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Meropolis
Invasion of the only underwater city, Meropolis!
Mr. Peeple, the leader of the humans, will stop at nothing to drill for oil even if it means destroying Meropolis.
Mike, a small citizen of Meropolis, must learn he's big enough to make a difference to save his city.
Daring break-ins, shooting sea stars, mermaids the size of blue whales, and seaweed wrapped pizza, all lead to an exciting adventure that you don't want miss.
Will Mike halt Peeple's progress or will he be left in ruins?
Mr. Peeple, the leader of the humans, will stop at nothing to drill for oil even if it means destroying Meropolis.
Mike, a small citizen of Meropolis, must learn he's big enough to make a difference to save his city.
Daring break-ins, shooting sea stars, mermaids the size of blue whales, and seaweed wrapped pizza, all lead to an exciting adventure that you don't want miss.
Will Mike halt Peeple's progress or will he be left in ruins?
67 pages, Paperback
Published December 31, 2019
10 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 2, 2022
The book description is accurate – Mike is a smaller than average citizen of Meropolis who will be called upon to stop the human Mr. Peeple from drilling for oil in his beloved city. It’s a rocky ride, and I mean that in both senses of the term. A lot goes on and the story plugs along at a pace that would have you topple out of a 4x4 going through rocky terrain, and it also is rough in its form as evidenced by the sheer number of typos I found. If I read it closer, I’d probably find more. But the illustrations—they’re the clearest bit of this story.
The story moves very quickly, and between Mike’s asides, random characters popping into the scene (which I’ll be honest, most of the time any “scene” was pretty vague and was as fluidly changing as water), and the fast-paced action, it sounds like it is really trying to be just what a middle grade reader would like. (See second-to-last quote from the Select random info drop commentary section.) Especially one with a short attention span. Information is dropped on us with little context and often no follow-up, at least not in this volume. This also includes advanced technology and downright wacky technology. It makes for vague and spotty world-building which ultimately doesn’t hold water. (And in an underwater city/story, that’s saying something!)
Another example of how the story breaks any world-building is in how it tries to cater to middle grade readers. Mike says he’s 10 years old, but quite small for his age (5 feet instead of 8 feet tall; adults are 12 feet tall), and that usually at 4 years old kids move out of their parents’ house. So not only is he short for his age, he’s been living 6 years longer at home than any other of his kind, yet he’s still treated like a kid instead of nearly a grown-up and going to what sounds like elementary school. Except for the fact that his dad, the Commander of the swimilitary, recruits him and other shorter-than-average merfolk to help fend of Mr. Peeple.
Also, why does Mike on the cover have hair, when none of the interior illustrations of him and his people include hair? And they have fin-like ears/earlobes, not small humanoid ones. They also wear shirts and shorts. The illustrations inside were far and away better quality than the story itself, in my opinion. Given all that, by halfway through I was checking regularly to see how much more there was to it. I was in a short-ish car ride, and I knew I’d be able to finish it during the car ride. I doubt I would have bothered finishing it if the ride had been any shorter or longer. It was a struggle. On the plus (?) side, this story works quite well as a standalone, since its conflict is nicely resolved and there’s not any obvious hooks into further stories/plots.
All in all, this story might be bearable to a middle grade reader who’s not very focused on the story or that it makes any sort of sense. BUT. I think it also sells young readers short in what they are capable of doing/reading, and the number of typos in it is abysmal considering its short length. Definitely do not recommend as is, and only marginally better if typos were fixed. You can bet I’m reporting quality issues to Amazon for this. Also, I read it through a free trial Kindle Unlimited subscription, and boy am I glad I didn’t waste any of my money to read this. I will definitely not be reading the rest of the series.
Pausing commas:
…kids at School of Fish School Pool, bully me… - location 37
…and the head of the council, a lady, named Mambo started off, - location 323
…weapons of course, Ripple, oversaw the assembly,… - location 346
Select random info drop commentary:
We searched 200 miles of the city for a good spot. – location 137 – 200 miles? That’s a lot, and presumably it didn’t take too long as it was a fairly urgent search.
