The Lake Michigan Mermaid: A Tale in Poems

by Anne-Marie Oomen, Linda Nemec Foster

The Lake Michigan Mermaid is a new tale that feels familiar. The breeze off the lake, the sand underfoot, the supreme sadness of being young and not in control-these sensations come rushing back page-by-page, bringing to life an ancient myth of coming of age in a troubled world. Freed from the minds of Linda Nemec Foster and Anne-Marie Oomen, the Lake Michigan mermaid serves as a voice of reason for when we're caught in the riptide.

This is a gripping tale in poems of a young girl's desperate search for guidance in a world turned upside down by family and economic upheaval. Raised in a ramshackle cottage on the shores of Lake Michigan, Lykretia takes refuge in her beloved lake in the face of her grandmother's illness and her mother's eager attempts to sell their home following her recent divorce. One day Lykretia spots a creature in the water, something beautiful and inexplicable. Is it the mythical Lake Michigan mermaid, or an embodiment of the stories her grandmother told as dementia ravaged her mind? Thus begins a telepathic conversation between a lost young girl and Phyliadellacia, the mermaid who saves her in more ways than one.

Accompanied by haunting illustrations The Lake Michigan Mermaid offers a tender tale of friendship, redemption, and the life-giving power of water. As it explores family relationships and generational bonds, this book is an unforgettable experience that aims to connect readers of all ages.

Genres: Poetry, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Art, Mermaids

64 pages, Hardcover

Published March 5, 2018

Reviews

[Cristine Mermaid · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Anyone who knows me knows I have a fascination with mermaids and live with a bit of magical thinking that perhaps I even am one. And I live off of the coast of Lake Michigan AND I love poetry.

The poems were gorgeous, gripping, and compelling. They were raw and painful and I was actually a bit jealous that I didn't think to write this book. I related to so much of it, the emotional anguish, the feelings of isolation, the comfort in the lake and in escaping to the mermaids.

The pictures were beautiful, the colors, and style of painting were mesmerizing.
This is a book I am going to highly recommend.

[Ariel Wiborn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think what I liked most about this series of poems is that it told a story from two different perspectives. It took me a while to really get into it, but once I was it broke my heart over and over again in the best ways.

[Lynette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love supporting local authors, and when I saw this poetry I was excited! However, I was super lost about what was happening, didn’t realize there was two narratives until halfway through. But the individual poems were amazing by themselves.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this up today and literally devoured it. Beautifully hopeful poems about loss and gain, and the artwork was melodic and calming.

[Heidi Goehmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely story, that feels half dreamy and half plagued by the realities and burdens of the world of children asked to grow to quickly out of the dream state of childhood and into the full awareness of adult problems. I loved the variety of natural images of the Lake, of winter and summer and the seasons between. The verses fit together in rhythm, while some of the lines fell curiously.

[Nomuseneeded · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a truly beautiful book of poems. I loved both viewpoints, but I felt more connected to Lyk. I would definitely be excited to read more poems by either author! The images were also beautiful, and they all connected together so well.

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite part of this book is the process between the authors to create such of beautiful, wistful story. I was particularly fond of Anne-Marie Oomen's contributions.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely, dreamy little story told in a collection of poems. For anyone who loves Lake Michigan and loves beautiful things, this is well worth reading.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

The two voices and the amazing artwork create a beautiful, varied story full of longing, loss and ultimately, hope.

[Sue Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good poetry book. Poetry that told a story, one that is understood by those who love Lake Michigan.

[Danielle Palmer · Rating 2 out of 5]

The illustrations are the best part of the book, and they are mostly just ok. The “poems” are not poems and are not good. This book deals with abusive men, elder care, loneliness, single motherhood, and financial concerns.

[Lyndsey Bookish Nature · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of poems by two women authors! Plus beautiful illustrations by a great MI artist! I loved the mermaid and lake subjects. The story is told in poems between two perspectives: a young girl Lyk and the mermaid. Just a lovely, creative book. Highly recommend!!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read, beautiful prose and stunning artwork.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never read poetry....except for this beautiful tale that is set in my favorite place,Lake Michigan. Lovely.

[Mackenzie · Rating 1 out of 5]

While I do appreciate the art I didn't have the same strong emotions evoked from many of the readers in the reviews. It's not the best collection to me but also far from the worst.

[Michelle Adamo #EmptyNestReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Lake Michigan Mermaid is a story told through a collection of lyrical poems. The mermaid and a young girl communicate with one another and each tells her story through alternating chapters. The girl shares with the mermaid her loneliness and her sadness at her grandmother’s deteriorating mental health, her parents divorce and her mother’s desire to sell the small shack by the lake, a home the girl loves.

