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The Mermaid's Mirror
LENA HAS LIVED her whole life near the beach - walking for miles up and down the shore and breathing the salty air, swimming in the cold water, and watching the surfers rule the waves - the problem is, she's spent her whole life just watching.
As her sixteenth birthday approaches, Lena vows she will no longer watch from the sand: she will learn to surf.
But her father - a former surfer himself - refuses to allow her to take lessons. After his near drowning years ago, he can't bear to let Lena take up the risky sport.
Yet something keeps drawing Lena to the water... an ancient, powerful magic. And one morning Lena catches sight of this magic: a beautiful woman - with a silvery tail.
Now nothing can stop Lena from seeking the mermaid, not even the dangerous waves at Magic Crescent Cove.
And soon... what she sees in the mermaid's mirror will change her life forever.
As her sixteenth birthday approaches, Lena vows she will no longer watch from the sand: she will learn to surf.
But her father - a former surfer himself - refuses to allow her to take lessons. After his near drowning years ago, he can't bear to let Lena take up the risky sport.
Yet something keeps drawing Lena to the water... an ancient, powerful magic. And one morning Lena catches sight of this magic: a beautiful woman - with a silvery tail.
Now nothing can stop Lena from seeking the mermaid, not even the dangerous waves at Magic Crescent Cove.
And soon... what she sees in the mermaid's mirror will change her life forever.
308 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
75 people are currently reading
6972 people want to read
About the author
L.K. Madigan
3 books144 followersLisa Wolfson (also known as L.K. Madigan) was born in Portland, Oregon, but when she was ten years old, her parents moved to Los Angeles. They were pretty insistent that she accompany them. She spent the rest of her formative years in L.A. (the Valley, to be exact … a region made famous in both song and film). When she was 28, she decided that she didn’t want to spend the rest of her life in L.A., even though she had a cool job working at Warner Bros. Records. Her husband and her decided to relocate to her hometown. Living in Portland and L.A. made her the kind of person who was equally at home sitting in traffic jams or walking in the rain.
FLASH BURNOUT was published in October 2009. Her second young adult novel, a paranormal story titled THE MERMAID’S MIRROR, was released in Fall 2010.
She was a 20-year breast cancer survivor. She died on February 23, 2011 from pancreatic cancer at the age of 47.
FLASH BURNOUT was published in October 2009. Her second young adult novel, a paranormal story titled THE MERMAID’S MIRROR, was released in Fall 2010.
She was a 20-year breast cancer survivor. She died on February 23, 2011 from pancreatic cancer at the age of 47.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 525 reviews
May 3, 2010
For the most part I hated this book. I have no patience for books where the lead protagonist is an immature, whiny brat (and I'm using the good B word here). Lena is supposed to be 16 but for the entire length of the book she behaves like an eleven year old. I have a headache from rolling my eyes so much.
With the exception of her little brother, Cole, she is very selfish to everyone. She has two best friends, Pem and Kai, and she basically doesn't even want to be around them. Pem tries to tell her about what's going on in her life while Lena wishes she would shut up. Pem turns her head and Lena makes faces at her. Kai, who is also her boyfriend doesn't get treated any better. She doesn't want to hang around with him. She just says things that she thinks he will like. She doesn't want to break up with him becaussssseeee.... she likes making out. Selfish.
She whines when she doesn't get her way. She has no problem with being manipulative in order to get what she wants. She has no respect for her parents. They don't tell her what happened with her mom and what they whisper about and she yells and whines. Personally, I would have told her that she isn't mature enough for the truth. She doesn't listen and she sneaks around and even brings her friends into her lies. When she learns the truth about her mom, she forces her dad to tell her more, even though it visibly hurts him (and I really didn't think it was that bad). She basically just does what she wants, when she wants, including trying to get herself killed.
I didn't think that the mermaid world was that interesting. It didn't awe me. She could have just as easily described a village in the forest or a condo park in the city. I didn't buy her "love" story. I think the ending would have been better if that part hadn't been included. It felt contrived. I also felt the ending wasn't good and left me dissatisfied. It was just like here is the end and that's the way it is. Her "agreement" made no sense to me. The mirror wasn't even that important.
I didn't dislike all of the book though. I really, really enjoyed the singing parts! And I also enjoyed learning about surfing and the lingo involved. Oh, and I can't forget Cole and group hugs.
This is just my opinion, you might actually like it if you read it. I'd say give it a chance.
With the exception of her little brother, Cole, she is very selfish to everyone. She has two best friends, Pem and Kai, and she basically doesn't even want to be around them. Pem tries to tell her about what's going on in her life while Lena wishes she would shut up. Pem turns her head and Lena makes faces at her. Kai, who is also her boyfriend doesn't get treated any better. She doesn't want to hang around with him. She just says things that she thinks he will like. She doesn't want to break up with him becaussssseeee.... she likes making out. Selfish.
She whines when she doesn't get her way. She has no problem with being manipulative in order to get what she wants. She has no respect for her parents. They don't tell her what happened with her mom and what they whisper about and she yells and whines. Personally, I would have told her that she isn't mature enough for the truth. She doesn't listen and she sneaks around and even brings her friends into her lies. When she learns the truth about her mom, she forces her dad to tell her more, even though it visibly hurts him (and I really didn't think it was that bad). She basically just does what she wants, when she wants, including trying to get herself killed.
I didn't think that the mermaid world was that interesting. It didn't awe me. She could have just as easily described a village in the forest or a condo park in the city. I didn't buy her "love" story. I think the ending would have been better if that part hadn't been included. It felt contrived. I also felt the ending wasn't good and left me dissatisfied. It was just like here is the end and that's the way it is. Her "agreement" made no sense to me. The mirror wasn't even that important.
I didn't dislike all of the book though. I really, really enjoyed the singing parts! And I also enjoyed learning about surfing and the lingo involved. Oh, and I can't forget Cole and group hugs.
This is just my opinion, you might actually like it if you read it. I'd say give it a chance.
May 24, 2011
2.5stars
The Mermaid's Mirror was an okay mermaid book, probably one of the better ones I've read at this point. The first half did a great job with the mystery build-up and I was intrigued by Lena and how she was drawn to the sea, consciously and unconsciously. I also loved her parents and her little brother, Cole (so adorable) and her friend Pem. Her boyfriend, Kai, was a sweetie in that lame-but-cute kinda way. The pace was kinda slow but it had that alluring quality so I didn't mind. But then the second half of the story, the mermaid aspect, wasn't what I was expecting. While the first half was slower, the second half was much to quick, specially where Nix was concerned and how it wraps up in the end, and well, I guess I just didn't buy it.
Being that my first love has always been paranormal, I have a very easy time accepting (quite convincingly) the tales of vampires and werewolves and fey and even zombies, but when it come to mermaids I always seem to have a hard time... believing. This element has always fascinated me, always did love the idea of it, but I guess I want a story to convince me that it could be real, even though its not. At last, I haven't found it yet.
With that said, this story had it's decent moments. The writing is good and imaginative and the characters are likable. And while it did lack that special something, I still found it entertaining enough to enjoy.
The Mermaid's Mirror was an okay mermaid book, probably one of the better ones I've read at this point. The first half did a great job with the mystery build-up and I was intrigued by Lena and how she was drawn to the sea, consciously and unconsciously. I also loved her parents and her little brother, Cole (so adorable) and her friend Pem. Her boyfriend, Kai, was a sweetie in that lame-but-cute kinda way. The pace was kinda slow but it had that alluring quality so I didn't mind. But then the second half of the story, the mermaid aspect, wasn't what I was expecting. While the first half was slower, the second half was much to quick, specially where Nix was concerned and how it wraps up in the end, and well, I guess I just didn't buy it.
Being that my first love has always been paranormal, I have a very easy time accepting (quite convincingly) the tales of vampires and werewolves and fey and even zombies, but when it come to mermaids I always seem to have a hard time... believing. This element has always fascinated me, always did love the idea of it, but I guess I want a story to convince me that it could be real, even though its not. At last, I haven't found it yet.
With that said, this story had it's decent moments. The writing is good and imaginative and the characters are likable. And while it did lack that special something, I still found it entertaining enough to enjoy.
