The Mermaid's Sister

A seashell, a stork, and an apple tree—modest beginnings for any story, but sometimes the greatest tales have the most unassuming starting points. In The Mermaid’s Sister, this opening sets the stage for a fantastical journey that extends far beyond its simple origins. Perhaps the most humble things are the easiest to fall in love with, because this book will weave its way into you and enchant you on every page. The story follows sixteen-year-old Clara as she discovers shimmering, iridescent scales on her sister, Maren. Her sister is becoming a mermaid. Terrified by the implications—no mermaid can live apart from the sea—Clara sets out on a journey to save Maren. During her travels, she soon realizes: If her sister is a mermaid, then what is she? At the heart of that question lies the power of story—particularly, I would argue, the unique power of fantasy stories, which combine impossible worlds with very real questions. Who am I? What am I to make of myself? How will I use what I’ve been given to become something in this world? From Frodo Baggins to Tristan Thorn, Westley the farm boy to Lyra Belacqua, these heroes offer us the opportunity to explore life’s essential questions in the most delightful, fascinating way: through the quests of beloved characters who must fight to find the answers that we, too, so desperately wish to know. Luckily for you and me, we can sit securely in the safety of this world while Clara adventures through the perilous unknown to try to save her sister. Along the way, you may come to realize—as Clara does—that sometimes the grandest adventure can begin with the most modest step, and sometimes the smallest wish can grant the heart’s greatest desire.