Sea Change Book Review

Book: Sea Change

Authoress:

Aimee Friedman

Pages:

289

Genre:

Young Adult Fiction

My condensed version:

Miranda is a straight shooting New York City girl who has lost faith in love, friendship, and "happily ever after". The only thing she believes in anymore is science. Then her grandmother passes away and Miranda's mom inherits a gorgeous southern mansion off the coast of Georgia. Now everything is changing. In this place where the air, superstitions, and southern draws run thick Miranda's begins to discover this charming island harbors good people and a mysterious and gorgeous boy from the beach who may or may not be a merman.

My take:

This nectarous engaging story is like a leisurely walk on the beach. It is a sweet soft slow moving tale of how Miranda unravels herself and her pain. Do not read it expecting giant revelations or tons of actions. Read it expecting beautiful writing and a slow steady but lovely pace.

Aimee Friedman's writing is sumptuous and full of words you can almost taste on the tip of your tongue.

Examples:

• "The waiting ferryboat - ivory-colored and two-tiered - resembled a slice of cake."
• "A waterfall of amber-colored liquid poured forth, along with a cascade of lemon slices and shards of mint."

My rating: 5 stars I love this book. The writing is really really delicate and romantic.

3 for 3:

Main character: Relatable mini scientist

Plot: Perfect summer story
Setting: Vivid tasty descriptive

The Meter Readings:

Kiddie-o-meter: Miranda deals with the peer pressures of sex and alcohol. While she stands tall for most of the story they are prominent themes and therefore this book is best reserved for teens and adults.

Adult-o-meter: Best for adults who are young at heart. An adult side bonus includes numerous Shakespeare references.

Love the love?: Did I ever. I adore Leo. In fact my only complaint is that I need more Leo. Leo is sexy, kind, gentle, good, compassionate, patient, forgiving, thoughtful, witty, smart, and strong.

*sigh*

Let me stop.

Worth-a-read?: Most definitely.

Quotables:

"The sea was waxing and waning at our feet, and the sun was beginning its descent into the horizon. Seagulls cried out as they flew by, and I felt the warmth of Leo's arm near mine. If a moment in my life had ever felt like a movie, this was it."

"The next thing I knew, we were kissing. Softly at first, then with growing urgency. I felt addicted to the taste of Leo's salty, sweet mouth, the pressure of his lips against mine. It's our night, I thought. I wanted to savor everything."

Noteable: There is a part when Leo tells Miranda she name reminds him of Miranda from The Tempest.

Then I found that according to Wikipedia:

"Sea-change or seachange is a poetic or informal term meaning a gradual transformation in which the form is retained but the substance is replaced. The expression is Shakespeare's, taken from the song in The Tempest, when Ariel sings."

"Full fathom five thy father lies,
Of his bones are coral made,
Those are pearls that were his eyes,
Nothing of him that doth fade,
But doth suffer a sea-change,
into something rich and strange,
Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell,
Ding-dong.
Hark! now I hear them, ding-dong, bell."

I wonder if there is any more similarities between Sea Change and The Tempest. Perhaps The Tempest holds some clues to Miranda's future?

Pass the mic: Lauren from I was a teenage book geek called Sea Change, "like a breath of sea air".

My final say: I can't stop thinking about Leo's "salty" kisses.