face). Put her in tight pants and a tank top. Add in a few pieces of plot-related decorative flourishes. And Voila! A cover girl that has nothing at all to do with the strong heroines Johnson writes. (At least Suite Scarlet seems to have broken this pattern)
I’m probably overreacting, but this really bothers me. This cover is so generic that it short-changes what’s inside. I’m glad I didn’t judge this book (or 13 Little Blue Envelopes) by its cover. If I had, I likely would have assumed the novel would have been another formulaic teen romance drama. Which it definitely is NOT. If I wasn’t lazy, I’d start a petition to stop this cover design travesty. :)
Ok, onto more serious matters... Girl at Sea has a great pace and likable characters. There’s a bit of everything here: mystery, romance, drama. It was a great book to read while stuck in winter misery.
I’m quickly growing into a huge Maureen Johnson fan, almost entirely because of her heroines. Johnson does not write stereotypical teen girls- they are all fully fleshed out young women with diverse talents, desires, and motivations (which is why the covers bother me so much). Clio is highly relatable, even though many girls probably can’t even imagine living the life Clio has cruising around the Mediterranean. But Clio’s feelings, her relationships, her fears, and her weaknesses are all very real. The exotic locale is just that: a setting. It adds interest to the story, but does not serve to alienate readers. While most readers might not be able to imagine how it would feel to jump off the deck of a yacht into the dark sea, most can probably relate to being hurt by a friend or fighting with a parent.
Another thing I like about Johnson’s heroines is that they have romantic interests but do not need to be rescued. Clio does not need a boyfriend or a kiss to complete her. Clio needs to find something inside her- even though crushes and first kisses seem to take priority in her life, it’s not really what she’s looking for. While Clio gets what she wants in the love department, the other things she gets, the things she didn't know she was looking for, are so much more
meaningful, satisfying, and life changing.
The inclusion of old letters keeps the mystery going and clues readers in on details related to the secret search that Clio is not yet aware of.
I highly recommend this book.
I’m probably overreacting, but this really bothers me. This cover is so generic that it short-changes what’s inside. I’m glad I didn’t judge this book (or 13 Little Blue Envelopes) by its cover. If I had, I likely would have assumed the novel would have been another formulaic teen romance drama. Which it definitely is NOT. If I wasn’t lazy, I’d start a petition to stop this cover design travesty. :)
Ok, onto more serious matters... Girl at Sea has a great pace and likable characters. There’s a bit of everything here: mystery, romance, drama. It was a great book to read while stuck in winter misery.
I’m quickly growing into a huge Maureen Johnson fan, almost entirely because of her heroines. Johnson does not write stereotypical teen girls- they are all fully fleshed out young women with diverse talents, desires, and motivations (which is why the covers bother me so much). Clio is highly relatable, even though many girls probably can’t even imagine living the life Clio has cruising around the Mediterranean. But Clio’s feelings, her relationships, her fears, and her weaknesses are all very real. The exotic locale is just that: a setting. It adds interest to the story, but does not serve to alienate readers. While most readers might not be able to imagine how it would feel to jump off the deck of a yacht into the dark sea, most can probably relate to being hurt by a friend or fighting with a parent.
Another thing I like about Johnson’s heroines is that they have romantic interests but do not need to be rescued. Clio does not need a boyfriend or a kiss to complete her. Clio needs to find something inside her- even though crushes and first kisses seem to take priority in her life, it’s not really what she’s looking for. While Clio gets what she wants in the love department, the other things she gets, the things she didn't know she was looking for, are so much more
meaningful, satisfying, and life changing.
The inclusion of old letters keeps the mystery going and clues readers in on details related to the secret search that Clio is not yet aware of.
I highly recommend this book.
did-not-finish
June 15, 2023DNF after 40%
I'm not feeling it, it's just not for me I guess... So unfortunate because I really loved some other books by Maureen Johnson :(
I'm not feeling it, it's just not for me I guess... So unfortunate because I really loved some other books by Maureen Johnson :(
December 9, 2018
Maureen Johnson is really good at taking really far-out premises and making them seem like a normal backdrop for a YA romance. This is a great example of her doing so. Clio's life is kind of fantastic in the sense that it's highly unlikely but not in a wish-fulfillment kind of way. She and her dad achieved some fame years ago on a joint project that broke out in a big way but that money (and fame) is long-gone when the book picks up and that's quite an achievement considering she's only 17.
Johnson does a fantastic job making all of that reasonable background and, while it's present in the form of her father pulling her into another project, Clio reads very much like a normal girl with her own sense of self and take on the problems she faces. I really liked Clio because while things were hard and she was frequently frustrated, I completely identified with her frustrations and she kept trying to make the best of her difficult situation(s) even when things piled up. She's a little frustrating as a romantic lead because she's kind of clueless about boys, yes, but also about her own feelings and responses to her environment. So while I could see her hang-up on the boy back home it was sometimes frustrating to see her misread her own feelings, let alone those of others in their closed world on the ship.
And I'm still not sure about Aiden. Or the strength of the relationships that started on that ship/mission/exploration. I hope they'll last, both the girl friendship and the boy relationship. I have confidence that they could, but that's probably just my innate optimism. At any rate, I enjoyed being along for the ride, good times and bad, and found the book very engaging.