June 17, 2010
I loved this book. It is a perfect beach or summer read. It is spellbinding---I was drawn in from the very beginning and could not stop until I finished the story in one sitting. I love it when that happens!
The Mermaid's Mirror is about a 15 year-old girl, Lena, who defies her parents and learns to surf. She is drawn to the ocean and sneaks around behind her parents' backs to surf in the most dangerous waters. Lena's mother died when she was four years old, although Lena does not know the circumstances surrounding her death. What follows Lena's surfing adventures are stunning revelations about everything Lena believed to be true. Lena's world is not what she thought it was, and she must choose her own path and determine her future in a series of heartbreaking decisions.
I found the characters to be very relatable and well developed. Oftentimes, I find that characters with smaller roles are flat and not very "fleshed-out." L.K. Madigan does a great job of developing each character in the story. Her writing is enchanting. I found myself compulsively reading "just one more page," until I finished the entire book! The book moves at a good pace, with an ending that will leave you wanting more.
Just One Gripe:
All the focus on beaches and surfing made me want to visit the beach so badly I could barely stand it.
The Best Thing About This Book:
I don't want to give anything away, so I'll just say I loved Lena's world.
The Mermaid's Mirror is about a 15 year-old girl, Lena, who defies her parents and learns to surf. She is drawn to the ocean and sneaks around behind her parents' backs to surf in the most dangerous waters. Lena's mother died when she was four years old, although Lena does not know the circumstances surrounding her death. What follows Lena's surfing adventures are stunning revelations about everything Lena believed to be true. Lena's world is not what she thought it was, and she must choose her own path and determine her future in a series of heartbreaking decisions.
I found the characters to be very relatable and well developed. Oftentimes, I find that characters with smaller roles are flat and not very "fleshed-out." L.K. Madigan does a great job of developing each character in the story. Her writing is enchanting. I found myself compulsively reading "just one more page," until I finished the entire book! The book moves at a good pace, with an ending that will leave you wanting more.
Just One Gripe:
All the focus on beaches and surfing made me want to visit the beach so badly I could barely stand it.
The Best Thing About This Book:
I don't want to give anything away, so I'll just say I loved Lena's world.
May 10, 2010
I loved, loved, loved this book. It was extremely well written and paced, keeping me just on the edge of my seat.
I think Lena was very in character to how a sixteen year old would be. She wasn't perfect or flawless or just all good. She was a lovely and well rounded character. I loved her relationships with people too especially and how complicated and multi-level everything was.
I was tearing near the end of the book but kind of in a good way. I really liked the ending too but I do hope it is not -the ending- and that there is a second book soon to come! I would love to see more Leena and Nix and what happens there!
I think Lena was very in character to how a sixteen year old would be. She wasn't perfect or flawless or just all good. She was a lovely and well rounded character. I loved her relationships with people too especially and how complicated and multi-level everything was.
I was tearing near the end of the book but kind of in a good way. I really liked the ending too but I do hope it is not -the ending- and that there is a second book soon to come! I would love to see more Leena and Nix and what happens there!
May 20, 2011
*This review contains spoilers*
Frankly, I was underwhelmed. I don't mean to be overly critical because I think that Madigan is a first time author and I give kudos to her for publishing because it takes a lot of hard work to do so. However, I had major issues with this book. As a writer I think Madigan is fine, in fact I see a lot of potential as she's really good at descriptive writing. But. I really really think she needs to work on her character development. Pretty much all the characters in the book were lifeless to me. The only one who wasn't was a side character called Max (and perhaps his brother Henry too) who had some sort of expression, albeit it was for comic relief but it was something. Kai (the 'land' boyfriend) was boooring. And I realize Madigan probably did this to make the love interest under the sea seem more plausible, but Nix (the 'water' boyfriend)is also boring. He's just some random guy with sparkley eyes who somehow manages to give Lena the tinglies. We learn next to nothing about his character (beside the fact that he's...nice?) or his back-story and this is also the case with pretty much every character, I think. There's this massive, and I mean MASSIVE, triangle between Lena's dad, Lena's mom, and Lena's mom's best friend who ends up marrying Lena's dad 7 years after Lena's mom disappears...(following me?)...and it's only given a cursory glance in the plot--maybe some anguished eyes thrown in, but no confrontation, and we don't find out how Lena's mom ever found her pelt/cloak (I personally think it was Lena's step-mom, but this wasn't even hinted at). Life under the sea, while well written, was uninspiring. The fact that the cloak makes you forget meant that there was no emotional conflict for Lena under the sea (or hardly any). There are these big question marks that keep floating around (pardon the pun) and Lena seems content to make out with her boyfriend and...do nothing it seems.
The seal-goddess idea was really intriguing but it goes nowhere--a potentially grueling ordeal awaits Lena in her attempt to get a tail but instead of that she does a 180 and decides she must go to the surface and drop everything: her mother, her friends and the boyfriend she was about to make vows with because she remembers her father and step-mom and step-brother and this is more important. I'm not dissing Lena's choice but I'm left wondering why. The decision making was so abrupt and she didn't even say goodbye to Nix....I'm just...dissatisfied I guess. I felt like a new driver driving a standard and was stalling the car every block. You feel like you're going somewhere then...ooomph...stop.
However, all this said, I'll likely pick up another one of Madigan's books because she's got interesting ideas and a nice writing style. But, please, CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT!!
Frankly, I was underwhelmed. I don't mean to be overly critical because I think that Madigan is a first time author and I give kudos to her for publishing because it takes a lot of hard work to do so. However, I had major issues with this book. As a writer I think Madigan is fine, in fact I see a lot of potential as she's really good at descriptive writing. But. I really really think she needs to work on her character development. Pretty much all the characters in the book were lifeless to me. The only one who wasn't was a side character called Max (and perhaps his brother Henry too) who had some sort of expression, albeit it was for comic relief but it was something. Kai (the 'land' boyfriend) was boooring. And I realize Madigan probably did this to make the love interest under the sea seem more plausible, but Nix (the 'water' boyfriend)is also boring. He's just some random guy with sparkley eyes who somehow manages to give Lena the tinglies. We learn next to nothing about his character (beside the fact that he's...nice?) or his back-story and this is also the case with pretty much every character, I think. There's this massive, and I mean MASSIVE, triangle between Lena's dad, Lena's mom, and Lena's mom's best friend who ends up marrying Lena's dad 7 years after Lena's mom disappears...(following me?)...and it's only given a cursory glance in the plot--maybe some anguished eyes thrown in, but no confrontation, and we don't find out how Lena's mom ever found her pelt/cloak (I personally think it was Lena's step-mom, but this wasn't even hinted at). Life under the sea, while well written, was uninspiring. The fact that the cloak makes you forget meant that there was no emotional conflict for Lena under the sea (or hardly any). There are these big question marks that keep floating around (pardon the pun) and Lena seems content to make out with her boyfriend and...do nothing it seems.
The seal-goddess idea was really intriguing but it goes nowhere--a potentially grueling ordeal awaits Lena in her attempt to get a tail but instead of that she does a 180 and decides she must go to the surface and drop everything: her mother, her friends and the boyfriend she was about to make vows with because she remembers her father and step-mom and step-brother and this is more important. I'm not dissing Lena's choice but I'm left wondering why. The decision making was so abrupt and she didn't even say goodbye to Nix....I'm just...dissatisfied I guess. I felt like a new driver driving a standard and was stalling the car every block. You feel like you're going somewhere then...ooomph...stop.
However, all this said, I'll likely pick up another one of Madigan's books because she's got interesting ideas and a nice writing style. But, please, CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2014
*Scrolls through Goodreads list of recommendations—sees this book.*
HOW COULD I HAVE NOT RATED THIS BOOK BEFORE, OR EVEN HAVE ADDED IT INTO MY READ LIST?! THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING.
I actually read it a few years back and never expected to like it as much as I did. Now when I think of it, Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelley wasn't the only mermaid book I actually loved. THIS WAS ALSO PART OF IT.
HOW COULD I HAVE NOT RATED THIS BOOK BEFORE, OR EVEN HAVE ADDED IT INTO MY READ LIST?! THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING.
I actually read it a few years back and never expected to like it as much as I did. Now when I think of it, Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelley wasn't the only mermaid book I actually loved. THIS WAS ALSO PART OF IT.
