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peculiarb's review against another edition
3.0
I was less than impressed by the first book, I didn’t feel the same excitement as I did back when I was 12, but I recognised the appeal. However, the second book was much better as we finally got to see some character development on Emily’s side. There’s a clear contrast in how she behaves here when compared to the first book, with acceptance being one of the main themes in this book. It’s interesting to see how Emily handles being alienated from her friends after she tried so hard to please them, and it was lovely to see her accept herself as she is, instead of trying hard to fit in one world or the other.
an_adult_ish_bookworm's review against another edition
4.0
I'm pretty sure I read this a few years ago, but if I did, I completely forgot 90% of what happened, haha. I did enjoy this one, but definitely not as much as the first. Emily seemed so whiny throughout almost this entire book, and while it was probably realistic, it was kind of annoying... I really did love the ending though and I can't wait to read the next book!
amber_insight's review against another edition
2.0
This wasn't any better than the first one. Not well thought out at all. But... I told my daughter I'd read them with her. We'll just have to use it as a learning tool - where a story falls short...
fuzzyxxxp's review against another edition
5.0
same as the rest.....
except for the kraken part!!!!!!!!!
i knew about it from pirates of the carribean 2
except for the kraken part!!!!!!!!!
i knew about it from pirates of the carribean 2
concertjunkie's review against another edition
4.0
I just love mermaids! looking forward to reading the rest of the series
preciouslittlebook's review against another edition
5.0
5/5 stars
Between the thunders of the upper deep
Far far beneath in the abysmal sea
His ancient, dreamless, uninvaded sleep
The Kraken sleepeth
-Alfred Lord Tennison
There are some books that fill your heart with brightness and exploding suns. There are some stories that wrap your body in starlight and breathe fresh air into you, protecting you from pain and harm. There are simply some tales that you will always come back to, no matter how old you are, just to seek comfort and be more in control of reality's wild spiralling.
The Emily Windsnap series will always be these books for me.
Since the moment I received the fourth book in my birthday (it can be read as a companion novel) and after finishing it and crying tears of pure joy, a feeling I haden't felt in a long time, despite the fact I was in a tender age, I knew something had changed in me. Since the moment I stepped foot in the bookstore and purchased the other free, I knew something had made my heart feel light.
And since then, in my darkest times, when I could sometimes barely remember that life is important, I read this books, and it all came back to me.
Emily, a girl from Brightport without a father, who has bullied and didn't feel good for herself, but later found out she was a mermaid, and her father was alive, kept in prison, was the main character. The girl who changed from a caterpillar toa butterfly, and in each book, she grew more and more, not just physically but also mentally. I connected to that girl in a spiritual level. I was a girl who was stigmatized from bullying for a long, long time. And I needed someone to show me that being myself was the most wonderful feeling. Emily did that. Since then, I followed her loyally in all of her adventures.
In this book, I travelled with her to her new home, where merpeople and humans lived together peacefully. Was it the quite paradise it seemed to be, though? Of course not. There was something hiding beneath the surface, a terrible monster that was sleeping its eternal sleep, until a ship crossed the Bermuda Triangle. Because then, it would wake. And it would take what belonged to it.
Emily did not wake the Kraken up before its time out of sheer curiosity. That's what I remembered, since it had been a while since I read the books. No, not at all actually. She woke it up because she wanted to be liked. She wanted friends who thought she was brave and beautiful. She wanted to be admired, and not hated and mentally tortured like in her old human school. When I realized this, something broke inside me. I shed a tear on that page, and I did not feel ashamed. Because Emily needed to learn.
Thank God she later realized what a bad, bad decision she had taken.
The writing of this book was so freshed, and as developped as a middle grade book writing can get. It made me dream, and wish, and believe, and took me out of reality, giving me my own unique place inside the story. I also adored the dual POVs, although the second one belonged to a character I do not personally like.
The plot made me cry, as always, and smile, since these books are just perfect for the summer. I realized that there were some things I did not remember about the characters. Their guide to the island (who later becomes Millie's boyfriend) was called Archie and not Arthur and Mandy Rashton actually has short hair! I felt slightly ashamed of myself because both of these mistakes were visible in my name meaning aesthetics I had made about the series a while ago.
The characters will always, always have a unique place in my heart. Not only Emily, but also her parents, who are sweet and loving and just the perfect family, Shona, her best friend who proves that being girly and feminine can make you more badass than one could realize some times, Millie, the psychic whose optimism and clear mind made me smile, Archie, our newly introduced guide with an important position of power and hell, even Mr Beeston and Mandy, will always remind me and teach me so much.
