A review by jang
The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler
5.0
A book that is supremely feminist and sex-positive, celebrating folklores and tradition, educating readers about mermaids, and keeps having REGGAE NIGHTS in between chapters gets a major YASSS from me!
I love the book from start to finish because as a frustrated fairy, it keeps on giving hints and s/o to the natural mystic and the more "enchanting" side of the supernatural world. At first the tone of the protagonist (Elyse) sounds like a character from the movie Aloha or a gypsy twin of Shailene Woodley what with her accounts and retellings of the myths and folklore back in Trinidad and Tobago and her newfound safe haven, Oregon. But as the story progressed I found myself hooked.
THE BEST THING about the story, because it's low-key feminist, is the way it tells female readers to HAVE A VOICE and use that voice for equality. There was never a woman who sailed before the regatta competition? Fuck that, Elyse knows the difference between a mainsail and a jib, of course she's IN. A little boy wasn't allowed to join the mermaid parade because it's strictly for females and he should be a pirate instead? Screw it he wanted to have a mermaid shin, let him have a temporary fin! I am so into books that are not minding the bollocks and teach kids to defy conformity.
I love all the messages of the book about equality and the process of carefully expressing yourself. We're still living in a man's world. And that's basically the reason why stories like this needs to be told to young female readers so they will grow up not only as good girls, but also as strong, empowered women. Females are sensitive, deep-thinking creatures that's why we should never cower to the demands of sexist m'urfuckers.
Another thing I loved about TSoCM was the setting and the general tone of the book. Rural, preserved, mystical places that couldn't be traced using GPS trackers awaken the boho in me. It's as if the book used a very pagan approach by the way it glorified the sea and the moon and earth. It kinda reminded me of John Steinbeck's The Pearl. This is like Steinbeck's The Pearl for young, driven, feminist teens. It's informative even if those topics aren't really for everyone.
The love story I wasn't really crazy about because I liked to pretend I know Christian and I'm sure there's still a manhoe inside him and he'd still troll when he's not with Elyse LMAO. But I'm also sure Elyse got her shit handled. She already braved a furious Atargatis, I'm sure she could also weather a simple heartbreak. Girlfriend is a true mermaid queen.
I identified best with this author because everything that transpired in this book sounds like my dream summer getaway. Folklore parades.. reggae nights.. bonfires by the beach.. summer fling.. boat sex.. Nahhh okay scratch the last one.
I love the book from start to finish because as a frustrated fairy, it keeps on giving hints and s/o to the natural mystic and the more "enchanting" side of the supernatural world. At first the tone of the protagonist (Elyse) sounds like a character from the movie Aloha or a gypsy twin of Shailene Woodley what with her accounts and retellings of the myths and folklore back in Trinidad and Tobago and her newfound safe haven, Oregon. But as the story progressed I found myself hooked.
THE BEST THING about the story, because it's low-key feminist, is the way it tells female readers to HAVE A VOICE and use that voice for equality. There was never a woman who sailed before the regatta competition? Fuck that, Elyse knows the difference between a mainsail and a jib, of course she's IN. A little boy wasn't allowed to join the mermaid parade because it's strictly for females and he should be a pirate instead? Screw it he wanted to have a mermaid shin, let him have a temporary fin! I am so into books that are not minding the bollocks and teach kids to defy conformity.
I love all the messages of the book about equality and the process of carefully expressing yourself. We're still living in a man's world. And that's basically the reason why stories like this needs to be told to young female readers so they will grow up not only as good girls, but also as strong, empowered women. Females are sensitive, deep-thinking creatures that's why we should never cower to the demands of sexist m'urfuckers.
Another thing I loved about TSoCM was the setting and the general tone of the book. Rural, preserved, mystical places that couldn't be traced using GPS trackers awaken the boho in me. It's as if the book used a very pagan approach by the way it glorified the sea and the moon and earth. It kinda reminded me of John Steinbeck's The Pearl. This is like Steinbeck's The Pearl for young, driven, feminist teens. It's informative even if those topics aren't really for everyone.
The love story I wasn't really crazy about because I liked to pretend I know Christian and I'm sure there's still a manhoe inside him and he'd still troll when he's not with Elyse LMAO. But I'm also sure Elyse got her shit handled. She already braved a furious Atargatis, I'm sure she could also weather a simple heartbreak. Girlfriend is a true mermaid queen.
I identified best with this author because everything that transpired in this book sounds like my dream summer getaway. Folklore parades.. reggae nights.. bonfires by the beach.. summer fling.. boat sex.. Nahhh okay scratch the last one.