May 12, 2010
It has taken me a bit to form an opinion on this book. I love a good happy ending so this book's ending, while happy in some aspects, left me disappointed and feeling cheated. I found the story itself interesting but the parts that interested me the most were located in the last 1/3 of the book. The first 2/3 gave you a lot of background info, some character building, and some wandering-filler type info but when the mermaid part came into play and her "true" love interest..it was toward the end of the book. I need more of that!
Lena has always felt drawn to the ocean, not knowing why and when she finds herself sleepwalking to the beach and singing songs that she never remembers hearing, so she starts doing a little investigation into her Mother, that was killed, or so she thought, when she was just a baby. She also wants to learn to surf like all her friends and boyfriend, but her Dad forbids it, never really explaining to her why. She she defies him and starts surfing on her and ends up getting saved by a mermaid, then things start rolling.
If I knew there would be a sequel to this book, I wouldn't feel so cheated by the ending, but my romantic heart was pretty bummed out. The author's website does not clarify if this will be a series or not. I wish there had been more time spent on the mermaid aspect and all that entailed, instead of it being crammed in the last 1/3 of the book.
Lena has always felt drawn to the ocean, not knowing why and when she finds herself sleepwalking to the beach and singing songs that she never remembers hearing, so she starts doing a little investigation into her Mother, that was killed, or so she thought, when she was just a baby. She also wants to learn to surf like all her friends and boyfriend, but her Dad forbids it, never really explaining to her why. She she defies him and starts surfing on her and ends up getting saved by a mermaid, then things start rolling.
If I knew there would be a sequel to this book, I wouldn't feel so cheated by the ending, but my romantic heart was pretty bummed out. The author's website does not clarify if this will be a series or not. I wish there had been more time spent on the mermaid aspect and all that entailed, instead of it being crammed in the last 1/3 of the book.
September 3, 2016
For Full Review go to http://seeingdoubleinneverland.blogsp...
4 out of 5 stars
I loved this story. It was heart breaking and sad. It left you wanting more.
4 out of 5 stars
I loved this story. It was heart breaking and sad. It left you wanting more.
October 18, 2010
THE BLURB:
Lena, almost 16 and living in a northern California surfing community, has been forbidden by her father, a former surfer who suffered a terrible accident in the water years ago, from learning her peers’ favorite sport. She is an excellent swimmer, though, and while spending time at the local beach, she begins to think she might be seeing a mermaid out in the waves. Being a practical girl, this of course strikes her as unlikely, but a host of subtle clues that include the discovery of her mother’s true identity and fate lead her to an undersea world of mer-folk. Lena distances herself from her life on land as she takes up residence in her mother’s community below the ocean, but eventually she must choose between her diverging destinies.
THE REVIEW:
THE MERMAID'S MIRROR is a difficult book to review, because in many ways - like the main character, Lena - it seems to be at war with itself.
The earlier sections of the story, showing aspiring surfer Lena both struggling with and reveling in her home life, her complex relationships with friend and boyfriend and the emergence of disturbing impulses (the urge to search for something she does not remember, the constant need to be by the sea) are compelling and beautifully written. I completely sympathised with Lena in her quest to discover the truth about her mysterious mother, and found the secondary characters to be well-rounded and intriguing. The setting was a little sketchy on the details of school and hometown, but enough detail was lavished on the beach, sea and rocks to make up for this and give the story a rich sense of place.
One thing I very much liked about this early section was the heroine's boyfriend, Kai, who is sweet, attentive and interested in her. The heroine wavered on her feelings about him, sometimes seeming to find him too clingy, and maybe wishing that they could return to just being friends, and at others seeming to appreciate his quirky humour and wanting to be with him. I thought this was a refreshingly different and realistic take on a high school relationship.
However, after a heart-wrenching and very effective scene where the heroine finds her mother clinging to the rocks and plunges under the waves with her into a new, undersea world, the book completely lost its grip on me. The formerly strong and determined heroine suddenly seemed flat and even rather annoying at times, repeating the same questions and thoughts over and over. The world that she inhabited seemed overly simplistic, like a brightly coloured set of sketches from a young child's picture book - complete with heavy-handed ecological messages - and the mermaid and merman characters frankly felt like ciphers, pale imitations of their land-based counterparts. A couple of times I even found myself wondering if the whole thing was a dream that Lena was having.
The heroine falls in love almost at once with an ultra dreamy merman hunk called Nix. Although he seems inoffensive enough, I simply had no idea what made him tick, or why he would fall head over flippers in love with 'child of land and sea' who had legs instead of a tail. Similarly, apart from his perfect body and 'green-gold' hair, I couldn't figure out why Lena, who a few pages before had been unsure about her feelings for Kai, was suddenly willing to undergo a mermaid marriage ceremony and commit to Nix for life. Yes, her memories of her other life had been blurred away, but would that really change her essentially independent and inquistive nature?
There was also a puzzling plot cul-de-sac where the heroine seeks the help of a Sand Goddess in order to find out how to get a tail. The Goddess herself was satisfyingly remote and inhuman, and I expected to see some sort of pay-off for this section, but once the heroine learns that she CAN get a tail, she leaves the cavern of the Goddess and never returns, the whole idea abandoned.
At the end of this undersea adventure the heroine regains her memories of her family on land and instantly decides to return to them, without even saying goodbye to Nix. There was some very quick and almost perfunctory angsting over this decision, and the painful leave taking seemed to be over in a couple of pages. The conditions imposed on Lena by her grandparents - never to return to the undersea village or to see her mother again - once more felt jarringly simplistic and more a result of a plot need to ratchett up the emotional tension than of anything embedded in the characters.
In the acknowledgements at the back of THE MERMAID'S MIRROR the author mentions that this was once a middle grade book, later re-written as a YA. Reading this gave me an 'aaah' moment, because it explained to me why the two halfs of the story felt so ill-joined. After the subtle and complex writing in the land section, the undersea part felt vitally flawed, almost as if it belonged to a different - and far less interesting - book. I think the blend between YA and middle grade here is far from smooth and that the whole undersea section could really have done with being rethought and rewritten.
THE MERMAID'S MIRROR is frustrating because in some ways it's just the kind of book that I'd like to see more of, a book in which the heroine's own quest for knowledge and growth is emphasized over any mystical One Twu Wuv connection with a supernatural boy. I'm really sad that the whole thing didn't work better.
Lena, almost 16 and living in a northern California surfing community, has been forbidden by her father, a former surfer who suffered a terrible accident in the water years ago, from learning her peers’ favorite sport. She is an excellent swimmer, though, and while spending time at the local beach, she begins to think she might be seeing a mermaid out in the waves. Being a practical girl, this of course strikes her as unlikely, but a host of subtle clues that include the discovery of her mother’s true identity and fate lead her to an undersea world of mer-folk. Lena distances herself from her life on land as she takes up residence in her mother’s community below the ocean, but eventually she must choose between her diverging destinies.
THE REVIEW:
THE MERMAID'S MIRROR is a difficult book to review, because in many ways - like the main character, Lena - it seems to be at war with itself.
The earlier sections of the story, showing aspiring surfer Lena both struggling with and reveling in her home life, her complex relationships with friend and boyfriend and the emergence of disturbing impulses (the urge to search for something she does not remember, the constant need to be by the sea) are compelling and beautifully written. I completely sympathised with Lena in her quest to discover the truth about her mysterious mother, and found the secondary characters to be well-rounded and intriguing. The setting was a little sketchy on the details of school and hometown, but enough detail was lavished on the beach, sea and rocks to make up for this and give the story a rich sense of place.
One thing I very much liked about this early section was the heroine's boyfriend, Kai, who is sweet, attentive and interested in her. The heroine wavered on her feelings about him, sometimes seeming to find him too clingy, and maybe wishing that they could return to just being friends, and at others seeming to appreciate his quirky humour and wanting to be with him. I thought this was a refreshingly different and realistic take on a high school relationship.
However, after a heart-wrenching and very effective scene where the heroine finds her mother clinging to the rocks and plunges under the waves with her into a new, undersea world, the book completely lost its grip on me. The formerly strong and determined heroine suddenly seemed flat and even rather annoying at times, repeating the same questions and thoughts over and over. The world that she inhabited seemed overly simplistic, like a brightly coloured set of sketches from a young child's picture book - complete with heavy-handed ecological messages - and the mermaid and merman characters frankly felt like ciphers, pale imitations of their land-based counterparts. A couple of times I even found myself wondering if the whole thing was a dream that Lena was having.