My mom, my 23 sisters, my 26 brothers, Zin, and I had made it inside. – location 160 – and we hear nothing more about his other siblings. With how much his dad tears into him about his short size and all, I thought he was an only child or at least one of very few.
So the Commander is recruiting all the midgets in the city to help out.” He explained. [sic]
I thought about it, “I don’t know. I think I’m too small and scared.”
“You don’t have a choice.” He grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the church. – location 178 – First off, seems rude to just drop “midget” all over for Mike and the few other smaller merfolk. And it often sounded rather condescending to my ears/eyes. Also, Mike mentions that he’s 10 years old, and most merfolk move out at age 4 – so it sounds to me like he should already be an adult, and not acting like such a kid. Is the author trying to make Mike relatable to 10-year-old readers by doing this?
“Then let’s go.” Ripple turned and swam towards the door. – location 240 – So they swim in air now? How would they know how to walk when it sounds like they live their entire lives underwater/in water?
“Who do you work for?” Quin slammed his fist down as hard as he could.
“I’m not talking.”
Man, he’s good and he’s the weakest of the humans.
See I told you looking into minds would have been a useful ability.
“We can always go with plan B,” Quin said with a smirk. – location 273 – I know books for kids tend to move fast, but this was ridiculously fast. The prisoner said one thing, and they decided to go for a made-up-on-the-spot Plan B (deep fry and dip in tartar sauce)
It doesn’t matter how big you are, it matters what you do. Sure, I was in a massive sized mermaid robot, but without me, Tiny Mike, the mermaid wouldn’t move! – location 388 – sounds like the point of the story is this – even though Mike is small, he can still accomplish big things and be just the person for the job.
Typos:
I know what you are thinking – page 1/location 30 – missing a period at the end of the sentence. Not a good start when this is the 6th paragraph down on the first page.
Yes, I knew It! – location 32 – “It” should not be capitalized.
“That’s how Uncle Finn went out.” my Mom always said. – location 101 – should read: … out,” my mom always said.
“They would destroy the city looking for it.” said a nearby soldier. – location 122 – should be: …for it,” said a…
…I said feeling better, - location 127 – final comma should be a period.
… in the process.” The old man finished. - location 128 – should be: …in the process,” the old man finished.
…yelled my Mom who had… - location 154 - “Mom” should be lowercase
… to help out.” He explained.
I thought about it, “I don’t know. – location 178 – should be: …to help out,” he explained.
I thought about it. “I don’t know.
“Everyone ready?” Asked the Commander. – location 219 – should be: asked
He looked at each of us to make sure we were listening, “Second is to… - location 225 – the period should be a comma: …were listening. “Second is to…
Rippled – locations 233 and 236 – should be simply Ripple (her name is Ripple)
“Then let’s go.” Ripple turned and swam towards the door. – location 240 – but at this time, they’re already inside the submarine. So they should be walking, not swimming.
My dad smiled and patted me on the back, “In fact, I… - location 266 – should be a period: …on the back. “In fact, I…
“Well,” my dad said ashamed and annoyed, “Quin!” – location 269 – Just straight up revise this. For example, “Well,” my dad said, ashamed. He masked it as annoyance when he turned and called “Quin!”
…and the head of the council, a lady, named Mambo started off,
“Okay, anyone got any ideas?” – location 323 – could be just the formatting, but I doubt it – either these need to be in the same paragraph, or “Mambo started off” should end in a period, not a comma.
“ I got It!!” a voice from the back said, “We could move.” – location 329 – should be: “I got it!!” A voice from the back said. “We could move.”
I thought for a bit,
The sub is so big it’s like we are ants. – location 332 - could be just the formatting, but the comma should really be a period, and keep them in separate paragraphs.
“Yes, ma’am,” An assistant said. – location 342 – “An” should be lowercase: “an”
“Firing sea stars.” The computer said. – location 380 – first, “Sea Stars” is capitalized in the very next line, so which is it? Second, it should be: …stars,” the computer said.