So this ends with a solid four stars, not least as it kept me up way later than I had intended, it was just that engaging. Johnson does such a great job with the Italian scene, making it come alive, that I had to search out Sorrento just to see if it really is that vivid (it looks like it really is!). The fantastical/unlikely events and occasional frustration with both Clio and her father keep this from going higher, though.
A note about Chaste: This is pretty chaste. All the physical stuff is given in terms of "kissing" but there are hints that more may be meant sometimes. Clio herself starts the book having never been kissed so when her moment came (you knew it would, right?), it was everything it needed to be—without being more than it could/would have been. Very well done, I think.
Johnson does a fantastic job making all of that reasonable background and, while it's present in the form of her father pulling her into another project, Clio reads very much like a normal girl with her own sense of self and take on the problems she faces. I really liked Clio because while things were hard and she was frequently frustrated, I completely identified with her frustrations and she kept trying to make the best of her difficult situation(s) even when things piled up. She's a little frustrating as a romantic lead because she's kind of clueless about boys, yes, but also about her own feelings and responses to her environment. So while I could see her hang-up on the boy back home it was sometimes frustrating to see her misread her own feelings, let alone those of others in their closed world on the ship.
And I'm still not sure about Aiden. Or the strength of the relationships that started on that ship/mission/exploration. I hope they'll last, both the girl friendship and the boy relationship. I have confidence that they could, but that's probably just my innate optimism. At any rate, I enjoyed being along for the ride, good times and bad, and found the book very engaging.
So this ends with a solid four stars, not least as it kept me up way later than I had intended, it was just that engaging. Johnson does such a great job with the Italian scene, making it come alive, that I had to search out Sorrento just to see if it really is that vivid (it looks like it really is!). The fantastical/unlikely events and occasional frustration with both Clio and her father keep this from going higher, though.
A note about Chaste: This is pretty chaste. All the physical stuff is given in terms of "kissing" but there are hints that more may be meant sometimes. Clio herself starts the book having never been kissed so when her moment came (you knew it would, right?), it was everything it needed to be—without being more than it could/would have been. Very well done, I think.
January 29, 2020
Fata și marea este povestea adolescentei Clio, care este nevoită să-și petreacă vacanța de vară, alături de tatăl ei, pe un vas. Doar că, acest lucru nu înseamnă că va sta la soare și va naviga pe internet... așa cum crede, ci înseamnă că va lua parte la planul secret al tatălui și al iubitei sale, de a descoperi o epavă care ascunde un mare secret ce ar putea schimba istoria omenirii.
În esență subiectul pare interesant, dar e atât de plictisitor scrisă cartea asta că mi-au trebuit 4 zile să o termin. O eternitate. ;))
Dialogul este foarte prostesc. Mai ales intre Elsa, Aiden și Clio. Nici nu zici că au 17 ani. În plus nimic nu e verosimil în poveste. Lucrurile pe care ei le întreprind, modul în care ies din situații limită... hai să fim serioși...
Autoarea a încercat să scoată ceva drăguț, dar mie mi s-a parut doar o salată de lucruri.
Relația tensionată dintre Clio si tatăl ei m-a scos din minți. Zici că erau la serviciile secrete... atâta secretomanie. Elsei, Juliei si lui Martin, nu prea le-am găsit rostul în poveste... nu fac nimic notabil și nu schimbă cu nimic ecuația poveștii. În fine, nu o mai lungesc. Nu e cine stie ce, e o carte slabuță și plictisitoare. Are o coperta drăguță, are un plot interesant, dar nu mi-a plăcut.
A, a fost ceva ce mi-a plăcut însă. Detaliile cu care au fost creionate zonele pe unde aceștia au umblat. Am descoperit o bucățică de Italia ce m-a cucerit. Dacă sunt și pasionați de scufundări, cartea are destule detalii despre asta.
Chiar și așa nu pot sa-i dau mai mult de 3 stele...
În esență subiectul pare interesant, dar e atât de plictisitor scrisă cartea asta că mi-au trebuit 4 zile să o termin. O eternitate. ;))
Dialogul este foarte prostesc. Mai ales intre Elsa, Aiden și Clio. Nici nu zici că au 17 ani. În plus nimic nu e verosimil în poveste. Lucrurile pe care ei le întreprind, modul în care ies din situații limită... hai să fim serioși...
Autoarea a încercat să scoată ceva drăguț, dar mie mi s-a parut doar o salată de lucruri.
Relația tensionată dintre Clio si tatăl ei m-a scos din minți. Zici că erau la serviciile secrete... atâta secretomanie. Elsei, Juliei si lui Martin, nu prea le-am găsit rostul în poveste... nu fac nimic notabil și nu schimbă cu nimic ecuația poveștii. În fine, nu o mai lungesc. Nu e cine stie ce, e o carte slabuță și plictisitoare. Are o coperta drăguță, are un plot interesant, dar nu mi-a plăcut.
