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Girl at Sea
- By Maureen Johnson
- Genre: Coming of Age
Common Sense Media says
Feisty heroine deals with adventure, romance, family drama.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that there isn't too much to worry about here beyond some kissing and underage drinking. There's also some family drama.
What's the story?
When her mom goes to Kansas to restore old paintings, Clio is sent to live with her unreliable father in Italy. Once there, she embarks on a mysterious journey upon her father's new yacht -- and finds herself the chef to his secretive crew. What's their mission? Will Clio and her father continue to clash? And what exactly is going on between Clio and Aidan, the professor's young assistant? Maybe she'll end up getting her first kiss after all.
Is it any good?
There's a lot going on here, both in the background and foreground, from the strained relationship between Clio and her dad to his crew's mysterious mission off the coast of Italy. Readers will be there for Clio's first kiss -- and her dive through an old shipwreck. The author even creates a colorful backstory for Clio involving exotic childhood trips around the globe. All of these details are well described and well woven together, and readers will find themselves engaged throughout Clio's journey at sea.
Readers will be guessing until the end about which characters they can trust. They will appreciate the ambitious premise and that the characters manage, for the most part, to be likable and flawed. There's a little something for everyone: adventure, romance, family drama -- even pirates!
What families can talk about
Families can talk about adventure stories. Can you think of other adventures that have female protagonists? Do you think there are more of these kinds of books being published today than in the past?
What does it mean to be a coming-of-age story? Is this something that is limited to teens -- or do kids and even adults learn to come of age as well?
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AGE
Amazing I wish there was another
I thought it was excellent, I read all the time so I know a good book when I see or read one and this is one of them.
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AGE
Great Book!!
I just finished reading it. While reading I had to wonder if it was based on anything about the Rosetta Stone. It was an adventerous, and great book. Even though Clio talks about her best friend Jackson(that's a girl!), Clio never actually talks to her in the book, I thought that was sorta weird you know sense it's her best friend and all, I thought she would have at least had a conversation with her.
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AGE
Easy read, yet very very good.
I honestly didn't think I was going to like this book... I thought it was going to be girly and silly and all pink and sparkly and frilly. But, I was wrong! I actually really enjoyed it. It's a fairly easy read, it's entertaining, it's witty, and overall, Maureen did a great job writing it. I don't want to give away the romantic relationship that Clio falls into... but I'll just say it's pretty, uh, what's the word? Satisfying? That sounds dirty. Haha. But that's the only word I can think of; so there you have it! Great book.
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| Author: | Maureen Johnson |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Coming of Age |
| Publisher: | HarperCollins Children's Books |
| Publication date: | May 29, 2007 |
| Number of pages: | 336 |
| Hardcover price: | $15.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 12 - 12 |
| Read aloud: | 12 |
| Read alone: | 12 |
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