Peeples – location 401, 406, 407 – his name is Peeple, so these are typos.
“Sure, Dad, I mean Commander.” As I saluted him. – location 438 – should be: “Sure, Dad. I mean, Commander,” as I saluted him.
“Are you kidding?” said Quin, “you saved the city!” – location 462 – Should be: said Quin. “You saved…
“You came up with the mermaid mech.” Pointed out Mrs. Urchin my teacher. – location 465 – First, previously it was written Mermaid Mech. Second, the punctuation should be: …mech,” pointed out…
“You piloted it.” said Pine. – location 467 should be – “You piloted it,” said Pine.
Dad put His fin on my shoulder. – location 468 – “his” should not be capitalized.
The story moves very quickly, and between Mike’s asides, random characters popping into the scene (which I’ll be honest, most of the time any “scene” was pretty vague and was as fluidly changing as water), and the fast-paced action, it sounds like it is really trying to be just what a middle grade reader would like. (See second-to-last quote from the Select random info drop commentary section.) Especially one with a short attention span. Information is dropped on us with little context and often no follow-up, at least not in this volume. This also includes advanced technology and downright wacky technology. It makes for vague and spotty world-building which ultimately doesn’t hold water. (And in an underwater city/story, that’s saying something!)
Another example of how the story breaks any world-building is in how it tries to cater to middle grade readers. Mike says he’s 10 years old, but quite small for his age (5 feet instead of 8 feet tall; adults are 12 feet tall), and that usually at 4 years old kids move out of their parents’ house. So not only is he short for his age, he’s been living 6 years longer at home than any other of his kind, yet he’s still treated like a kid instead of nearly a grown-up and going to what sounds like elementary school. Except for the fact that his dad, the Commander of the swimilitary, recruits him and other shorter-than-average merfolk to help fend of Mr. Peeple.
Also, why does Mike on the cover have hair, when none of the interior illustrations of him and his people include hair? And they have fin-like ears/earlobes, not small humanoid ones. They also wear shirts and shorts. The illustrations inside were far and away better quality than the story itself, in my opinion. Given all that, by halfway through I was checking regularly to see how much more there was to it. I was in a short-ish car ride, and I knew I’d be able to finish it during the car ride. I doubt I would have bothered finishing it if the ride had been any shorter or longer. It was a struggle. On the plus (?) side, this story works quite well as a standalone, since its conflict is nicely resolved and there’s not any obvious hooks into further stories/plots.
All in all, this story might be bearable to a middle grade reader who’s not very focused on the story or that it makes any sort of sense. BUT. I think it also sells young readers short in what they are capable of doing/reading, and the number of typos in it is abysmal considering its short length. Definitely do not recommend as is, and only marginally better if typos were fixed. You can bet I’m reporting quality issues to Amazon for this. Also, I read it through a free trial Kindle Unlimited subscription, and boy am I glad I didn’t waste any of my money to read this. I will definitely not be reading the rest of the series.
Pausing commas:
…kids at School of Fish School Pool, bully me… - location 37
…and the head of the council, a lady, named Mambo started off, - location 323
…weapons of course, Ripple, oversaw the assembly,… - location 346
Select random info drop commentary:
We searched 200 miles of the city for a good spot. – location 137 – 200 miles? That’s a lot, and presumably it didn’t take too long as it was a fairly urgent search.
My mom, my 23 sisters, my 26 brothers, Zin, and I had made it inside. – location 160 – and we hear nothing more about his other siblings. With how much his dad tears into him about his short size and all, I thought he was an only child or at least one of very few.
So the Commander is recruiting all the midgets in the city to help out.” He explained. [sic]
I thought about it, “I don’t know. I think I’m too small and scared.”
“You don’t have a choice.” He grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the church. – location 178 – First off, seems rude to just drop “midget” all over for Mike and the few other smaller merfolk. And it often sounded rather condescending to my ears/eyes. Also, Mike mentions that he’s 10 years old, and most merfolk move out at age 4 – so it sounds to me like he should already be an adult, and not acting like such a kid. Is the author trying to make Mike relatable to 10-year-old readers by doing this?