A, a fost ceva ce mi-a plăcut însă. Detaliile cu care au fost creionate zonele pe unde aceștia au umblat. Am descoperit o bucățică de Italia ce m-a cucerit. Dacă sunt și pasionați de scufundări, cartea are destule detalii despre asta.
Chiar și așa nu pot sa-i dau mai mult de 3 stele...
July 24, 2012
Finished it in about 4 hours................ Yeah, that says it all really doesn't it.
MJ (no, not Michael Jackson) writes realistic scenarios yet doesn't bore me to death, and makes me want to keep reading.
What I loved about this book is the sense of family. Which is rare in YA books.
I loved the history she included, especially with me studying archeology at university.
What I especially love is that even though it's mainly American characters it's very European.
MJ (no, not Michael Jackson) writes realistic scenarios yet doesn't bore me to death, and makes me want to keep reading.
What I loved about this book is the sense of family. Which is rare in YA books.
I loved the history she included, especially with me studying archeology at university.
What I especially love is that even though it's mainly American characters it's very European.
August 22, 2015
Ook bij 'Zomer, Zee & Zoute Zoenen' heb ik hetzelfde als bij '13 Enveloppen & 1 Rugzak'. Het is wel een leuk boek, maar ik mis toch nog wat in verhaal. Het was het allemaal net niet. http://bookswithabeautychick.blogspot...
April 10, 2019
Простая, но довольно милая книжка о том, как папа повез дочку нырять за сокровищами – ситуация, которая была бы идеально прекрасной, если бы не мелкие нюансы. Папа у Клио раздолбай и инфантил, и про сокровище он ей большую часть книги ничего не хочет рассказывать. Так что в её картине мира папаша просто притащил её на яхту с кучей незнакомых людей и заставил готовить еду на всех. Героиню ситуация фрустрирует – ну и читателя, конечно, вместе с ней.
Читателю (мне), на самом деле, хотелось больше приключений и тайн – чтобы там, не знаю, Атлантиду искали (и нашли). Но Girl at Sea – скорее про то, как ребенок хочет быть ребенком, а приходится постоянно воспитывать отца, да еще и огребать неодобрение окружающих, мол, посмотрите какая цаца, папочка привез её в Италию на яхту, а она нос воротит. Тайну сокровища раскрывать не буду, скажу только два слова – Розеттский камень.
Есть в книжке и роман, но, как по мне, довольно неубедительный. Морин Джонсон попробовала сделать enemies to lovers, но искры не хватило.
В общем, 3.5 звездочки с округлением до 4.
Читателю (мне), на самом деле, хотелось больше приключений и тайн – чтобы там, не знаю, Атлантиду искали (и нашли). Но Girl at Sea – скорее про то, как ребенок хочет быть ребенком, а приходится постоянно воспитывать отца, да еще и огребать неодобрение окружающих, мол, посмотрите какая цаца, папочка привез её в Италию на яхту, а она нос воротит. Тайну сокровища раскрывать не буду, скажу только два слова – Розеттский камень.
Есть в книжке и роман, но, как по мне, довольно неубедительный. Морин Джонсон попробовала сделать enemies to lovers, но искры не хватило.
В общем, 3.5 звездочки с округлением до 4.
May 24, 2019
I’m trying to read YA because Summer but I find myself unable to relate to like sixteen year olds anymore (is this adulthood?) I liked the classics/archaeology/history/adventure aspect to this but I had a hard time sometimes with our heroine. But I still do think Maureen Johnson writes some of the best most well plotted and written YA in the game. In truth a 3.75/5
August 9, 2022
O lectură perfectă pentru vacanță 😊.
May 16, 2025
Complaining about spending 10 weeks in Italy over the summer??? Couldn't be me
June 13, 2016
Before I get started on this review, I would like to share something that I just discovered about Maureen Johnson: as of 2012, she is the Queen of Teen for the UK (aka Young Adult Literature Queen).
After reading several of her novels, I have to say that I quite agree with her nomination and election (can queens be elected?). She is very skilled at writing from the perspective of a teenager, obviously not being a teen herself. For some authors who write YA, this struggle is quite obvious with their dialogue, main character's inner thoughts/actions, etc. Many succeed though and despite the large age difference between themselves and their characters, the tone and dialogue is amazingly accurate. One great example of an author who struggled but did NOT overcome would be Alyson Noel who wrote Evermore (I have not read any of her other books however, so I can only base my opinion solely on this first Immortals book).
While I would not say that Maureen Johnson is my favorite author, I have consistently enjoyed every book written by her, which is quite the accomplishment. 13 Little Blue Envelopes is tied with this as my favorite of hers to date.
First off, Maureen creates a character that I would love to be friends with. For me this is important. Not all good books need relatable and likeable characters, but it does make it easier to get into the story. In Girl at Sea, the main character is Clio. Aside from I myself being in love with the name (Clio being named after the Greek muse of history), right off that bat I find that I like her attitude. I appreciate wit and sarcasm in both daily life and with my heroines. When we are first introduced to Clio, she is fawning over a local boy who works at the art store:
"She was standing straight, so she slumped a little and arranged her face into a mask of minor melancholy. She approached slowly."