The heroine falls in love almost at once with an ultra dreamy merman hunk called Nix. Although he seems inoffensive enough, I simply had no idea what made him tick, or why he would fall head over flippers in love with 'child of land and sea' who had legs instead of a tail. Similarly, apart from his perfect body and 'green-gold' hair, I couldn't figure out why Lena, who a few pages before had been unsure about her feelings for Kai, was suddenly willing to undergo a mermaid marriage ceremony and commit to Nix for life. Yes, her memories of her other life had been blurred away, but would that really change her essentially independent and inquistive nature?
There was also a puzzling plot cul-de-sac where the heroine seeks the help of a Sand Goddess in order to find out how to get a tail. The Goddess herself was satisfyingly remote and inhuman, and I expected to see some sort of pay-off for this section, but once the heroine learns that she CAN get a tail, she leaves the cavern of the Goddess and never returns, the whole idea abandoned.
At the end of this undersea adventure the heroine regains her memories of her family on land and instantly decides to return to them, without even saying goodbye to Nix. There was some very quick and almost perfunctory angsting over this decision, and the painful leave taking seemed to be over in a couple of pages. The conditions imposed on Lena by her grandparents - never to return to the undersea village or to see her mother again - once more felt jarringly simplistic and more a result of a plot need to ratchett up the emotional tension than of anything embedded in the characters.
In the acknowledgements at the back of THE MERMAID'S MIRROR the author mentions that this was once a middle grade book, later re-written as a YA. Reading this gave me an 'aaah' moment, because it explained to me why the two halfs of the story felt so ill-joined. After the subtle and complex writing in the land section, the undersea part felt vitally flawed, almost as if it belonged to a different - and far less interesting - book. I think the blend between YA and middle grade here is far from smooth and that the whole undersea section could really have done with being rethought and rewritten.
THE MERMAID'S MIRROR is frustrating because in some ways it's just the kind of book that I'd like to see more of, a book in which the heroine's own quest for knowledge and growth is emphasized over any mystical One Twu Wuv connection with a supernatural boy. I'm really sad that the whole thing didn't work better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2014
I really enjoyed the author's writing in this novel. The book can be divided into two parts: life with her father on the land and life with her mother in the sea. Lena has spent her life with her father, step-mother and younger brother living in a beautiful home near the ocean. While most of her friends love surfing, she has been reluctant to try because her father had some sort of accident. As it turns out the "accident" was not a surfing accident at all but a run-in with Lena's mother's family who just happen to be mermaids. I have to admit that I enjoyed the section of the novel where Lena remains on land a lot better than the section where she is under the ocean with her mermaid mother and her extended family. I thought that the mermaid part of the novel would have been a little more in depth that it was. I feel that Madigan could have made it a much more magical land than it was. I also found it hard to form a connection as a reader to Lena's maternal family. I felt a stronger connection with her paternal family because I felt that they were more empathetic and also more well-rounded characters. I wasn't entirely satisfied with the ending either. I feel that the author may have left the book open to a sequel which would make the ending alright but if there is no sequel I feel there is still a lot more that I want to know. Overall though, I really enjoyed reading this novel. It was creative and I always wanted to know more about what was happening. I give this book 3.5 stars out of 5.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2010
I really enjoyed this book! As a sea lover I’m fascinated with all myths and legends related to it!
One thing that I really enjoyed in this book was that mermaids are seen in a different way than the clichés beautiful creatures that enchant the sailors with their angelical voices and other worldly appearance. No, in this book mermaids are much more than that. They are creatures who live in a structured world, where there are rules, and hierarchy, where they have traditions.
The characters are well developed and they are not flat, so they seemed believable to my eyes. But I think that other characters could be more developed, as Nyx for exemple.
The plot was interesting and I loved the sense of mystery and fantasy that was very present in it.
I liked the fact that this book showed instead of telling because it made it easier to me to enter Lena’s day-to-day life, which was very important, since that life that is shown to us in the first part of the book will dramatically change.
The end was the thing that I least enjoyed!
Overall it was good book, full of magic, mystery and fantasy.
One thing that I really enjoyed in this book was that mermaids are seen in a different way than the clichés beautiful creatures that enchant the sailors with their angelical voices and other worldly appearance. No, in this book mermaids are much more than that. They are creatures who live in a structured world, where there are rules, and hierarchy, where they have traditions.
The characters are well developed and they are not flat, so they seemed believable to my eyes. But I think that other characters could be more developed, as Nyx for exemple.
The plot was interesting and I loved the sense of mystery and fantasy that was very present in it.
I liked the fact that this book showed instead of telling because it made it easier to me to enter Lena’s day-to-day life, which was very important, since that life that is shown to us in the first part of the book will dramatically change.
The end was the thing that I least enjoyed!
Overall it was good book, full of magic, mystery and fantasy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2018
Find this review and more on my blog Sometimes Leelynn Reads.
"By the light
of the blueberry moon
we sang this song
in Lena's room..."
I read this book as part of one of my bookclubs last year, but I only just finished it today. I'm not sure what took me a while to finally get back to finishing the book, but I finally did. I'm glad I know what happened at the end, and now I can rest easy knowing that I actually don't have to worry about this one anymore.
This book was about a girl named Lena (her full name is Selena but nobody calls her that), a girl in California who just can't get enough of the ocean. The only catch is, her father refuses to let her swim or surf because of the time where he almost died surfing many years ago. He doesn't want the same thing or worse to happen to her, but for some reason, Lena feels the ocean calling to her. On her sixteenth birthday, she goes to her favorite beach, Magic's, and as she's looking out into the ocean, she sees a mermaid.
Yep, a real-life mermaid.
At first, she thinks she's going crazy. I mean, mermaids aren't real, right? That's what Lena thought when she first saw the beautiful creature. She soon became obsessed with seeing the mermaid again, and eventually, something else happened that she would have never imagined in her entire life.
Lena was the kind of character that you wanted to support through all of her decisions, but just couldn't. There were times where I understood why she was so angry but just couldn't imagine the actions she took because of it. I wanted to tell her "NO! You don't want to do that!" or "How could you be so cruel right now?" but of course, she couldn't hear me. Lena is an interesting character though, and when you follow her journey, you know that she is the kind of girl that will stop at nothing to get what she wants.
This was a beautiful story about my favorite mythological creature in the world, and I'm sorry that there will be no more stories about Lena and her friends. I hope to visit her world again one day, and dream about life under the sea.
"By the light
of the blueberry moon
we sang this song
in Lena's room..."
I read this book as part of one of my bookclubs last year, but I only just finished it today. I'm not sure what took me a while to finally get back to finishing the book, but I finally did. I'm glad I know what happened at the end, and now I can rest easy knowing that I actually don't have to worry about this one anymore.
This book was about a girl named Lena (her full name is Selena but nobody calls her that), a girl in California who just can't get enough of the ocean. The only catch is, her father refuses to let her swim or surf because of the time where he almost died surfing many years ago. He doesn't want the same thing or worse to happen to her, but for some reason, Lena feels the ocean calling to her. On her sixteenth birthday, she goes to her favorite beach, Magic's, and as she's looking out into the ocean, she sees a mermaid.
Yep, a real-life mermaid.
At first, she thinks she's going crazy. I mean, mermaids aren't real, right? That's what Lena thought when she first saw the beautiful creature. She soon became obsessed with seeing the mermaid again, and eventually, something else happened that she would have never imagined in her entire life.
Lena was the kind of character that you wanted to support through all of her decisions, but just couldn't. There were times where I understood why she was so angry but just couldn't imagine the actions she took because of it. I wanted to tell her "NO! You don't want to do that!" or "How could you be so cruel right now?" but of course, she couldn't hear me. Lena is an interesting character though, and when you follow her journey, you know that she is the kind of girl that will stop at nothing to get what she wants.
This was a beautiful story about my favorite mythological creature in the world, and I'm sorry that there will be no more stories about Lena and her friends. I hope to visit her world again one day, and dream about life under the sea.
