jenmaysiereads 's review for:

Aquicorn Cove by K. O'Neill

5.0

adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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5 out of 5 stars

This was beyond precious!

I wholeheartedly believe that Kay O'Neill has the most breathtaking, most gorgeous, and most adorable illustrations in publishing right now. 

‘Aquicorn Cove’ stars a young girl named Lana, and she and her father come to visit her Auntie Mae on her little island. Lana is grieving the loss of her mother, but feels happier in her hometown, before Lana was forced to move to the city with her father. In the meantime, the village is rebuilding after a disaster has struck. But Lana is more than happy to help. But when she goes to the water, she finds a little seahorse-like friend, who is in need of her help!

Each page of this book literally a brand-new work of art. Something about the quaint, pastel and sweet illustrations just licks for me; it’s exactly the type of art style I adore the most—the art in O’Neill’s books is perfectly in line with my tastes.

I’m not exactly what intangible quality truly makes these books work for me but every time I pick up one of O’Neill’s books, my brain goes smooth I achieve spiritual and emotional peace. All I feel is bliss and contentedness when I read this. 

Is it the pastels? Is it the beautiful, ethereal way nature is portrayed within the pages? I have no idea. All I know is pretty pictures make my brain go “oooooooh”.

Regardless, the merit of this book isn’t only in the illustrations and aesthetics; out of all of O’Neill’s books I think this is the one whose story and messaging resonates the most with me. 

At its core, ‘Aquicorn Cove’ is about conservation and how the actions we take on land are impacting our waters. How overfishing, climate change, and polluting is hurting these water sources, and if we don't change our actions then the results are going to be more and more severe. 

This is a book that really focuses on the delicate balance we have with all living things, and how we have to respect and protect each other to keep the cycle going. We all have to be responsible for our carbon footprint, or nothing will be safe; land or sea.

Highly recommend this concentrated blast of serotonin in the form of a book! Loved.