Ya... so, that would definitely be the way I would react in a similar situation, especially as a teen. I overanalyzed everything (alright, so I still over analyze everything. Nothing has changed except for my age). These analyzations and introspective thoughts make for a very realistic teen character and really show off the author's skill at character development.
Then we find out Clio's backstory. I won't go into much detail here because that provides a lot of the plot in Girl at Sea, but let's just say she has daddy issues. Not in a "my daddy doesn't love me" or "my daddy hits me" type of way (nothing wrong with those characteristics, it just wouldn't be right for this particular story). Instead, Clio's daddy issues have arisen from a number of questionable decisions that he has made (#1 Having is daughter get a tattoo at a very VERY young age. #2 Oh, and being pretty reckless with their money that results in her parents' divorce before the book even begins).
The newest questionable decision that her father makes is to take Clio away from her home for the summer and force her to come with him on a wild adventure with people she has never met, and on a yacht that he can definitely not afford.
Another reason why I think Maureen reigns as the Teen of Queen is that she doesn't just feed her readers the information. I absolutely despise an author who gives you all of the details upfront with a long backstory and an exhausting introduction to absolutely everything that is going to go down. Even in a non-thriller novel, we need a little suspense. Plus, it is a chronic problem that authors underestimate their readers. Give us a little credit.
Girl at Sea includes some historical fiction aspects which make for quite the compliment to the modern day story and setting. Instead of force feeding us all of the facts we need to know right at the beginning of the group's grand adventure, we learn along with Clio. That is the way a good young adult story should read.
There also needs to be some compelling characters aside from the main character of course. Here enters the cast: Clio's dad (the scuba diver and trip-funder), Clio's dad's girlfriend Julia (the archaeologist), Martin (Clio's dad's friend and the only sane adult on this trip), Elsa (Julia's daughter who translates and mostly sunbathes), and Aidan (the assistant who provides a potential love interest for the girls).
Each of these characters have their flaws. They also have endearing qualities and storylines that make them well-rounded. None are static and all gain something from the trip.
I would argue that Clio gains the most. She learns about love, adventure and family. What else could you ask for from a book?
My only caveat with Maureen is her sometimes too quick climax and resolution. Let us enjoy the epicness of your endings once in a while Maureen! They are over too soon. Still, as I said before, there is a reason that she is the Queen of Teen. This book is quite the adventure in both mental and physical capacities. It's not a long or particularly heart-wrenching read, but it's a great story nonetheless.
After reading several of her novels, I have to say that I quite agree with her nomination and election (can queens be elected?). She is very skilled at writing from the perspective of a teenager, obviously not being a teen herself. For some authors who write YA, this struggle is quite obvious with their dialogue, main character's inner thoughts/actions, etc. Many succeed though and despite the large age difference between themselves and their characters, the tone and dialogue is amazingly accurate. One great example of an author who struggled but did NOT overcome would be Alyson Noel who wrote Evermore (I have not read any of her other books however, so I can only base my opinion solely on this first Immortals book).
While I would not say that Maureen Johnson is my favorite author, I have consistently enjoyed every book written by her, which is quite the accomplishment. 13 Little Blue Envelopes is tied with this as my favorite of hers to date.
First off, Maureen creates a character that I would love to be friends with. For me this is important. Not all good books need relatable and likeable characters, but it does make it easier to get into the story. In Girl at Sea, the main character is Clio. Aside from I myself being in love with the name (Clio being named after the Greek muse of history), right off that bat I find that I like her attitude. I appreciate wit and sarcasm in both daily life and with my heroines. When we are first introduced to Clio, she is fawning over a local boy who works at the art store:
"She was standing straight, so she slumped a little and arranged her face into a mask of minor melancholy. She approached slowly."
Ya... so, that would definitely be the way I would react in a similar situation, especially as a teen. I overanalyzed everything (alright, so I still over analyze everything. Nothing has changed except for my age). These analyzations and introspective thoughts make for a very realistic teen character and really show off the author's skill at character development.
Then we find out Clio's backstory. I won't go into much detail here because that provides a lot of the plot in Girl at Sea, but let's just say she has daddy issues. Not in a "my daddy doesn't love me" or "my daddy hits me" type of way (nothing wrong with those characteristics, it just wouldn't be right for this particular story). Instead, Clio's daddy issues have arisen from a number of questionable decisions that he has made (#1 Having is daughter get a tattoo at a very VERY young age. #2 Oh, and being pretty reckless with their money that results in her parents' divorce before the book even begins).
The newest questionable decision that her father makes is to take Clio away from her home for the summer and force her to come with him on a wild adventure with people she has never met, and on a yacht that he can definitely not afford.
Another reason why I think Maureen reigns as the Teen of Queen is that she doesn't just feed her readers the information. I absolutely despise an author who gives you all of the details upfront with a long backstory and an exhausting introduction to absolutely everything that is going to go down. Even in a non-thriller novel, we need a little suspense. Plus, it is a chronic problem that authors underestimate their readers. Give us a little credit.
Girl at Sea includes some historical fiction aspects which make for quite the compliment to the modern day story and setting. Instead of force feeding us all of the facts we need to know right at the beginning of the group's grand adventure, we learn along with Clio. That is the way a good young adult story should read.
