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Keeper, who lives by the ocean in Texas, is trying to find her "mermaid" mother at sea. After a no-good-awful day when she disappointed everyone she loves, she decides to row in pursuit of her birth mother, who left her at three. Appelt's style is as sparse as the sea. Secrets of the past are revealed but most the characters seem in limbo between folkloric archetypes and true flesh and blood. The mysteries of the past are compelling, the language and images beautiful. The recounting of Keeper's
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I was attracted to this book because I loved The Underneath by Kathi Appelt. This book was another great story, alathough The Underneath will be my favorite of hers for now. I look forward to seeing more by this author. This is a story of a girl who believes in mermaids, even believing her mom is one. She lives with her mom's friend in a beach house where she has a band of adult friends who help her.
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I loved this book, much lighter and happier than The Underneath. I can see why it is getting Newbery talk. It is a great story about Keeper and her very limited world on the coast of Texas. Appelt uses the animals to come alive and be part of the story again.
I'm still not sure what to think of this. It was a slow read for me, slow to get into but offering a great reward in the end.
This will require more thought. ...more
This will require more thought. ...more
Keeper is 10 and she lives on the Texas coast with Signe, her dog, BD Best Dog) and her seagull, The Captain. She hasn't seen her mom for over 7 years, but after a very bad day, Keeper sets out to find her in order to ask her advice. The problem is, Keeper believes that her mom is a mermaid. This is an amazingly beautiful story.
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Sep 11, 2010
Adam
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