March 20, 2021
3.5 stars. I didn’t mind the main character. I was pretty engaged during the first half, but I kind of got bored with the second half when she entered the mermaid world.… Overall, a fun and fast read.
February 16, 2025
Read this because I live by the ocean now! Was not the type of mermaid book I had expected it to be. More of a drama than a lighthearted book.
Read
January 7, 2024Read this years ago and I wanted to add this to my Goodreads before I forgot because I’m donating the book I remember being LIVID at the ending
Read
April 1, 2011When I started reading this book I honestly had no idea what it was about. I’d read the flap and it struck me as a little…odd…a girl finds a mirror that belongs to a mermaid and she likes to surf?
But I like mermaids, so I thought, “why not?”
Lena lives in a small(ish) town just outside of San Fransisco. A coastal town known for its surfing. But Lena’s dad had a bad accident while surfing a number of years ago and hasn’t stepped foot in the water since. And he has always refused Lena when she asked for surfing lessons.
This is another book that, while it doesn’t physically separate itself into two parts, it does have two distinct….acts? Or something like that. The first act introduces you to Lena, her friends and family and surfing. She obviously loves her family, especially her little brother. She loves the woman she calls mom even though she isn’t Lena’s biological mother, and she wants nothing more than for her Dad to be the one to teach her to surf.
Just previous to the books opening Lena started dating Kai, a boy she’d been friends with for a long time. And you can tell she likes the new relationship but isn’t really committed to it. In fact a lot of her life feels that way. She’s there, and it’s fine but there isn’t anything she’s really passionate about, nothing that captures her attention.
Except surfing.
And, unbeknown to Lena , while she sits on the beach and looks at the water longingly, someone is looking back at her with the same longing.
Throughout the book, there’s this fantastic metaphor. Lena is constantly searching for something. We see her unpack the books and binders in her backpack after school just to find….something. She doesn’t know what it is. But she needs to find it. This is echoed in her life. On the surface, everything is there, but she’s always looking for something more.
And then the second act of the book, where she finds what she’s been looking for. Lena lives with a different sort of family, she meets a different boyfriends and has different friends and it is here that she finds her passion. This boy is so much more than Kai, makes Lena feel more than Kai ever did. Her family is beautiful and important and mesmerizing.
I really loved the juxtaposition in this book. I love that it takes Lena discovering a whole new life for her to really understand all that she had in her first one. And I love that she then has to make a choice. And no matter which life she chooses there is going to be loss and abandonment.
The one thing I didn’t really get about this book was the name. Sure, there was a mirror but it had very little to do with the plot and by the time you get to the mirror…well, it just didn’t seem worth it. Not that I have the super-awesome-wonderful title it should’ve been called. I like the title, I just don’t think it had much to do with the book.
Reviewed on WhatchYAreading on October 7, 2010.
But I like mermaids, so I thought, “why not?”
Lena lives in a small(ish) town just outside of San Fransisco. A coastal town known for its surfing. But Lena’s dad had a bad accident while surfing a number of years ago and hasn’t stepped foot in the water since. And he has always refused Lena when she asked for surfing lessons.
This is another book that, while it doesn’t physically separate itself into two parts, it does have two distinct….acts? Or something like that. The first act introduces you to Lena, her friends and family and surfing. She obviously loves her family, especially her little brother. She loves the woman she calls mom even though she isn’t Lena’s biological mother, and she wants nothing more than for her Dad to be the one to teach her to surf.
Just previous to the books opening Lena started dating Kai, a boy she’d been friends with for a long time. And you can tell she likes the new relationship but isn’t really committed to it. In fact a lot of her life feels that way. She’s there, and it’s fine but there isn’t anything she’s really passionate about, nothing that captures her attention.
Except surfing.
And, unbeknown to Lena , while she sits on the beach and looks at the water longingly, someone is looking back at her with the same longing.
Throughout the book, there’s this fantastic metaphor. Lena is constantly searching for something. We see her unpack the books and binders in her backpack after school just to find….something. She doesn’t know what it is. But she needs to find it. This is echoed in her life. On the surface, everything is there, but she’s always looking for something more.
And then the second act of the book, where she finds what she’s been looking for. Lena lives with a different sort of family, she meets a different boyfriends and has different friends and it is here that she finds her passion. This boy is so much more than Kai, makes Lena feel more than Kai ever did. Her family is beautiful and important and mesmerizing.
I really loved the juxtaposition in this book. I love that it takes Lena discovering a whole new life for her to really understand all that she had in her first one. And I love that she then has to make a choice. And no matter which life she chooses there is going to be loss and abandonment.
The one thing I didn’t really get about this book was the name. Sure, there was a mirror but it had very little to do with the plot and by the time you get to the mirror…well, it just didn’t seem worth it. Not that I have the super-awesome-wonderful title it should’ve been called. I like the title, I just don’t think it had much to do with the book.
Reviewed on WhatchYAreading on October 7, 2010.
December 6, 2018
*Spoiler alert*
Personal Response
I thought this book was very fascinating because the main character and her family have a lot of secrets, and once they were revealed, it was really shocking. In later parts of the book, the main character went to a very mysterious place. I really didn’t like the ending because she left the ones she loved behind and it made me mad and sad.
Plot summary
In the beginning, a girl named Lena is going to the beach behind her house with her boyfriend and her Bff. Lena goes home and asks her dad if he can teach her to surf and he says no and that they were moving away from the water. Lena storms off and sleepwalks down to the beach and her mom finds her and wakes her up. Lena sees a mermaid and now is determined to see her again. She borrows a board from her BFF’s boyfriend and then goes out to Magics, a dangerous surfing place many people have died at. Lena wipes out and gets pulled under; she is saved by the mermaid and given a key. When she gets home her dad finds out she was surfing. Lena gets grounded so she looks in her parents' room for a lock to her key. She finds a metal box and she opens it with the key. The secrets of her real mother were in the box. Lena finds out that her real mother is a mermaid. She goes to the beach and finds her real mother there. Lena goes with her down under the sea, wearing a protective cloak so she can breathe. In the mermaid world, she falls in love with a merman named Nix. In the end, Lena is forced to leave and goes back to her family on the surface.
Recommendations
I recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries and untold secrets. I wouldn’t recommend this book to someone who likes non-fiction books. I would also recommend this book to anyone who likes mermaids and surfing.😥😢😡😠😅😁
Personal Response
I thought this book was very fascinating because the main character and her family have a lot of secrets, and once they were revealed, it was really shocking. In later parts of the book, the main character went to a very mysterious place. I really didn’t like the ending because she left the ones she loved behind and it made me mad and sad.
Plot summary
In the beginning, a girl named Lena is going to the beach behind her house with her boyfriend and her Bff. Lena goes home and asks her dad if he can teach her to surf and he says no and that they were moving away from the water. Lena storms off and sleepwalks down to the beach and her mom finds her and wakes her up. Lena sees a mermaid and now is determined to see her again. She borrows a board from her BFF’s boyfriend and then goes out to Magics, a dangerous surfing place many people have died at. Lena wipes out and gets pulled under; she is saved by the mermaid and given a key. When she gets home her dad finds out she was surfing. Lena gets grounded so she looks in her parents' room for a lock to her key. She finds a metal box and she opens it with the key. The secrets of her real mother were in the box. Lena finds out that her real mother is a mermaid. She goes to the beach and finds her real mother there. Lena goes with her down under the sea, wearing a protective cloak so she can breathe. In the mermaid world, she falls in love with a merman named Nix. In the end, Lena is forced to leave and goes back to her family on the surface.
Recommendations
I recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries and untold secrets. I wouldn’t recommend this book to someone who likes non-fiction books. I would also recommend this book to anyone who likes mermaids and surfing.😥😢😡😠😅😁
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2018
Plot
Lena has spent her whole life by the Pacific. She loves the smell of the salty air, the coolness of the waves, the softness of the sand. Something keeps drawing her back when she is asleep though. Lena has been sleep walking to the beach to find something that she lost long ago; her real mother. She finds a key and a mirror. What she sees in it will change everything.
Personal Response
This book isn't a bad book at all. It has wonderful characters and backstories. I wish it had just a little bit more background on Lena's family when Lucy was still in it.
Recommendation
This book is great for young girls who love fantasy. There are no swear words or bad references, so middle schoolers could read it. It's also a good book for people who love a mystery.
