Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Satisfying finale to magical adventure-girl series.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
THE EMERALD SHORE picks up where Lucy at Sea left off. Having found her Aunt Pru in Australia, Lucy and friends follow the trail of clues to Ireland's west coast, where they hope to solve the mystery and finally lift the pirate's curse that's plagued Lucy's family for generations. Following every footstep is the evil Quaide, who wants to find and keep the treasure for himself. All of Lucy's familiar friends are back, and some new ones include the handsome and mysterious Seamus. Magic still has a part to play, too, in the land of the "wee folk" (fairies) and the eerie Grey Man.
Is It Any Good?
Veteran author Barbara Mariconda effectively creates an eerie, other-worldly, and magical atmosphere on Ireland's west coast. This third and final series installment leaves the seafaring behind, and has Lucy concentrating more on solving the riddle of the pirate queen's treasure: assembling all the clues, discovering new ones, and trying to fit all the pieces together. The beloved cast of supporting characters return, but make room for intriguing and colorful new characters, too.
Kids will be entertained and satisfied with the end of Lucy's voyage. They'll enjoy following along as Lucy tries to solve the puzzle of her past, with thrills and chills along the way (especially for the younger ones). The ending satisfies, and makes it clear that there will always be more voyages for Lucy and her friends.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the series ends. Was it what you expected would happen? Were there any surprises?
Which of the three books in the series did you like best? Why?
Do you agree that "home is where you're loved"? What makes a place feel like home to you?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Adventure
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Friendship , Pirates
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Katherine Tegen Books
- Publication date : September 30, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 336
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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