“Then let’s go.” Ripple turned and swam towards the door. – location 240 – So they swim in air now? How would they know how to walk when it sounds like they live their entire lives underwater/in water?
“Who do you work for?” Quin slammed his fist down as hard as he could.
“I’m not talking.”
Man, he’s good and he’s the weakest of the humans.
See I told you looking into minds would have been a useful ability.
“We can always go with plan B,” Quin said with a smirk. – location 273 – I know books for kids tend to move fast, but this was ridiculously fast. The prisoner said one thing, and they decided to go for a made-up-on-the-spot Plan B (deep fry and dip in tartar sauce)
It doesn’t matter how big you are, it matters what you do. Sure, I was in a massive sized mermaid robot, but without me, Tiny Mike, the mermaid wouldn’t move! – location 388 – sounds like the point of the story is this – even though Mike is small, he can still accomplish big things and be just the person for the job.
Typos:
I know what you are thinking – page 1/location 30 – missing a period at the end of the sentence. Not a good start when this is the 6th paragraph down on the first page.
Yes, I knew It! – location 32 – “It” should not be capitalized.
“That’s how Uncle Finn went out.” my Mom always said. – location 101 – should read: … out,” my mom always said.
“They would destroy the city looking for it.” said a nearby soldier. – location 122 – should be: …for it,” said a…
…I said feeling better, - location 127 – final comma should be a period.
… in the process.” The old man finished. - location 128 – should be: …in the process,” the old man finished.
…yelled my Mom who had… - location 154 - “Mom” should be lowercase
… to help out.” He explained.
I thought about it, “I don’t know. – location 178 – should be: …to help out,” he explained.
I thought about it. “I don’t know.
“Everyone ready?” Asked the Commander. – location 219 – should be: asked
He looked at each of us to make sure we were listening, “Second is to… - location 225 – the period should be a comma: …were listening. “Second is to…
Rippled – locations 233 and 236 – should be simply Ripple (her name is Ripple)
“Then let’s go.” Ripple turned and swam towards the door. – location 240 – but at this time, they’re already inside the submarine. So they should be walking, not swimming.
My dad smiled and patted me on the back, “In fact, I… - location 266 – should be a period: …on the back. “In fact, I…
“Well,” my dad said ashamed and annoyed, “Quin!” – location 269 – Just straight up revise this. For example, “Well,” my dad said, ashamed. He masked it as annoyance when he turned and called “Quin!”
…and the head of the council, a lady, named Mambo started off,
“Okay, anyone got any ideas?” – location 323 – could be just the formatting, but I doubt it – either these need to be in the same paragraph, or “Mambo started off” should end in a period, not a comma.
“ I got It!!” a voice from the back said, “We could move.” – location 329 – should be: “I got it!!” A voice from the back said. “We could move.”
I thought for a bit,
The sub is so big it’s like we are ants. – location 332 - could be just the formatting, but the comma should really be a period, and keep them in separate paragraphs.
“Yes, ma’am,” An assistant said. – location 342 – “An” should be lowercase: “an”
“Firing sea stars.” The computer said. – location 380 – first, “Sea Stars” is capitalized in the very next line, so which is it? Second, it should be: …stars,” the computer said.
Peeples – location 401, 406, 407 – his name is Peeple, so these are typos.
“Sure, Dad, I mean Commander.” As I saluted him. – location 438 – should be: “Sure, Dad. I mean, Commander,” as I saluted him.
“Are you kidding?” said Quin, “you saved the city!” – location 462 – Should be: said Quin. “You saved…
“You came up with the mermaid mech.” Pointed out Mrs. Urchin my teacher. – location 465 – First, previously it was written Mermaid Mech. Second, the punctuation should be: …mech,” pointed out…
“You piloted it.” said Pine. – location 467 should be – “You piloted it,” said Pine.
Dad put His fin on my shoulder. – location 468 – “his” should not be capitalized.
July 16, 2022
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