Sea Change by Aimee Friedman

Publishers Weekly

An evocative setting, an air of mystery and some intriguing love interests for Miranda, a 16-year-old budding scientist, will make Friedman's (The Year My Sister Got Lucky) novel irresistible to romance fans. It all begins when Miranda's mother inherits a house on the remote Georgia island of Selkie, a place teeming with legends of merfolk and sea beasts. While helping her mother prepare the estate for sale, Miranda is thrown off guard by her discovery of family secrets and the attention she receives from two boys: Southern gentleman T.J., whose father was once engaged to Miranda's mother, and native islander Leo, who seems to carry traits of the mermen Miranda has discovered in an ancient book of island myths. Miranda notices changes both in herself, as she tries to sort out her feelings for her suitors, and in her mother, "the harried surgeon," whose affection for her old beau appears to be rekindled. The effect of the island on the two women is movingly and convincingly drawn, effectively illustrating Einstein's notion that "the most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious." Ages 12-up. (June)

VOYA

Sea Change has a Romeo and Juliet vibe in a story that's been told many times before. The romantic and mysterious atmosphere is appealing, but the dialogue tends to be stilted and unrealistic, making it difficult to relate to the characters. It was almost like the author couldn't decide what kind of personality she wanted Miranda to have. I couldn't figure out who she was supposed to be so I could not decide if I liked her or not. The plot was predictable up until the end where I was sure Miranda and Leo would ride off into the sunset together, but instead Miranda leaves the island without completely solving the mystery of Leo's origins or even saying goodbye to him. I was thrown for a loop and kind of happy about it. Reviewer: Mary Boutet, Teen Reviewer

Children's Literature

Sixteen year old Miranda thinks she is merely spending a few weeks helping her mother clear out the family home on Selkie Island. Legend has it that the island was full of mer-folk and that many still exist and may be seen if one is fortunate enough to win their favor. What she does not realize is that her summer, if not her life, is about to be turned around from her logical, calculated, and scientific world into a new, unfamiliar, yet exciting and even attractive one. The girls her age and their mothers are of a whole different league than those found in the studious academic lifestyle Miranda and her mother are a part of in New York City. Why, these girls have debutante balls and cotillions, and gentlemen wear jackets on picnics! But, in one part of Selkie Island, in Fisherman's Village, the locals lead their quiet lives as hard-working fisherman, trying to stay away from the summer visitors, well, most of them, except for a young man who takes a fancy to Miranda. Working at the marine center in town does not hurt his chances with her, either. Meanwhile, back to the giddy girls, their summer is based on which of the male summer "heirs" they will be paired up with for a summer fling. Miranda is unsure of their world. After all, her mission was to assist her mother with the inherited house. Miranda, however, is "paired" with T.J., who happens to be the son of a man once engaged to her mother. The dynamics often escalate, those between mother and daughter, friend and friend, ex-flame and divorcee. The few weeks on Selkie are a growing experience for both Miranda and her mother, as family secrets are revealed and as new trusts are formed, making for an unforgettable summer for everyone.Friedman creates realistic characters, many easily related to among her readers. Now, if there could be a sequel, that would be magical! Reviewer: Elizabeth Young

VOYA

This quick read is good for a laugh. Although the plot is predictable at times and the ending could have used a bit more development, Sea Change was excellent for the most part. Fans of the supernatural will devour this story that puts a new spin on what has come to be known as the cult of Twilight. Miranda's character is easily relatable for teenage girls and provides a classic-type love story at the same time. Reviewer: Ashley Brown, Teen Reviewer

VOYA

When the ticket taker on the boat Princess of the Deep takes Miranda's ticket and sees that she is heading to Selkie Island, he asks her if she is sure that is where she wants to go. Miranda's original summer plan involved a dream internship at the Museum of Natural History in New York City, but after the grandmother she never knew dies, she finds herself headed out to the house her mother inherited on Selkie Island to help her mom organize her grandmother's possessions. As she departs the boat, the ticket taker warns Miranda to "Be careful of whom you meet, in and out of the water." As she learns more about the legends and lore of Selkie Island, Miranda discovers that there just might be something to the ticket taker's warning and the legends of mermen. Friedman joins the growing cadre of authors tackling supernatural romances but avoids those creatures that are dominating the genre. Although readers will not be surprised by the revelation at the end, they will enjoy Miranda's journey of self-discovery. Miranda is likeable and interesting, and she possesses a self-awareness and confidence that is coupled with an insecurity that makes her real and easy for readers to connect with themselves. Although not exceptional, this novel will be a good choice to pass to readers who devour supernatural romances but are ready to move on from vampires and fairies. Reviewer: Alissa Lauzon

School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up

Miranda Merchant arrives at Selkie Island to discover a place wreathed in mist and myth, but the practical, scientifically inclined teen has little use for the local lore. She's come from New York to help her mother oversee the disposal of a family summer home, inexplicably bequeathed to them by an estranged grandmother. As the 16-year-old reluctantly associates with the wealthy, privileged teens who summer on Selkie, she uncovers startling secrets in her family's history and starts a clandestine romance with Leo, a local boy working at the island's marine center, who may or may not be entirely human. Friedman is clearly of a more artistic frame of mind than her protagonist, as floridly romantic scenes and references to Shakespeare and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner abound. With its self-effacing heroine and forbidden, possibly supernatural leading man, the book is aimed squarely at the "Twilight" crowd, but folklore buffs may be disappointed to learn that these resident sea creatures are garden variety merfolk, not the Irish seal-people usually associated with the name. A decent selection where the demand for romantic fiction is high.-Christi Esterle, Parker Library, CO

Kirkus Reviews

A watery and predictable supernatural romance. Miranda Merchant, accustomed to city life, visits Selkie Island (off the Georgia coast) when her mother inherits a house. Her mother intends to sell it and remain unattached. But Miranda falls in love with Leo, crossing Selkie's strict class division between the "heirs" (including her family) and the working-class residents. She supposedly overcomes the snobbery that thinks heirs "b[ear] the beauty and grace that c[o]me from generations of careful breeding," but even at the end, she refers to Fisherman's Village as "the wrong side of the island." Leo's a mythical ocean creature, but the text never formally confirms that. Friedman tells rather than shows, and Miranda's voice alternates between incongruously nostalgic ("I'd forgotten how comforting it was, the casual intimacy that could exist between girls") and flowery (iced tea from a pitcher is "a waterfall of amber-colored liquid pour[ing] forth"). Miranda leaves for New York knowing she'll return, but Leo's promise of a happy ending "[s]oon" doesn't offer enough suspense for an ending without closure. (Fantasy. 12-14)

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