{"id":4532601454671,"title":"Of Salt and Shore","handle":"of-salt-and-shore","description":"\u003ch6\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h6\u003e\nBy \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/annet-schaap\"\u003eAnnet Schaap\u003c\/a\u003e \u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?18127980511287865543\"\u003e “Schaap’s story of family, friendship, and loyalty is humorous, scary, and filled with goodness.”\u003cbr\u003e —\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFor fans of \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Hazel Wood\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e, this middle-grade novel takes the dark stuff of fairytales and crafts it into a powerful story of friendship and light.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAsking herself, What if the Little Mermaid left a child behind? Annet Schaap weaves a fantastical story inspired by both the light and the dark of fairytales.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs the lighthouse keeper’s daughter, Lampie must light a lantern to warn ships away from the rocks. But when a ship is wrecked, the townspeople are angry, and someone must pay. To work off her debt, Lampie is banished to the Admiral's lonely house, where a monster is rumored to live. The terrors inside the house aren't quite what she thought they would be—they are even stranger. Lampie befriends the neglected son of the admiral, a boy she calls Fish, and the two form a close bond.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHaving been abandoned by those on land, the two children join up with other misfits, mermaids, and pirates for a daring maritime adventure. Lampie must muster the courage to fight for friendship and the freedom to be different—both on land and in the sea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/rickshaw-girl\"\u003eRickshaw Girl\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eWatch the Trailer\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe height=\"315\" width=\"560\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OTk3cHicnEM\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"medium-cover\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/of-salt-and-shore-cover.jpg?v=1591390571\" alt=\"Of Salt and Shore book cover\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/of-salt-and-shore-cover-hires.jpg.zip?v=1594823791\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/of-salt-and-shore-discussion-guide.pdf?v=1602614466\"\u003eDownload the Discussion Guide\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAnnet Schaap, author \u0026amp; illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnnet Schaap is one of the Netherlands' best-loved illustrators. Her debut novel, \u003cem\u003eLampje,\u003c\/em\u003e now available in the United States as \u003cem\u003eOf Salt \u0026amp; Shore,\u003c\/em\u003e won four prizes, including the best Dutch children's book of 2018. She lives in Utrecht, the Netherlands. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/annet-schaap\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Annet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComing soon!\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?18127980511287865543\"\u003e Booklist\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrowing up in a village by the sea, Emilia, daughter of the lighthouse keeper and thus nicknamed Lampie, has heard the rumors about the monster in the Admiral’s Black House. Now she’s about to experience the Black House firsthand, all because she forgot to get the matches for the lighthouse lamp. As luck would have it, a storm blows in while the lamp is unlit and a ship wrecks on the rocks. Now, to pay off the damages, Lampie must work in the Black House for seven years while her father is locked in the lighthouse for the same period. Once in the mansion, Lampie’s curiosity leads her to a locked tower, where she finds not a monster but Edward, the admiral’s son, who is a merman. What ensues is a friendship that neither Lampie nor Edward ever expected, but one that rescues them for life. Divided into six sections, with intriguing artwork interludes, Schaap’s story of family, friendship, and loyalty is humorous, scary, and filled with goodness. The captivating supporting cast of characters—a mix of realistic, fanciful, and stereotypical—makes for a delightful read. This is the first U.S. edition of Schaap’s book, first published in the Netherlands to wide acclaim.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA young girl uncovers an incredible, terrifying secret inside a forbidding, ominous house perched on the edge of the sea. Ever since Lampie’s mother died, lighthouse keeper Augustus has drunk himself into debt and hurls his anger at Lampie. When a ship is wrecked, father and daughter are blamed for carelessly running out of matches to light the lamp. Augustus is imprisoned in his lighthouse, and illiterate Lampie must be a servant for seven years in the sinister Black House, rumored to harbor a monster. What Lampie discovers in the high tower room is not what she expects, but Lampie is her mother’s daughter, with resiliency to survive in the face of relentless cruelty and despair. The story is billed as a sequel to “The Little Mermaid,” but the ties to Han Christian Andersen’s classic fairy tale are not apparent until well into it. However, elements of The Secret Garden and “Beauty and the Beast” are evident throughout, enticing readers hungry for new yet classic-feeling books. Translated from Dutch, the third-person narration moves seamlessly, transitioning from character to character, drawing parallels, and setting up juxtapositions that further illuminate the characters’ motivations and growth. Many of the adults in this book are damaged, mentally and physically, and this affects most cruelly the children in their lives. Characters seem to be assumed white. Gritty and suspenseful, this atmospheric fairy tale will capture the hearts of sturdy middle-grade readers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Bulletin\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen Lampie and her drunken father’s negligence of their lighthouse duties leads to a shipwreck, locals lock her father in the lighthouse and indenture Lampie at the mysterious Black House to work off the cost of the lost ship. Despite the warnings of housekeeper Martha, Lampie dares the house’s stinking, ominous tower room to find and eventually befriend the Admiral’s secret merman son, a half-feral boy named Edward (Lampie dubs him Fish). With help from Martha’s sweet neurodiverse son Lenny, handyman Nick, a traveling sideshow, and last-minute pirates, Lampie helps Fish embrace his merman nature instead of trying to be human to please his exacting, emotionally withholding father. While some emotional resolution is missing for both Lampie and Fish in this Dutch import, the various points of view are highly effective, especially Fish’s earliest chapters when he is starving and furious. Watkinson’s translation flows easily, balancing momentum and present-tense narration with an almost folksy tone. Schaap’s illustrator chops are on display in five full-spread section breaks, where tightly sketched figures move through or contemplate vast, ink-washed landscapes and cavernous spaces. This would pair well with Potter’s The Kneebone Boy (BCCB 10\/10) in its combination of bittersweet whimsy, serious undertones, and gothic mystery delights.