This is a mermaid book, so Neptune (a.k.a. Since my thoughts on this book are pretty 50/50, I’ll start with what I disliked so we can end on a positive note. One of my younger sisters and I discovered this book at the thrift store a few weeks ago, and the gorgeous cover and quirky title intrigued us both. I gave it 2 stars for concept and an overall positive message about families, but the book was predictable, whiny, and not one that I plan to read any sequels to. Would it really have been THAT hard for the author to look at a measuring tape before describing their 7th grade heroine as three feet eight inches tall? My first graders are taller than that! The final straw for me was when the author described Emily's height.

I understand that the author might be trying to show his imperfections, but how can someone be a god, when they're just as petulant as the seventh grader who's lecturing them? I guess I expect more from my gods than individuals who get blustery over being addressed as 'sir'. Neptune, although he does the right thing in the end, was a disappointment too. The speech Emily gives Neptune, the sea god, at the end is suppose to be a moving defense of love and families but came across as trite. The plot idea is interesting - a seventh grade girl finds out she's a mermaid when her legs become a tail the first time she's submerged in water for swim lessons - but the writing itself is weak (unless you like books with manipulative 'you aren't my friend unless you do this' girl talk).

The tail of emily windsnap