Reviews

Aquamarine by Alice Hoffman

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wildgurl's review against another edition

4.0

Aquamarine
By Alice Hoffman
2001
Scholastic Read 180

Hailey and Claire have grown up together, looking forward to the summers they spent together hanging out at the Capri Club. Now the aging club is being torn down to build a bird sanctuary, they watch as it is being torn down. All that remains is the snack shack, run by Raymond, a friend of the girls. One day Hailey jumps into the murky waters of the dirty pond and she sees a mermaid named.....Aquamarine. The girls want to save her, and Raymond is fond of her. Life is looking good for Aquamarine.
This is a sweet and heart -warming story, written for middle grade students. I found it charming and a very good quick read.

mermads's review against another edition

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5.0

A very biased rating, but I used to reread this every summer in middle school and I still love it very much. This is another instance where the movie adaption is vastly different from the source material but both are cute and highly enjoyable! Aquamarine (the book and the movie) will always have a lil special place in my heart

hannahgough's review

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lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

nisanre's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

This book was good for exactly what it was - a low-level reader with a very specific audience. It was part of my "read all the books I own in my classroom quest" and I don't regret the read. It was quick, light, and sugary. A good in-between books.

victoriarad's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Aww the book that inspired one of my all time favorite movies!! Hate to say it, but the movie was better!?
I really needed like a happy little escapist warm and fuzzy story and this delivered. Fun to see the differences between the book and movie. But GIRL - why is Raymond NOT a lifeguard? A snack shack guy? No way that's no where near as perfect as a lifeguard who falls in love with a mermaid. That's a match made in heaven.
Loved the whimsy of middle grade writing though, just on the cusp where magic can be real. Nothing like it.

sadiereadsagain's review against another edition

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4.0

I flew through this in less than an hour, and really loved it. It captures that heartbreaking sense of loss that comes when a close friend moves away. It’s written for younger readers, but I found it spoke to me as an adult too. I think it’s less a story about finding a mermaid, and more about honouring the magic of friendship.