Review: Sea Change

Sea Change

Aimee Friedman

Copyright 2009, Scholastic

Miranda Merchant is ready for her usual hot summer in New York City, this summer will be a bit different since she's newly single and best friendless. Which is ok. Because Miranda is a sensible girl and she doesn't need to be distracted by stories or normal things to other girls. So she's a bit shocked when her grandmother (who she's had severely little contact with) passes away and leaves her mother with the home they owened on a mysterious island and she finds out she's going to be spending some time at it.

It's not a home. It's a mansion. And this island? It's surrounded in tales of folklore and filled with snobby founder's families who have been spending their summers there their entire lives. Miranda doesn't really fit in and even her mom is eager to pack the house up and get it sold so they can get back to real life back in the city.

But there's a charming air about the island and Miranda ends up feeling more and more comfortable, she's even made friends, she's even developed a huge crush on local boy Leo. Aside from being a "local" which is, of course a terrible thing in the eyes of her wealthy founding family friends, Leo seems to be hiding something else. Something that she'll find connects to her, her life, her family, in ways her sense-filled brain may not be able to handle.

Leo was so smokin hot, so strong and assured. Miranda's unability to believe kind of bothered me but it's because I've always had such an active imagination and she's pretty much the opposite of me, but when she's with Leo she's different. More likable. Friedman did a great job at describing the island. Admittedly, it's been a while since I read the book, and yet the island is still just as real to me today as it was when I laid on my beach towel reading it.

And what could be a better beach read?! Mermaids, guys. On the beach. Spending summer on an island. So perfect. I really really enjoyed this book and I wasn't sure I would. I know that probably sounds bad, but I just wasn't sure. Sometimes novels about mermaids, vampires, werewolves, etc. are over done - unoriginal - that wasn't the case with Sea Change at ALL. It was unique and refreshing. It's a story that you'll read quickly and encourage to linger with you on your summer days and in your summer day dreams.