I really liked this book. Read it in one sitting. It’s about a teenager living on a small island who is keeping a secret from her family and friends: that she’s lesbian. She can’t wait to get away from the small town where everyone knows everybody- but nobody really knows her. Plus there’s some family issues (divorced parents, little brother gets on her nerves). Then one night, upset about something, she runs down to the water’s edge and meets a strange girl who comes out of the ocean. Thinking it must be a dream, Morgan admits how attractive she finds this girl- and gives her a kiss. Turns out the girl is a selkie- can shapeshift from a seal form, and Morgan’s kiss gives her the ability to walk on land. Morgan is enamoured of her new friend, but also doesn’t quite believe she’s a seal, and wants to keep this relationship a secret from her regular group of friends, and her family. When they do finally all meet, things are awkward. Trying to balance her new romance with her old friends is tricky, and more issues come up with a wealthy classmate’s big party on a yacht- that might just threaten the selkie’s seal family. I thought all the parts fit together so nicely, the issues of friendships and secrets and coming out, the environmental impact and small-town life in conflict with some people’s larger dreams. Morgan’s struggles to come to terms with herself and be more honest are particularly on point when she realizes the selkie had secrets from her too, and how hurt that made her feel. The only part that made me laugh with how improbable it seemed, was how quickly the selkie professed true love- it was really immediate. It fit with her forthright, outspoken character though. I really liked the artwork, and the included sketches at the end of the book.
Very unusual, that I read this one so soon after putting it on my TBR list. But really, that list had been started early January, I just lagged in finally posting it. When I saw this come up on the library catalog adjacent to another search, I put it on hold impulsively, and am glad I did. Going to hand it to my ten-year-old, who has on her stack Fish Girl which I want to read all over again now. (There’s a slight similarity in the titles- both the selkie and the mermaid in Fish Girl can talk to seals, fishes, etc- which talk back but not in words that are portrayed in the narrative).
Borrowed from the public library.
2 Responses
Aw, this sounds darling! I’m adding it to my list straightaway. My friend and I are constantly complaining that there aren’t enough selkie books out there. 😛
Yeah, I think I’ve only read one or two before this. (Lots of mermaids, though! So many mermaids. There’s a selkie movie! Have you seen Song of the Sea? I love it.