There also needs to be some compelling characters aside from the main character of course. Here enters the cast: Clio's dad (the scuba diver and trip-funder), Clio's dad's girlfriend Julia (the archaeologist), Martin (Clio's dad's friend and the only sane adult on this trip), Elsa (Julia's daughter who translates and mostly sunbathes), and Aidan (the assistant who provides a potential love interest for the girls).
Each of these characters have their flaws. They also have endearing qualities and storylines that make them well-rounded. None are static and all gain something from the trip.
I would argue that Clio gains the most. She learns about love, adventure and family. What else could you ask for from a book?
My only caveat with Maureen is her sometimes too quick climax and resolution. Let us enjoy the epicness of your endings once in a while Maureen! They are over too soon. Still, as I said before, there is a reason that she is the Queen of Teen. This book is quite the adventure in both mental and physical capacities. It's not a long or particularly heart-wrenching read, but it's a great story nonetheless.
March 16, 2018
Girl at Sea is an adorable tale of a young girl searching for herself, love, and buried treasure on the Mediterranean Sea. This book does a really great job explaining the different dynamics of Clio's relationship with her friends, her father, and her budding romance with Adian. The characters are totally believable. The strongest part of Girl at Sea is the character development. I had a clear sense of every character's opinions and goals even though the story was told from the perspective of Clio. The romance with Adian was developed realistically. There was not love at first sight, nor did some huge catastrophe bring them together.
Girl at Sea book is not just a love story though. There is an interesting mystery where Clio tries to discover the purpose of her father's mission and then the mysterious objective of the mission itself. The historical experts add a fun bit of insight into their mission.
I also LOVED the setting of Girl at Sea. I've been to Italy a couple of times and I've traveled to every location mentioned in the book. Maureen Johnson did a wonderful job describing the Italian scenery and atmosphere.
Overall Girl as Sea is a fun book about a girl growing up oh the high seas. She encounters many adventures, some exciting and some dangerous, and through it all learns to forgive and love.
Girl at Sea book is not just a love story though. There is an interesting mystery where Clio tries to discover the purpose of her father's mission and then the mysterious objective of the mission itself. The historical experts add a fun bit of insight into their mission.
I also LOVED the setting of Girl at Sea. I've been to Italy a couple of times and I've traveled to every location mentioned in the book. Maureen Johnson did a wonderful job describing the Italian scenery and atmosphere.
Overall Girl as Sea is a fun book about a girl growing up oh the high seas. She encounters many adventures, some exciting and some dangerous, and through it all learns to forgive and love.
September 6, 2011
I picked this up after having read (and loved!) 13 Little Blue Envelopes and The Last Little Blue Envelope. Overall it was an enjoyable book, but didn't come close to being as good as the other two.
Basically, we have Clio who it all set to have the best summer of her life when she finds out that instead she is being shipped off to spend the summer on a boat in Italy with her dad. Who wouldn't love that, right? Clio, that's who. We find out that Clio's dad is a bit eccentric and always has something going on in his life. This time is no different as Clio discovers that her dad, along with three other people, are on some secret mission that they won't tell Clio about.
The story was interesting and the main character was likable, as with the Little Blue Envelope books, but I found parts of the story to be a little too predictable. I like most of the other characters and the interactions between them, but it was pretty obvious how certain things were going to go. All in all though, it was a fun read with family, romance, and adventure. Even though it wasn't all I had hoped it would be, I'd still recommend it.
Basically, we have Clio who it all set to have the best summer of her life when she finds out that instead she is being shipped off to spend the summer on a boat in Italy with her dad. Who wouldn't love that, right? Clio, that's who. We find out that Clio's dad is a bit eccentric and always has something going on in his life. This time is no different as Clio discovers that her dad, along with three other people, are on some secret mission that they won't tell Clio about.
The story was interesting and the main character was likable, as with the Little Blue Envelope books, but I found parts of the story to be a little too predictable. I like most of the other characters and the interactions between them, but it was pretty obvious how certain things were going to go. All in all though, it was a fun read with family, romance, and adventure. Even though it wasn't all I had hoped it would be, I'd still recommend it.
October 14, 2008
Johnson's books are always fun, clever, and effortlessly written, and this one was no exception. Clio wants to spend the summer working at the local art store alongside Ollie, the boy she has an enormous crush on. As usual, her father has ruined things by insisting that he spend the summer with her. Sure, they're going to be on a yacht in the Mediterranean, but there's always a catch with Clio's dad. This time, it's that they're on some sort of top secret mission that everyone but Clio knows about. Oh, and her father is dating one of the other crew members, but has forbidden Clio to even LOOK at the one guy her age on board. What could be your standard teen angst book, however, is expertly cut with excerpts from the journal of an 18th century professor's daughter who is also on a secret mission. Yacht-jacking, killer jellyfish, and a hard-drinking dairy princess all make the scene as well. Fun all around!
