The Mermaid Call

Lake Splendour is a seaside town built around the myth of Lake Mermaid and the ‘Mermaid Girls’. Vivian lives with her grandmother at a tourist shop called Enchanted Tails, one of many businesses which benefit from the story like those of her friends, Erik and Eleni. When some children at her school start to protest again the annual Mermaid ceremony, saying its pageant bestowing the Mermaid Crown and Neptune’s Trident is sexist, Vivian becomes concerned about the impact this will have on the family business. At the same time, she meets a strange girl called Alice who is determined to find the mythical mermaid. Torn between her old friends and this new one, Vivian finds herself sucked into Alice’s plan, facing danger and uncovering the truth about the past.

This is an amazing story for so many reasons. First and foremost, it is superbly written with vivid settings and compelling characters which instantly engage the reader. The plot moves along at a pleasing place and there is plenty of tension before the very satisfying and rewarding conclusion.

Vivian is such a relatable character. She adores her beautiful mother who is fickle and constantly feels that she is not enough when her mother cancels her visits. Left self-conscious and vulnerable by these feelings of inadequacy and faced with the fact that one of her best friends, Eleni, seems to be siding with the protesters, Vivian is easy prey for the charming, but selfish Alice whose charms make her doubt herself and what she knows is right. The story offers so much to discuss with children struggling with their sense of self worth or peer pressure. Other children in the story also find the courage to stand up and be themselves, offering such a positive, hopeful conclusion as the story challenges stereotypes and offers plenty to think about.

The legend of the Mermaid Girls is cleverly worked through the story, but it is hard to say much about this without spoiling the read for others. This really is one you must read! 

The Mermaid Call Alex Cotter

Nosy Crow ISBN: 978-1839941900

Originally reviewed for Reading Zone.