Visit Jen at Teach MentorTexts and Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders to discover books you'll love! Thanks to Jen, Kellee, and Ricki who share from their own reading lives and support this meme, too.
Thanks to Candlewick Press for the advanced copy of this book, out in mid-October. Here is a heroine whose voice does not waver, though tears fall in sorrow when shouting over a success, while proudly knowing deep inside what is the right thing to do in living life. Lindsay Eager does not stop weaving this story with current adventure, flashback chapters (Just wait until you’re in the middle of a wonderful part and turn the page to “Two Years Ago!”) Eleven-year-old Fidelia Quail, daughter of well-known Drs Quail, ocean scientists, grew up with the sea, with so much knowledge she is nearly a partner to her parents. Disaster breaks early, and Fidelia faces the biggest problem of her life, at least the biggest until she is captured by the most vicious pirate of the seas, Merrick the Monstrous. There is suspense, the science of Fidelia’s inventions, the ocean’s creatures and the ocean itself. Readers will read about passion and heartbreak. Not only is Fidelia a character we are able to know deeply, but the other characters also enrich the story with unique personalities, stories that are revealed slowly, often with sympathy, but sometimes with horror. And there is beautiful writing! I cannot wait for the next book but will savor this one for a while first.