Read
October 7, 2021DNF'd at 42%. Unfortunately, this is my second attempt to read a Maureen Johnson book, and like the first one, I'm bored out of my wits. Unlike the first one, however, the boredom is interspersed with genuine anger. Aiden and her father's treatment of her is extremely disconcerting, especially since we're not given a reason yet. (Reviews suggest that Aiden is reacting to her hostility, but he's being actively rude and she's being very clear that she doesn't want to be here). The main issue here is no one is telling her anything, she's being treated as free labor, and she doesn't want to be there. I don't think she's being whiny or anything. Nothing I've read of her father makes me want her to want to be there either. Given how questionable her father's behavior is, I'm not convinced a court would ever let him spend that much time with his daughter. As we learn, he's put her in danger before.
September 5, 2007
I really dig Johnson's writing style -- she's great with the turn of phrase -- but both of the books of hers I've read have felt a little too light; like with another 40 pages of character-digging, they'd have moved from good to great. Enjoyable lightweight reads for sure, but this one, particularly, felt to me like something was missing from it. YMMV.
August 11, 2014
3'5 en realidad. Me ha faltado un final más cerrado, un epílogo, ¡¡algo!! Aunque he disfrutado mucho de esta lectura, encontré justo lo que necesitaba: algo ligero, sencillo y con un poco de romance, perfecto para el verano :)
August 12, 2018
When I first started reading the book, I didn't think it was going to be something I was interested in. Before reading this book, I had just read her 13 Little Blue Envelopes book and I loved it so I had this book recommended to me. It took a few chapters, but when I eventually hit that spot that I couldn't put the book down. Maureen Johnson is definitely a writer that will keep you guessing and can't wait to read the next chapter or book. She is a great author and really knows how to connect with her readers. Not only does she write about the romance, but she is also good at throwing in unexpected drama and suspense. I would highly recommend this book and any of her other books as well. Definitely a 10/10!
February 16, 2020
Really think this book could have used an epilogue or a sequel. Not a fan of the ending. It was an interesting read; I liked the “Atlantis” type vibe it had going. But it wasn’t really a true YA romance novel or fiction novel it didn’t really fit either category. Check it out if you’re interested in treasure hunting YA novels.
August 3, 2025
I fully expected to like this book. At this point I've read quite a few Maureen Johnson books and I have yet to be disappointed. Witty, fun, yet her characters are also deeply relatable. Her characters are real, having flaws and making mistakes.
August 27, 2017
Full review to come!
July 2, 2025
3,75⭐️
August 8, 2021
«D'une façon très floue, elle se demanda si elle n'était pas en train de mourir. Cette pensée semblait tout à coup moins effrayante. Mourir avait du sens tant cette douleur était troublante.»
April 19, 2012
Okay, I know this doesn't really fit with "voyages across the sea", but I don't have any other ship/boat tag.
I love the way Maureen Johnson writes. The narration is always so fast-paced and witty and FUN. So I really enjoyed this and it was a nice, quick read. I liked Clio and Elsa (loved Elsa!) and the story itself was really interesting. Clio's JUST gotten a summer job at the art store where cute Ollie works, when her mother tells her she's going to be spending summer with her father - since her mother is going to backwater Kansas for her work and Clio'd be dead bored there in ten seconds.
Her father's in Italy at the present. And he's bought a yacht. Sounds like a fancy summer trip for a spoiled rich kid? Actually he's on a MISSION, though he doesn't immediately tell Clio what it is. Actually not sure if he does tell her or if she sneakily finds it all out herself? But she does do some snooping to find out why he's whisked the boat off into the water where there's no phone/internet so she can't contact Ollie! (They're searching for a kind of Rosetta-stone-ish thing that possibly went down with a ship about a hundred years ago.)
Of course there's a Cute Guy on board as well, Julia's assistant. (Julia is Clio's dad's new gf, who is also his research partner. Elsa is her daughter. The 6th crew member is her dad's best friend and dive partner Martin.) I just had to check the blurb for the assistant's name: Aidan. Aidan and Clio seem to hate each other from the start. Which is fun. What was less fun for me was the way it was sooooo obvious that they were going to end up together. That of course he LIKES her and of course she LIKES him even though he aggravates her. *yawn* so that's why I can't give this five stars, because it was such a fun, unique, clever book, with a cool heroine, and it just ended up being another summer romance novel. Although at least there was a bit of PERIL! what with the jellyfish swarm that Clio swum through, and then the yacht being hijacked. Nice and exciting stuff!
Also, what is with the girl on the cover? Clio's scar-turned-into-a-tattoo was mentioned a LOT in the book. You can see the model's arms in full. She's obviously not Clio. Elsa is also described vividly. The model is really not Elsa either. Why the random girl?!
I love the way Maureen Johnson writes. The narration is always so fast-paced and witty and FUN. So I really enjoyed this and it was a nice, quick read. I liked Clio and Elsa (loved Elsa!) and the story itself was really interesting. Clio's JUST gotten a summer job at the art store where cute Ollie works, when her mother tells her she's going to be spending summer with her father - since her mother is going to backwater Kansas for her work and Clio'd be dead bored there in ten seconds.
