Aquamarine (Water Tales #1)

Reader reviewed by Mrs. Healt

Aquamarine is a really high interest read for girls in 6-12th grade.  Most of my students liked the movie better than the book, so it is interesting to note the differences between the two because there are a lot!  This book is about 2 best friends that are going to be separated after the summer.  They end up meeting a mermaid that changes everything for them!  If you like summertime, the beach, and boys, then you will love this book!

Reader reviewed by BookWorm818

wow ok so this is one of the first teen books i ever read i read this for the first time in 5th grade and while even then it was not my favorite it did keep my attenion but you have to take into considerstion i was reading CS lewis at the same time and i mean really how can you even compair the 2? anyway if you cant get you child to read for school this is a simple and short book that they can understand and enjoy it has a happy endding and it has a little comedy thorwn in my mom bought me this book but if you have a child that has a larger comperhention level i would not waste my time with this book they will finish it in a day and never pick it up again (trust me) though this is a great starter teen book for girls who cant stand reading but need AR points for school!

Reader reviewed by kim

 

Aquamarine is a coming of age, magical tale about two 12 year old best friends about to be parted at the summers end. Claire and Hailey have lived next door one another all their lives. Claires family is about to move away to Florida at the end of the summer. The two girls hang out at Capri Beach Club, a neglected and shabby place about to bulldozed at the end of the summer.

 

Despite the girls fear of change, the clock is ticking and summer is rapidly coming to an end. Then one morning, after a particularly harsh storm, they find a mermaid named Aquamarine in the bottom of the Capri Beach Clubs pool . She is grouchy from being trapped in the pool, but refuses to leave after laying eyes on Raymond, the handsome boy working the food stand. The girls concoct a scheme to give Aquamarine one magical evening with Raymond (while still keeping her true identity a secret) before they safely return her to the sea.

 

This is a quick, sweet story and delightful read. The reader will fall in love with the Hailey and Claires friendship bond. Anyone who has lost a best friend as a child will identify with their heartache and smile at their attempts to assist Aquamarine. Its a short novel, geared toward younger teens but still can be enjoyed by adults. I enjoyed the underlying theme of adolescence being a magical time where friendships are true and bonds unbreakable. Aquamarines haughtiness and rebellion against her father added a comic twist to the story as well.

Reader reviewed by 3holidaybabies

My daughter lover the movie Aquamarine, so as I usually do I bought the book to read with her. She argued with me the whole book. I hve so learned my lesson! Next time it will be book first then movie. I was so tired of hearing "thats not how it happened" "no, mom" "but in the movie" The book is good & I do recomend it, it is a great story about friendship, if you likes sisterhood of the traveling pants you should like this one too. I was just so tired from my daughter that it took some of the joy of the book away.

Reader reviewed by YouKn0wYaLuvMe

Aquamarine is a good book (or it would not have become a movie) and it is good for young readers. I wouldn't say that it is the best book that I have ever read, for it is a bit childish, but it is still good.

I liked aquamarine, but not enough to give it a very good rating.

Reader reviewed by Emily TT

This is a great book. Alice Hoffman is a amazing author. Yes, the movie was based on this book.
Hailey and Claire are spending their last summer together. After summer, Claire will move to Florida with her grandparents. This summer, they encounter a mermaid in the beach club's pool. Her name is Aquamarine and she is beautiful. But if she doesn't go back to the ocean anytime soon she will turn to dust. So Hailey and Claire try to convince her to go back to the ocean. But Aquamarine is very stubborn. She refuses to go back until she falls in love with someone. Then she sees Ray, a guy who works at the club and reads alot. She decides she wants him and convinces Hailey and Claire to set up a date with Ray and Aquamarine. So Aquamarine talks and sees Ray for one special night, but after a few hours, she starts to turn into dust so Hailey and Claire bring her back into the ocean before it's too late.
Then Aquamarine leaves and says goodbye.
But she leaves two shells.
I recommend this book very much.
-Emily TT

Reader reviewed by Dominique

With their local beach club closing down for good soon and Claire destined to move, two friends, Hailey and Claire will soon part. Hanging out at Capri, the local beach club often, they watch as their time together slip away. Capri is already pretty much deserted; no one comes anymore, except for Hailey and Claire, and Raymond, who works there.

After a massive storm, Claire and Hailey find a beautiful mermaid, Aquamarine, stuck in the beach club's pool. The pretty young mermaid has fallen head-over-heals in love with Raymond but Claire and Hailey know that if she remains away from the ocean for long, she will die. But the mermaid does not wish to return--she loves Raymond too much. Determined to save the mermaid, Claire and Hailey offer Aquamarine a date with Raymond if she will return to the ocean after. Agreeing, Aquamarine alows Hailey and Claire to dress her up and cover-up her tail. But with the mermaid wasting away, can the two friends return Aquamarine to the ocean before it's too late? What about her love for Raymond? What if he finds out Aquamarine is a mermaid?

A nice little book full of friendship and magic!