elanashyong's review against another edition
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
kblincoln's review against another edition
4.0
Miranda is a science-geek from New York thrust into the class-conscious high society summer vacation spot of Selkie Island.
She watches in suprise as her mother turns from a high-powered New York surgeon into a Southern lady. She finds out that she is the spitting image of her estranged grandmother.
And she meets Leo. Leo is a townie who shares her love of science and they feel an immediate connection.
I just read another book about a girl going through difficult times who meets a mysterious boy that I didn't enjoy. Sea Change gets it right. Here's a girl trying to recover from a bad boy experience and so she is suspicious and self-conscious and awkward.
While the speculative element in this one isn't really mysterious, it still was fun to discover the legends of Selkie Island along with the heroine.
She watches in suprise as her mother turns from a high-powered New York surgeon into a Southern lady. She finds out that she is the spitting image of her estranged grandmother.
And she meets Leo. Leo is a townie who shares her love of science and they feel an immediate connection.
I just read another book about a girl going through difficult times who meets a mysterious boy that I didn't enjoy. Sea Change gets it right. Here's a girl trying to recover from a bad boy experience and so she is suspicious and self-conscious and awkward.
While the speculative element in this one isn't really mysterious, it still was fun to discover the legends of Selkie Island along with the heroine.
veezbell's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed this book! I don't think its the next Big Thing, but I would definitely read this again, its a fun easy read. And its full of surprises.
illbefinealone's review against another edition
3.0
I'm torn between two and three stars, and I'm also feeling generous, so...
missprint_'s review against another edition
5.0
Many are drawn to Selkie Island. Few know why.
The whirlwind of events that brought sixteen-year-old Miranda Merchant to the island, away from her sensible summer plans in New York City, are unlikely but they make enough sense. Her mother has inherited a house that needs to be gone through and emptied. Logical enough. And so much more realistic than any fairytale happy ending.
But Selkie Island is a messy place that quickly blurs the lines between past and present and, more startling for Miranda, between reality and legend. Lore about mythical creatures and her own family's past pervade the island filling the dense air with mystery and a charge Miranda's logical mind can't grasp. Soon enough everything Miranda thought she knew about her own family, her basic reality, and love is turned upside down when she meets Leo, a local boy with his own breezy, otherworldly charm.
Miranda will have to sort through the facts, and the myths, to find the truth and maybe even her own happy ending in Sea Change (2009) by Aimee Friedman.
Sea Change is subtle and exquisite. Thoroughly grounded in Miranda's scientific, logical head the story practically vibrates with tension as she works to reconcile what her mind knows to be impossible with what her heart might already know to be true. Friedman has already written a lot of great books, some of them bestsellers, but this one might be her best to date.
Friedman seamlessly integrates scientific references, seaside lore, and family to create a clever, romantic book with delightful characters and a setting evocative enough that some readers might finish this book only to find sand between their toes.
On top of all that, Miranda is a smart, grounded heroine who has a strong sense of self even at her lowest. No vampire's here, but anyone looking for a thinking girl's answer to Twilight need look no further.
Possible Pairings: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley, Girl at Sea by Maureen Johnson, Scarlett Fever by Maureen Johnson, Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta, Vibes by Amy Kathleen Ryan, Swoon at Your Own Risk by Sydney Salter, Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt, How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford
The whirlwind of events that brought sixteen-year-old Miranda Merchant to the island, away from her sensible summer plans in New York City, are unlikely but they make enough sense. Her mother has inherited a house that needs to be gone through and emptied. Logical enough. And so much more realistic than any fairytale happy ending.
But Selkie Island is a messy place that quickly blurs the lines between past and present and, more startling for Miranda, between reality and legend. Lore about mythical creatures and her own family's past pervade the island filling the dense air with mystery and a charge Miranda's logical mind can't grasp. Soon enough everything Miranda thought she knew about her own family, her basic reality, and love is turned upside down when she meets Leo, a local boy with his own breezy, otherworldly charm.
Miranda will have to sort through the facts, and the myths, to find the truth and maybe even her own happy ending in Sea Change (2009) by Aimee Friedman.
Sea Change is subtle and exquisite. Thoroughly grounded in Miranda's scientific, logical head the story practically vibrates with tension as she works to reconcile what her mind knows to be impossible with what her heart might already know to be true. Friedman has already written a lot of great books, some of them bestsellers, but this one might be her best to date.
Friedman seamlessly integrates scientific references, seaside lore, and family to create a clever, romantic book with delightful characters and a setting evocative enough that some readers might finish this book only to find sand between their toes.
On top of all that, Miranda is a smart, grounded heroine who has a strong sense of self even at her lowest. No vampire's here, but anyone looking for a thinking girl's answer to Twilight need look no further.
Possible Pairings: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley, Girl at Sea by Maureen Johnson, Scarlett Fever by Maureen Johnson, Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta, Vibes by Amy Kathleen Ryan, Swoon at Your Own Risk by Sydney Salter, Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt, How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford
livreads7's review against another edition
2.0
Didn't like this one bit. I'm so sorry but the movie was better. Full review: http://tiny.cc/SeaChange
heyitstayj's review against another edition
4.0
I really, really liked this book. I haven't ever read anything like it before. A nice short read that overall has a very happy, relaxing tone to it with some good romance.
ancillary_reader's review against another edition
4.0
I really hope there's a sequel. Or at least an epilogue.
hobbitsbooksandbeyond's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book for a few reasons, firstly there was little to no mention of the main character male as an actual merman or selkie or whatnot, it was just hinted at and we were left pretty much to make our own minds up. Another thing i liked was that the main Female character didn't spend half the book trying to choose between guys, she always knew she wanted who she wanted and while there were a few mishaps and what not. Overall it was a good book.
nell_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Short book but very interesting. I hope she does a sequel but from reading it, I don't think so :/