Her father's in Italy at the present. And he's bought a yacht. Sounds like a fancy summer trip for a spoiled rich kid? Actually he's on a MISSION, though he doesn't immediately tell Clio what it is. Actually not sure if he does tell her or if she sneakily finds it all out herself? But she does do some snooping to find out why he's whisked the boat off into the water where there's no phone/internet so she can't contact Ollie! (They're searching for a kind of Rosetta-stone-ish thing that possibly went down with a ship about a hundred years ago.)
Of course there's a Cute Guy on board as well, Julia's assistant. (Julia is Clio's dad's new gf, who is also his research partner. Elsa is her daughter. The 6th crew member is her dad's best friend and dive partner Martin.) I just had to check the blurb for the assistant's name: Aidan. Aidan and Clio seem to hate each other from the start. Which is fun. What was less fun for me was the way it was sooooo obvious that they were going to end up together. That of course he LIKES her and of course she LIKES him even though he aggravates her. *yawn* so that's why I can't give this five stars, because it was such a fun, unique, clever book, with a cool heroine, and it just ended up being another summer romance novel. Although at least there was a bit of PERIL! what with the jellyfish swarm that Clio swum through, and then the yacht being hijacked. Nice and exciting stuff!
Also, what is with the girl on the cover? Clio's scar-turned-into-a-tattoo was mentioned a LOT in the book. You can see the model's arms in full. She's obviously not Clio. Elsa is also described vividly. The model is really not Elsa either. Why the random girl?!
March 29, 2013
Maureen Johnson is perfection. While this story did not have as quirky of characters as her Suite Scarlett series, the amazing creativity of Maureen Johnson is still there.
Clio had her summer all planned out. She had a new job and a possible future boyfriend. Instead she gets shipped off to her dad. Since her parent’s divorce, she hasn’t really liked her dad, and she is sick of his impulsivity. So to be stuck on a boat with him and four other random people for weeks does not sound like her dream summer.
This story about a modern day treasure hunt, even though Clio doesn’t know it yet. Clio’s dad is trying to find a precious stone that was sunk in a shipwreck years ago. Clio has to figure out what her dad is trying to do, and finally whether or not she wants to help him. After being let down so often by him, she is hesitant to agree with anything he plans. Slowly, through learning to give him another chance, she realizes that sometimes people make mistakes and they need second chances.
I really appreciated Clio’s growth as a character. In the beginning, she was so bitter, upset, and negative. She thought she knew best about everything, and she did not want anything to do with anyone on the boat. But slowly, she let herself relax and really invest in other people’s lives. By the end of the book, she’s almost a completely different person. She isn’t so obsessed with finding perfection, which will always escape her, and she sees more joy in simple life. She takes advantage of the opportunities presented to her instead of waiting for everything to be perfect.
Literally, Maureen Johnson is amazing and sometimes I can’t handle it. Definitely read this book, because you will never regret it!
Content Warnings: Some language and kissing
Clio had her summer all planned out. She had a new job and a possible future boyfriend. Instead she gets shipped off to her dad. Since her parent’s divorce, she hasn’t really liked her dad, and she is sick of his impulsivity. So to be stuck on a boat with him and four other random people for weeks does not sound like her dream summer.
This story about a modern day treasure hunt, even though Clio doesn’t know it yet. Clio’s dad is trying to find a precious stone that was sunk in a shipwreck years ago. Clio has to figure out what her dad is trying to do, and finally whether or not she wants to help him. After being let down so often by him, she is hesitant to agree with anything he plans. Slowly, through learning to give him another chance, she realizes that sometimes people make mistakes and they need second chances.
I really appreciated Clio’s growth as a character. In the beginning, she was so bitter, upset, and negative. She thought she knew best about everything, and she did not want anything to do with anyone on the boat. But slowly, she let herself relax and really invest in other people’s lives. By the end of the book, she’s almost a completely different person. She isn’t so obsessed with finding perfection, which will always escape her, and she sees more joy in simple life. She takes advantage of the opportunities presented to her instead of waiting for everything to be perfect.
Literally, Maureen Johnson is amazing and sometimes I can’t handle it. Definitely read this book, because you will never regret it!
Content Warnings: Some language and kissing
August 15, 2011
I was a big fan of 13 Little Blue Envelopes and The Last Little Blue Envelope so I had high hopes for Girl at Sea. Unfortunately, I found the story line to be a bit boring.
Clio is upset when her potentially perfect summer is ruined when she is sent to live with her father. Her father, along with a research crew, are planning dives off the coast of Italy in a hunt for a missing artifact. Her and her father have had a strained relationship since his irresponsible ways caused her family to lose all their money and for Clio to get hurt in a potentially devastating accident. Needless to say, sailing around without any connection to the outer world, or without any idea as to what her father and crew are up to, Clio begins to resent her father even more.
I felt that this story could have had potential but that it just never got there. Although as a reader you knew that Aidan and Clio would get together, that plot was dragged out way too long. Also, the technical terms and "history" in the story were just not interesting. I would find myself skimming those parts. Also, the shenanigans towards the end of the story just seemed unnecessary and ridiculous. I found myself starting to roll my eyes quite a bit.