The story involves the relationship between the 3 generations of women: grandmother, mother and granddaughter; “…grandmother’s tears, mother’s silence, daughter’s tears, pleading mother’s silence…", The friendship between the mermaid and the girl, and their shared love of the lake is also explored. "Our contours mirror each other. The girl who loves the water merged with the girl who lives within.” A quick read, easily enjoyed in one sitting.⭐️⭐️⭐️

The description says that the book is “accompanied by haunting illustrations” but I saw none of these as they do not translate well into a kindle format.

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[Lenore Kuipers-Cummins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most unusual books I've ever read. First of all, the illustrations were very unique. They looked like they had been done in watercolors, and helped me understand the folktale. The story itself was told in a lyrical, poetry form; not like any poetry I've read before. It began with sentences that were left unfinished until the next line. The poems were written in two alternating voices. For me it was difficult to read, because I had to keep going back to see what had just been said and link it all together.
The story itself was told through 4 different "hearts" searching for a connection with each other. It speaks to being young, and not being in control, friendship, redemption, family relationships and generational bonds. "This is a lyrical story for lovers of mermaids and water, for dreamy detectives, for wanderers and artists, for word-lovers and shell collectors." I could feel the lake breezes, the sand between my toes, and sadness of a sort. I believe in mermaids.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having lived around Lake Michigan for about 15 years now, it’s had an impact on my life, to say the least. If you’ve ever been to the Michigan-side of the lake, you know that there’s nothing better than sitting on a dune overlooking the lake and just relaxing and letting thoughts bubble up.

Two Michigan writers decided to take their love of mermaids and write a series of poems as if Lake Michigan had its own mermaid. There’s a young girl who is the voice of the other poems and, together, the mermaid and the young girl explore what it means to belong somewhere.

The structure of the book, the alternating poems, was like listening to a conversation. The fluid narrative and lyrical verses made this an enjoyable and unique read.

You can’t miss the artwork either. The details on each illustration, spanning two pages, it almost feels like a graphic novel.

[Saruuh Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Otherworldly and stunning language, though I did not fully understand the story. I could tell it was about three generations of women and their differences, but I'm confused about the rest. The family were selling their house, moving away, putting their grandmother in a care home but I didn't get how that tied into the mermaid. Maybe this is a case where I need to just suspend belief and take things as they are. Which is, all in all, a really pretty set of poems and lovely art. I enjoyed it, even if I didn't quite understand it - I still liked the poetry a lot.

[Erin]

A series of poems that center on one multi-generational family: a grandmother, mother, and girl. Things are hard for these women who live on Lake Michigan. Grandmother is aging, mother is overwhelmed, and girl is anxious and resistant to all the change swirling around her. Enter the local mermaid who adds some magic and oddly enough, some stability to this girl's life.

Things change, and it's hard.

This is more short story-in-verse than a series of poems, but offers up a slice of both magic and reality side by side.

[Hannah Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was supposed to read this book for a class in college but never got around to it, so I figured I would give it a shot now. I love the back and forth between the mermaid and the girl, and I find that the artwork perfectly complements the poems. It is an apt story that captures the mysterious magic of Lake Michigan. I'm glad I read it.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this from the library thinking it would be a winsome little story for children. Not so much! Between Lyk's longing for the water, the drunken absent father, Gram's nascent dementia, and the For Sale sign posted (twice, despite Lyk's protests and interference), this winds up an antiphonal tale for teenagers at least. Beautiful watercolors set the story.

[Shari (Shira) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was presented as a children's book. I checked sources and no one is classifying it as a children's book. I think it would take the exceptional child to read and enjoy it. The print is small, the language is sophisticated, the structure is unconventional, and the art is abstract.

[Helena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was incredible. I loved the back and forth of the poetry, how it told a story, and that so many deeper themes were present. Definitely a gem of a book! (Also, a quick read, so bonus points.) So glad it caught my eye at the library!

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book of poetry is written by two poets. Anne Marie tales the part of a young girl living on the shore of Lake Michigan. Linda Nemec Foster is the voice of the lake -- a mermaid calling to the girl.

[Sarah Skinner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice poetry and the images are beautiful!

[Samantha Gould · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written and illustrated. Truly inspiring and captivating. Heart wrenching and heartwarming.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written story in poem form, with artwork to match.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cool book about a Great Lakes Mermaid.

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED IT

Beautifully written and illustrated in soft watercolors

absolutely a treasure between the covers