Lena has spent her whole life by the Pacific. She loves the smell of the salty air, the coolness of the waves, the softness of the sand. Something keeps drawing her back when she is asleep though. Lena has been sleep walking to the beach to find something that she lost long ago; her real mother. She finds a key and a mirror. What she sees in it will change everything.
Personal Response
This book isn't a bad book at all. It has wonderful characters and backstories. I wish it had just a little bit more background on Lena's family when Lucy was still in it.
Recommendation
This book is great for young girls who love fantasy. There are no swear words or bad references, so middle schoolers could read it. It's also a good book for people who love a mystery.
July 4, 2017
What brought me to read "The Mermaid's Mirror" by L. K. Madigan was the magical-looking cover. It seemed middle-grade, and even now it sits in my mind between middle-grade and YA, as the novel would be relatable to both parties. Anyway, the beginning was very quiet for me, very slow. I did not want to give up, as I had faith that it would pick up, and it did. After Lena, the protagonist, begins surfing, the action and "magic" began to arise, and it was by then that I knew that I was in for something special.
I can't be certain about grammar, spelling and language, since I was handed an advance readers copy from Netgalley, but I shall mention this. Madigan, at times, implemented in her sentences phrasings that didn't quite work well together, or just felt a bit awkward. Nevertheless, this did not really affect the actual story.
The setting and the people that inhabit it seem laid-back and pretty chill, and that works, because this place is a surf-y place. Lena's family- her parents, Brian and Allie, and brother Cole- constitute a loving family, although unconventional (and Lena points this out at one time, but relaxes as she discovers many of her peers have stranger family trees) as her mom isn't really her mom-- her real mom died when Lena was only four years old. At least that's what her father tells her.
While a mermaid story isn't entirely new, the concept was refreshing and enjoyable. I found myself tearing several times throughout the book, which is always a good sign. This book hits on loss and grief, deceit and betrayal, family, friends where one truly belongs, and whether that is really where they want to be. I was half satisfied with the ending, but I'm left wanting more, even though everything was pretty much tied up nicely. To me, the book's ending had a sort of "Spirited Away" (Hayao Miyazaki) feel to it, which is good. I loved Spirited Away, and it remains one of my favourite films to date.
Rating: 4/5
I can't be certain about grammar, spelling and language, since I was handed an advance readers copy from Netgalley, but I shall mention this. Madigan, at times, implemented in her sentences phrasings that didn't quite work well together, or just felt a bit awkward. Nevertheless, this did not really affect the actual story.
The setting and the people that inhabit it seem laid-back and pretty chill, and that works, because this place is a surf-y place. Lena's family- her parents, Brian and Allie, and brother Cole- constitute a loving family, although unconventional (and Lena points this out at one time, but relaxes as she discovers many of her peers have stranger family trees) as her mom isn't really her mom-- her real mom died when Lena was only four years old. At least that's what her father tells her.
While a mermaid story isn't entirely new, the concept was refreshing and enjoyable. I found myself tearing several times throughout the book, which is always a good sign. This book hits on loss and grief, deceit and betrayal, family, friends where one truly belongs, and whether that is really where they want to be. I was half satisfied with the ending, but I'm left wanting more, even though everything was pretty much tied up nicely. To me, the book's ending had a sort of "Spirited Away" (Hayao Miyazaki) feel to it, which is good. I loved Spirited Away, and it remains one of my favourite films to date.
Rating: 4/5
January 1, 2011
I loved Madigan's first novel Flash Burnout. So, I had expectations going into this novel. I won't go as far as saying that I was disappointed.... because I wasn't really, but this novel is definitely different than her first novel, but not necessarily in a bad way.
I don't want to be be spoilery.... but the novel does have a little mermaid action going on. The first half of the book could be considered contemporary fiction... it's Lena's basic day to day interaction with her family and friends, and trying to figure out the person that she really is. The second half, is full of fantasy and wonderment.... I've never read something quite like it before.
As far as characterization... it was awesome. I actually did not care for Lena. I thought she was such a selfish character! I gave her the benefit of the doubt most of the time, but wow... the girl doesn't really think about anyone but herself. (Well occasionally she'll think about her little brother.) Maybe that's why this novel didn't really hook me. No pun intended.
The plot moved rather slowly, but it sorta worked well with Lena discovering herself and her family history. Had it been rushed, I don't think I would have liked it at all. The second half was probably my favorite part of the novel, and I wished it would have been much longer. I felt like we just got a very small glimpse of what this world could be.... I felt like I had been teased!
This part is a little spoilery if you haven't read the book. I was not happy with the ending at all. I felt like Lena was cheated. She finally discovered who she was, and now she has deny part of herself... after she went through all that. I'm really hoping that there is more to this story!
Overall, The Mermaid's Mirror is a tale of friendship, family and discovering that who you are, isn't necessarily where you come from, but who you choose to be.
I don't want to be be spoilery.... but the novel does have a little mermaid action going on. The first half of the book could be considered contemporary fiction... it's Lena's basic day to day interaction with her family and friends, and trying to figure out the person that she really is. The second half, is full of fantasy and wonderment.... I've never read something quite like it before.
As far as characterization... it was awesome. I actually did not care for Lena. I thought she was such a selfish character! I gave her the benefit of the doubt most of the time, but wow... the girl doesn't really think about anyone but herself. (Well occasionally she'll think about her little brother.) Maybe that's why this novel didn't really hook me. No pun intended.
The plot moved rather slowly, but it sorta worked well with Lena discovering herself and her family history. Had it been rushed, I don't think I would have liked it at all. The second half was probably my favorite part of the novel, and I wished it would have been much longer. I felt like we just got a very small glimpse of what this world could be.... I felt like I had been teased!
This part is a little spoilery if you haven't read the book. I was not happy with the ending at all. I felt like Lena was cheated. She finally discovered who she was, and now she has deny part of herself... after she went through all that. I'm really hoping that there is more to this story!
Overall, The Mermaid's Mirror is a tale of friendship, family and discovering that who you are, isn't necessarily where you come from, but who you choose to be.
April 1, 2013
*3.5 Rating
Review Posted on Reading Lark 11/10/12: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2012/...
The protagonist, Lena, has always been drawn to the water. She feels most comfortable when she is in the ocean. Her greatest desire is to learn to surf, but her father stubbornly refuses to allow her to take lessons. A surfing accident keeps him on the shore and he fears that something terrible will happen to Lena. As the story unfolds, readers will learn that Lena's father fears more than a few wipe-outs.
The beginning of this novel was a little slow, but as soon as Lena begins to piece together the story of her mother things begin to pick up. The beginning really serves as a way to ground Lena in the human world; this element will play a dominant role in the conflict. Once the mermaids took center stage, I was enthralled. I really enjoyed the undersea world Madigan created. Her take on the concept of mermaids combines traditional lore with her own creativity.
I struggled with how to review this one because I don't want to give anything away. I loved the characters in this one and the impossible choices that they are forced to make. There were moments when I honestly wasn't sure which path they would take or how things would end up. Lena is put into a difficult predicament that I didn't envy.
At it's core, this is a story about family and choice. I highly recommend it to all fans of mermaids and fantasy. The writing is beautiful and will have you craving a trip to Northern California.
One Last Gripe: I felt like the ending of this one was somewhat of a let down.
My Favorite Thing About This Book: The Mermaids and their society
First Sentence: Lena woke up on the beach.
Favorite Character: Nix
Least Favorite Character: Max
Review Posted on Reading Lark 11/10/12: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2012/...
The protagonist, Lena, has always been drawn to the water. She feels most comfortable when she is in the ocean. Her greatest desire is to learn to surf, but her father stubbornly refuses to allow her to take lessons. A surfing accident keeps him on the shore and he fears that something terrible will happen to Lena. As the story unfolds, readers will learn that Lena's father fears more than a few wipe-outs.
The beginning of this novel was a little slow, but as soon as Lena begins to piece together the story of her mother things begin to pick up. The beginning really serves as a way to ground Lena in the human world; this element will play a dominant role in the conflict. Once the mermaids took center stage, I was enthralled. I really enjoyed the undersea world Madigan created. Her take on the concept of mermaids combines traditional lore with her own creativity.