Although Clio was a solid lead character, this book definitely did not have the charisma of some of Johnson's other stories. I was definitely disappointed by this one. Also, it definitely seemed too long. I stand by my call that the last few chapters would have been better off on the editing room floor.
Clio is upset when her potentially perfect summer is ruined when she is sent to live with her father. Her father, along with a research crew, are planning dives off the coast of Italy in a hunt for a missing artifact. Her and her father have had a strained relationship since his irresponsible ways caused her family to lose all their money and for Clio to get hurt in a potentially devastating accident. Needless to say, sailing around without any connection to the outer world, or without any idea as to what her father and crew are up to, Clio begins to resent her father even more.
I felt that this story could have had potential but that it just never got there. Although as a reader you knew that Aidan and Clio would get together, that plot was dragged out way too long. Also, the technical terms and "history" in the story were just not interesting. I would find myself skimming those parts. Also, the shenanigans towards the end of the story just seemed unnecessary and ridiculous. I found myself starting to roll my eyes quite a bit.
Although Clio was a solid lead character, this book definitely did not have the charisma of some of Johnson's other stories. I was definitely disappointed by this one. Also, it definitely seemed too long. I stand by my call that the last few chapters would have been better off on the editing room floor.
July 19, 2012
Reading a Maureen Johnson book is always a pleasure, and (not that I expected her to) MJ didn’t let me down. I don’t know if this only happens to me, or if I’m the only one who’s noticed it, but you can spend all the time in the world with someone in or around your city/town, and it will still be different when you go somewhere like on a crazy surprise cruise all to yourselves and you spend all your time together. Girl at Sea touches on this, and MJ does a good job. It’s the same as if you suddenly moved in with them — you’re bound to have disagreements, or even full-out explosive fights.
Out of all her books that I’ve read so far, I think Girl at Sea explores the theme of family the best. (Although The Key to the Golden Firebird is right up there with it.) Moreover, I personally can relate to the way this theme is written about in Girl at Sea completely. That definitely boosted its awesome factor even higher. You may read the first page and be confused. “What is this girl talking about? Why is this not modern day?” But you will soon learn that it’s Maureen slyly building an underlying, historical backdrop, piece by piece until the end, where it’s like zooming out of a detailed picture, and you see everything. Only she could execute such wild antics on a cruise ship while having said antics be driven by wilder characters.
Girl at Sea is heartfelt and disastrous, and watching Clio put her life back together gives us all a little hope — the perfect book to read if you’re having an especially difficult time.
Out of all her books that I’ve read so far, I think Girl at Sea explores the theme of family the best. (Although The Key to the Golden Firebird is right up there with it.) Moreover, I personally can relate to the way this theme is written about in Girl at Sea completely. That definitely boosted its awesome factor even higher. You may read the first page and be confused. “What is this girl talking about? Why is this not modern day?” But you will soon learn that it’s Maureen slyly building an underlying, historical backdrop, piece by piece until the end, where it’s like zooming out of a detailed picture, and you see everything. Only she could execute such wild antics on a cruise ship while having said antics be driven by wilder characters.
Girl at Sea is heartfelt and disastrous, and watching Clio put her life back together gives us all a little hope — the perfect book to read if you’re having an especially difficult time.
October 17, 2008
I did enjoy this book. This book is about Clio and she has to spend her summer on a boat with her Father, Martin her Dad's best friend, Julia a research partner and her daughter Elsa. Then there is Julia's assistant Aidan who seems to rub Clio the wrong way. They are doing research on a lost item that they are trying to find. I only thing I didn't really like about the book is I think (this could be a spoiler so don't read on if you haven't read the book). *** Spoiler*** she wrote about the treasury find to fast. It just seemed to happen. Everything leading up to it was written about and good but the actual dive I thought was kinda glanced over. Maybe it was suppose to be since this book is about Clio and and her relationship with her Dad. Plus I think the end was a little rushed with who actually took the boat and why. I would still recommend this book to anyone that wants to read it. These two parts are only my opinion the book is still a very good book to read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2019
Clio Ford isn't having the summer she wanted. Just after she landed the art store job she wanted (within the range of the guy she's crushing on), she found out that instead, she has to spend the summer with her estranged father. Worse yet, she'll be trapped on a yacht in the Mediterranean with her dad, his best friend Martin, his new girlfriend Julia (an archaeology professor), the girlfriend's gorgeous daughter Elsa, and Aidan, an arrogant grad student Clio knows she won't get along with, all searching for something that nobody will reveal to Clio.
This was a good outing from Johnson, with lots of plot and intrigue and interpersonal tensions to keep it going -- not as good as Devilish or The Bermudez Triangle, but better than 13 Little Blue Envelopes. I particularly liked the tangled relationships between Clio and Elsa and Aidan, which could easily have turned into heroine-vs.-rival girl annoyingness but was actually very well handled.
This was a good outing from Johnson, with lots of plot and intrigue and interpersonal tensions to keep it going -- not as good as Devilish or The Bermudez Triangle, but better than 13 Little Blue Envelopes. I particularly liked the tangled relationships between Clio and Elsa and Aidan, which could easily have turned into heroine-vs.-rival girl annoyingness but was actually very well handled.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 462 reviews