I just don't know what else to write. This is a childhood favorite for me. Plus, there are some really creepy moments in it, and the way the Kraken is described is just A+.
Also, since this is a really underrated series, if you guys have an urge to read middle grade, something mermaid related, or just a story about friendship, bravery, forgiveness and mental growth, read this series as soon as possible ♥
Until my next review
Keep swimming, fishpeople ♥
~Mary
Between the thunders of the upper deep
Far far beneath in the abysmal sea
His ancient, dreamless, uninvaded sleep
The Kraken sleepeth
-Alfred Lord Tennison
There are some books that fill your heart with brightness and exploding suns. There are some stories that wrap your body in starlight and breathe fresh air into you, protecting you from pain and harm. There are simply some tales that you will always come back to, no matter how old you are, just to seek comfort and be more in control of reality's wild spiralling.
The Emily Windsnap series will always be these books for me.
Since the moment I received the fourth book in my birthday (it can be read as a companion novel) and after finishing it and crying tears of pure joy, a feeling I haden't felt in a long time, despite the fact I was in a tender age, I knew something had changed in me. Since the moment I stepped foot in the bookstore and purchased the other free, I knew something had made my heart feel light.
And since then, in my darkest times, when I could sometimes barely remember that life is important, I read this books, and it all came back to me.
Emily, a girl from Brightport without a father, who has bullied and didn't feel good for herself, but later found out she was a mermaid, and her father was alive, kept in prison, was the main character. The girl who changed from a caterpillar toa butterfly, and in each book, she grew more and more, not just physically but also mentally. I connected to that girl in a spiritual level. I was a girl who was stigmatized from bullying for a long, long time. And I needed someone to show me that being myself was the most wonderful feeling. Emily did that. Since then, I followed her loyally in all of her adventures.
In this book, I travelled with her to her new home, where merpeople and humans lived together peacefully. Was it the quite paradise it seemed to be, though? Of course not. There was something hiding beneath the surface, a terrible monster that was sleeping its eternal sleep, until a ship crossed the Bermuda Triangle. Because then, it would wake. And it would take what belonged to it.
Emily did not wake the Kraken up before its time out of sheer curiosity. That's what I remembered, since it had been a while since I read the books. No, not at all actually. She woke it up because she wanted to be liked. She wanted friends who thought she was brave and beautiful. She wanted to be admired, and not hated and mentally tortured like in her old human school. When I realized this, something broke inside me. I shed a tear on that page, and I did not feel ashamed. Because Emily needed to learn.
Thank God she later realized what a bad, bad decision she had taken.
The writing of this book was so freshed, and as developped as a middle grade book writing can get. It made me dream, and wish, and believe, and took me out of reality, giving me my own unique place inside the story. I also adored the dual POVs, although the second one belonged to a character I do not personally like.
The plot made me cry, as always, and smile, since these books are just perfect for the summer. I realized that there were some things I did not remember about the characters. Their guide to the island (who later becomes Millie's boyfriend) was called Archie and not Arthur and Mandy Rashton actually has short hair! I felt slightly ashamed of myself because both of these mistakes were visible in my name meaning aesthetics I had made about the series a while ago.
The characters will always, always have a unique place in my heart. Not only Emily, but also her parents, who are sweet and loving and just the perfect family, Shona, her best friend who proves that being girly and feminine can make you more badass than one could realize some times, Millie, the psychic whose optimism and clear mind made me smile, Archie, our newly introduced guide with an important position of power and hell, even Mr Beeston and Mandy, will always remind me and teach me so much.
I just don't know what else to write. This is a childhood favorite for me. Plus, there are some really creepy moments in it, and the way the Kraken is described is just A+.
Also, since this is a really underrated series, if you guys have an urge to read middle grade, something mermaid related, or just a story about friendship, bravery, forgiveness and mental growth, read this series as soon as possible ♥
Until my next review
Keep swimming, fishpeople ♥
~Mary
iceangel9's review against another edition
3.0
The second book in Kessler's "swishy" new series. Emily and her family are taken to Allpoints Island in the middle of the Bermuda Triangle. She and Shona then mistakenly awaken the dreaded kraken and Neptune says Emily is the only one who can save everyone. But she will need the help of her friend Shona and someone she hoped never to see again.
gracezenzen's review against another edition
4.0
She's half-mermaid and half-human! Isn't that weird? Well, if that's weird, why isn't she a weirdo? This book is very good because I really, really like it! I love reading about mermaids.