I struggled with how to review this one because I don't want to give anything away. I loved the characters in this one and the impossible choices that they are forced to make. There were moments when I honestly wasn't sure which path they would take or how things would end up. Lena is put into a difficult predicament that I didn't envy.
At it's core, this is a story about family and choice. I highly recommend it to all fans of mermaids and fantasy. The writing is beautiful and will have you craving a trip to Northern California.
One Last Gripe: I felt like the ending of this one was somewhat of a let down.
My Favorite Thing About This Book: The Mermaids and their society
First Sentence: Lena woke up on the beach.
Favorite Character: Nix
Least Favorite Character: Max
January 4, 2023
This was very nearly an "abandon ship" read for me.
The first 2/3 of this book were incredibly flat and lacking in imagination and plot. There was a lot of filler detail that was completely irrelevant to the story. For instance, Pem's relationship with Max, I really cannot understand why it was important to the story.
The characters were flat and lacking personality, completely unrelatable. And the constant bursting into show tune songs was annoying. I'm sure it was meant to be cute and endearing, giving the character personality but it read as ridiculous and immature.
It took 200ish pages to get to the actual point of the story. The set up was incredibly obvious and I cannot think of one memorable moment that occurs prior to Leena finally going into the Mer world. Even when she's in the Mer world, there isn't anything outstanding or memorable, just simply more interesting.
The last 1/3 actually started to turn the tide (pun intended). Finally, the characters (the Mer people) had some personality and added life to a dying tale. The sea world was vastly more interesting than the land world. But, alas, very short lived.
I was disappointed in the ending. Just when Leena was starting to become a character with some life, personality and purpose, she chose to return to land. The choice was abrupt and she sacrificed her mother and her new found love to go back. The only things that were interesting and able to revive the story were inexplicably removed with Leena's choice. I hated that she left her mother and Nix.
The story was thin with Nix but it was an improvement over her relationship with Kai and with a book like this, the reader has to grasp any little bit of improvement that appears in the story.
While the idea might have been decent in it's conception, the execution of the story fell short of anything truly worthwhile.
The first 2/3 of this book were incredibly flat and lacking in imagination and plot. There was a lot of filler detail that was completely irrelevant to the story. For instance, Pem's relationship with Max, I really cannot understand why it was important to the story.
The characters were flat and lacking personality, completely unrelatable. And the constant bursting into show tune songs was annoying. I'm sure it was meant to be cute and endearing, giving the character personality but it read as ridiculous and immature.
It took 200ish pages to get to the actual point of the story. The set up was incredibly obvious and I cannot think of one memorable moment that occurs prior to Leena finally going into the Mer world. Even when she's in the Mer world, there isn't anything outstanding or memorable, just simply more interesting.
The last 1/3 actually started to turn the tide (pun intended). Finally, the characters (the Mer people) had some personality and added life to a dying tale. The sea world was vastly more interesting than the land world. But, alas, very short lived.
I was disappointed in the ending. Just when Leena was starting to become a character with some life, personality and purpose, she chose to return to land. The choice was abrupt and she sacrificed her mother and her new found love to go back. The only things that were interesting and able to revive the story were inexplicably removed with Leena's choice. I hated that she left her mother and Nix.
The story was thin with Nix but it was an improvement over her relationship with Kai and with a book like this, the reader has to grasp any little bit of improvement that appears in the story.
While the idea might have been decent in it's conception, the execution of the story fell short of anything truly worthwhile.
March 13, 2017
“By the light
of the blueberry moon,
we sang this song
in Lena’s room.”
The pull of the ocean is strong on Selena Whittaker; she never tires from looking at it. She even sleepwalks, waking in Magic Crescent Cove in the wee hours of the morning. Her friends attribute it for her deep desire to learn how to surf. But unlike Selena, they know nothing about the magic – Mermaids are real.
I don’t know any girl who isn’t enchanted with mermaids. Their story is something we always want to dive into. Yet, it seems that their mythical existence is always followed by no sense of belongingness and star-crossed lovers. In the end, we still fervently wish for it to be possible.
The Mermaid’s Mirror covers everything that touches any teen’s life – family, peers and love. Two elements I found very important in this book: (1) it gave focus on setting priorities and choosing well; (2) it gave profound meaning to parents’ love for their child - a love that would breech any obstacle. I was deeply touched by the first part in Brian’s letter to Selena: “My sweet girl, This is your family, here in this house, and we love you.” Every child should know that they belong, and L.K. Madigan gave emphasis to that in this book.
This is an enchanting story that any teenage girl may relate to, and learn from.
The Mermaid’s Mirror
By L.K. Madigan
Harcourt, Houghton Mufflin Books
ISBN10: 0547194919
320 pages
Available on October 4, 2010
Disclaimer: Galley proofs of this book recieved from Houghton Mifflin Books.
Read also from The Page Walker.
of the blueberry moon,
we sang this song
in Lena’s room.”
The pull of the ocean is strong on Selena Whittaker; she never tires from looking at it. She even sleepwalks, waking in Magic Crescent Cove in the wee hours of the morning. Her friends attribute it for her deep desire to learn how to surf. But unlike Selena, they know nothing about the magic – Mermaids are real.
I don’t know any girl who isn’t enchanted with mermaids. Their story is something we always want to dive into. Yet, it seems that their mythical existence is always followed by no sense of belongingness and star-crossed lovers. In the end, we still fervently wish for it to be possible.
The Mermaid’s Mirror covers everything that touches any teen’s life – family, peers and love. Two elements I found very important in this book: (1) it gave focus on setting priorities and choosing well; (2) it gave profound meaning to parents’ love for their child - a love that would breech any obstacle. I was deeply touched by the first part in Brian’s letter to Selena: “My sweet girl, This is your family, here in this house, and we love you.” Every child should know that they belong, and L.K. Madigan gave emphasis to that in this book.
This is an enchanting story that any teenage girl may relate to, and learn from.
The Mermaid’s Mirror
By L.K. Madigan
Harcourt, Houghton Mufflin Books
ISBN10: 0547194919
320 pages
Available on October 4, 2010
Disclaimer: Galley proofs of this book recieved from Houghton Mifflin Books.
Read also from The Page Walker.
February 6, 2011
Well, now. I am finding this one difficult to rate fairly.
16-year-old Lena lives by the sea and longs to learn to surf. But her dad, formerly an excellent surfer, refuses to even discuss it. Meantime, Lena finds herself more and more drawn to dangerous Magic Crescent Cove, and the glimpses she has had there of a strange, dark-haired woman swimming among the seals. Family secrets are beginning to bubble up, and Lena is in more trouble than she knows. Her call to the sea may be the call of blood - and it may be that that blood is not wholly human.
It's tricky to review this YA novel without spoilers, but I will give it my best shot. I found the first part of The Mermaid's Mirror considerably more compelling than the second part; while Lena is searching for her heritage, she is a very believable rebellious teenager, and Madigan is skillful at creating a gripping "siren" call of the sea. But Madigan's imaginary world, which occupies the second part of the novel, feels underdeveloped and weak, with some rather silly and cliche facets. I felt disappointed and let down by the second part, especially the ending. Perhaps this is because it IS a YA novel, where there may be little patience for fully developed relationships; but (for example) Lena's burgeoning relationship with Nix, while it had definite sexual tension, felt simplistic at the beginning and extremely pat towards the end of the novel.
Still, I enjoyed this; I think Madigan is a talented writer, and could have made this tale near-perfect if she had doubled the length of the second half, giving more time to developing her"other" world and the relationships therein. Maybe next novel.
16-year-old Lena lives by the sea and longs to learn to surf. But her dad, formerly an excellent surfer, refuses to even discuss it. Meantime, Lena finds herself more and more drawn to dangerous Magic Crescent Cove, and the glimpses she has had there of a strange, dark-haired woman swimming among the seals. Family secrets are beginning to bubble up, and Lena is in more trouble than she knows. Her call to the sea may be the call of blood - and it may be that that blood is not wholly human.
It's tricky to review this YA novel without spoilers, but I will give it my best shot. I found the first part of The Mermaid's Mirror considerably more compelling than the second part; while Lena is searching for her heritage, she is a very believable rebellious teenager, and Madigan is skillful at creating a gripping "siren" call of the sea. But Madigan's imaginary world, which occupies the second part of the novel, feels underdeveloped and weak, with some rather silly and cliche facets. I felt disappointed and let down by the second part, especially the ending. Perhaps this is because it IS a YA novel, where there may be little patience for fully developed relationships; but (for example) Lena's burgeoning relationship with Nix, while it had definite sexual tension, felt simplistic at the beginning and extremely pat towards the end of the novel.
Still, I enjoyed this; I think Madigan is a talented writer, and could have made this tale near-perfect if she had doubled the length of the second half, giving more time to developing her"other" world and the relationships therein. Maybe next novel.
June 30, 2011
First off, let me say I did like this book. I didn't love or even dislike it, it was really only okay for me. I didn't feel Lena was strong enough of a character. Through the book I was questioning every decision she made, not fully understand her reasons behind them. It was almost as if the only reason she made them was because the author needed her to do "this" to get "there". Now I know this is how most books come to be, start off with an idea and work the characters to fit the situations. However, with Lena I never felt like I understood the "whys" Why did she feel this why? Why is she deciding to do this? Why don't I feel like I can relate with her? Of course it's a mermaid book, I cant relate with that aspect, but I should have been able to relate and know her feelings. I didn't. In some ways, Lena did not feel real to me. She was a figure used to communicate a story, but I did not know her. Somewhere along the way she got lost to me, and at the end of the book I was still trying to find her. Another thing was the descriptions. I love description, beautiful and thought out. I should be able to read a book and picture maybe not exactly he way the author saw it, but have a pretty good grasp of the setting, mood and tone of the book. With The Mermaid's Mirror I saw parts, but a large part I had to make up on my own. The only way I knew how was because I live near a beach. Occasionally I could find parts with great descriptions, but they weren't constant enough through the book to be considered effective. Overall, this book was Okay, I don't think I would recommend it, but it did have an interesting story line that for what its worth, kept me reading until the end.
May 29, 2010
I am SO glad I was able to review this book! If you plan to spend a day at the beach reading, this is the book you want to take. And if, like me, you're in the middle of cold weather, it will bring a fresh sea breeze to your mind. It's chock full of beaches, surfing, underwater scenery, mystery, and of course mermaids.
I think Madigan did a wonderful job writing this book. I liked that she sometimes used texts and IMs as a form of communication, which really brought it into today's world. The songs and poems were interesting, and added value to the story. And the mermaids! Well, you'll just have to read it for yourself to find out about them. :)
I liked the main character, and loved following along as she tried to solve the mystery behind her father's surfing accident. I didn't care too much for her boyfriend, though. Sometimes he seemed a little too perky, and at other times, a little too pressing on the "let's be alone together" begging. I'm all for hot, tempting guys, but a few of his lines made him sound like a bit of a jerk to me.
Aside from that this was a fun adventure, and although the book can stand on it's own, I find myself hoping for a sequel (please, L.K. Madigan?!).
The book releases later this year, so check it out! I recommend it if you're looking for a fun read, like the sea, and believe in mermaids!
I was able to review this book thanks to: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, via NetGalley.
I think Madigan did a wonderful job writing this book. I liked that she sometimes used texts and IMs as a form of communication, which really brought it into today's world. The songs and poems were interesting, and added value to the story. And the mermaids! Well, you'll just have to read it for yourself to find out about them. :)
I liked the main character, and loved following along as she tried to solve the mystery behind her father's surfing accident. I didn't care too much for her boyfriend, though. Sometimes he seemed a little too perky, and at other times, a little too pressing on the "let's be alone together" begging. I'm all for hot, tempting guys, but a few of his lines made him sound like a bit of a jerk to me.
Aside from that this was a fun adventure, and although the book can stand on it's own, I find myself hoping for a sequel (please, L.K. Madigan?!).
The book releases later this year, so check it out! I recommend it if you're looking for a fun read, like the sea, and believe in mermaids!
I was able to review this book thanks to: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, via NetGalley.
June 9, 2010
I was so excited to read The Mermaid's Mirror. Unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to my expectations.
This started out quite slow. About the first hundred pages almost nothing happened. If picked up a little bit later on, but overall nothing really happens until the last 100 pages or so. When it finally did get to the mermaid part, though, I did enjoy it. But, I felt like that part was crammed into a short little section. No sooner had I started it, it was over. I could have spent a lot more time in the mermaid world, but as it was, it was short. (Sorry I'm being so vague; I"m trying not to give away too many spoilers.)
I did not like Lena at all. She was stupid, immature and a real snot to those she loved. It seemed like she was always whinning about something. She was also very self-centered. She did what she wanted and didn't care who she hurt in the proccess.
Overall, The Mermaid's Mirror was forgetable. there was nothing that really stood out. There were some parts that I did enjoy, but I felt short changed by the ending. Also, there was barely any romance in it, and I need me my romance :)
This started out quite slow. About the first hundred pages almost nothing happened. If picked up a little bit later on, but overall nothing really happens until the last 100 pages or so. When it finally did get to the mermaid part, though, I did enjoy it. But, I felt like that part was crammed into a short little section. No sooner had I started it, it was over. I could have spent a lot more time in the mermaid world, but as it was, it was short. (Sorry I'm being so vague; I"m trying not to give away too many spoilers.)
I did not like Lena at all. She was stupid, immature and a real snot to those she loved. It seemed like she was always whinning about something. She was also very self-centered. She did what she wanted and didn't care who she hurt in the proccess.
Overall, The Mermaid's Mirror was forgetable. there was nothing that really stood out. There were some parts that I did enjoy, but I felt short changed by the ending. Also, there was barely any romance in it, and I need me my romance :)
March 7, 2013
I read this book last summer and while it wasn't a book I could not put down I did read it during all my free time because of how good it was. The beginning showed the main character (forget her name) living this perfect life. I was almost so enthralled in the perfectness of her life that I didn't want it to end. Obviously, it did. The book completely changed tones in the middle from a story about a perfect girl with a perfect life to a girl who had found out a ton about herself and her family. I don't want to give to much away but there is that necessary love triangle (but one side is really uncomfortable and weird) and the character does a complete 360°. I think you would like this book if you like chick-lit but also fantasy, mermaids in particular, and relatable characters. The thing that bothered me about this book though was that I wish the author developed the whole mermaid story more in the beginning so it didn't hit you as hard and the ending was almost too wrapped up...I wanted more!
May 12, 2010
The cover alone made me pick up this book! Isn't it gorgeous?! I love the sea, and miss living in California so I knew I'd love this book. I wasn't disappointed. I really liked Lena's character and her draw toward the sea.
When she see's the mermaid for the first time she knows there is a connection, but doesn't know what it means. When she finally finds out what it is, IT'S HUGE!! Answers are finally provided.
When she goes below the sea to the mermaid village and begins to forget her life and family on land I felt really sad! I was trying to will her to remember. There is a bit of romance and first loves. Which I love!
It is a very cute story. It is young adult but probably young enough for middle grade as well. I'm hoping for a sequel, but haven't found anything yet stating there will be one.
When she see's the mermaid for the first time she knows there is a connection, but doesn't know what it means. When she finally finds out what it is, IT'S HUGE!! Answers are finally provided.
When she goes below the sea to the mermaid village and begins to forget her life and family on land I felt really sad! I was trying to will her to remember. There is a bit of romance and first loves. Which I love!
It is a very cute story. It is young adult but probably young enough for middle grade as well. I'm hoping for a sequel, but haven't found anything yet stating there will be one.
December 11, 2014
Lena lives near the sea, and has always wanted to know how to surf. But her father, who used to surf, but one day had a bad accident will not let her. She starts to learn anyway, and is astonished one day when she sees a mermaid. When the mermaid gives her a key that unlocks a chest with a mirror in it, what will Lena see? It will change her life forever.
I really enjoyed the first part of the book, with Lena's struggle on land. And I really enjoyed the last part, with her journey underwater. The whole tone of the book changed to reflect the change of scenery, and even the way that the merfolk spoke was different. It was quite well done.
I really enjoyed the first part of the book, with Lena's struggle on land. And I really enjoyed the last part, with her journey underwater. The whole tone of the book changed to reflect the change of scenery, and even the way that the merfolk spoke was different. It was quite well done.
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