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith this haunting story, author-illustrator Schaap weaves together elements remniscent of Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid” and Burnett’s The Secret Garden to construct a gothic fable. After a shipwreck occurs during a storm, 11-year-old lighthouse keeper’s daughter Emilia Waterman, called Lampie, is taken from her father, who is blamed for the wreck. Inhabited by a bare-bones staff serving an absentee admiral, her bleak new cliffside home, the Black House, is reportedly haunted by a monster. Lampie eventually discovers that the “monster” is Edward, the reclusive, abrasive son of the admiral, who has scaly skin and a fish’s tail. Over time, she befriends the boy she nicknames Fish, who’s determined to learn how to walk on land despite his “deformity.” After a visit to a traveling fair reveals clues about Fish’s parentage, Lampie and her new friend wind up in an escapade that will change their lives. Formal language and multiple perspectives result in a narrative distance that, while appropriate for a fairy tale, betrays a lack of focus as the story develops. The inclusion of an era-appropriate “freak show,” though delicately handled, may still disturb some readers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-230-6\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePaperback\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-344-0\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eE-book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-63289-998-9 EPUB\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 10 and up\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 336\u003cbr\u003e5 \u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\/\u003csub\u003e2\u003c\/sub\u003e x 8 \u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\/\u003csub\u003e4\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]","published_at":"2020-04-10T15:24:27-04:00","created_at":"2020-04-10T15:10:25-04:00","vendor":"Charlesbridge","type":"Children's Book","tags":["Browse by Age_Middle Grade","Browse by Fiction\/Nonfiction_Fiction","Browse by Format_Novel","Browse by Language_English","Browse by Subject_Gift Books","Browse by Subject_Life Lessons \u0026 Skills","Browse by Subject_Parent \u0026 Teacher","Browse by Subject_Parenting","Browse by Subject_Social Studies\/Cultures","Browse by Subject_Story Time \u0026 Play","fairytale"],"price":1099,"price_min":1099,"price_max":1699,"available":true,"price_varies":true,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":31969142145103,"title":"Hardcover","option1":"Hardcover","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"42306","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":15309997277263,"product_id":4532601454671,"position":1,"created_at":"2020-07-15T10:36:10-04:00","updated_at":"2021-01-31T05:00:28-05:00","alt":"Of Salt and Shore book cover","width":600,"height":896,"src":"\/\/charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/of-salt-and-shore-cover.jpg?v=1612087228","variant_ids":[31969142145103,42393546948845]},"available":true,"name":"Of Salt and Shore - Hardcover","public_title":"Hardcover","options":["Hardcover"],"price":1699,"weight":369,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":10,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"continue","barcode":"978-1-62354-230-6","featured_media":{"alt":"Of Salt and Shore book cover","id":7483528151119,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.67,"height":896,"width":600,"src":"\/\/charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/of-salt-and-shore-cover.jpg?v=1612087228"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]},{"id":42393546948845,"title":"Paperback","option1":"Paperback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"43440","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":15309997277263,"product_id":4532601454671,"position":1,"created_at":"2020-07-15T10:36:10-04:00","updated_at":"2021-01-31T05:00:28-05:00","alt":"Of Salt and Shore book cover","width":600,"height":896,"src":"\/\/charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/of-salt-and-shore-cover.jpg?v=1612087228","variant_ids":[31969142145103,42393546948845]},"available":true,"name":"Of Salt and Shore - Paperback","public_title":"Paperback","options":["Paperback"],"price":1099,"weight":369,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":10,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"continue","barcode":"9781623543440","featured_media":{"alt":"Of Salt and Shore book cover","id":7483528151119,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.67,"height":896,"width":600,"src":"\/\/charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/of-salt-and-shore-cover.jpg?v=1612087228"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/of-salt-and-shore-cover.jpg?v=1612087228"],"featured_image":"\/\/charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/of-salt-and-shore-cover.jpg?v=1612087228","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":"Of Salt and Shore book cover","id":7483528151119,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.67,"height":896,"width":600,"src":"\/\/charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/of-salt-and-shore-cover.jpg?v=1612087228"},"aspect_ratio":0.67,"height":896,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/of-salt-and-shore-cover.jpg?v=1612087228","width":600}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003ch6\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h6\u003e\nBy \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/annet-schaap\"\u003eAnnet Schaap\u003c\/a\u003e \u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?18127980511287865543\"\u003e “Schaap’s story of family, friendship, and loyalty is humorous, scary, and filled with goodness.”\u003cbr\u003e —\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFor fans of \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Hazel Wood\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e, this middle-grade novel takes the dark stuff of fairytales and crafts it into a powerful story of friendship and light.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAsking herself, What if the Little Mermaid left a child behind? Annet Schaap weaves a fantastical story inspired by both the light and the dark of fairytales.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs the lighthouse keeper’s daughter, Lampie must light a lantern to warn ships away from the rocks. But when a ship is wrecked, the townspeople are angry, and someone must pay. To work off her debt, Lampie is banished to the Admiral's lonely house, where a monster is rumored to live. The terrors inside the house aren't quite what she thought they would be—they are even stranger. Lampie befriends the neglected son of the admiral, a boy she calls Fish, and the two form a close bond.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHaving been abandoned by those on land, the two children join up with other misfits, mermaids, and pirates for a daring maritime adventure. Lampie must muster the courage to fight for friendship and the freedom to be different—both on land and in the sea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/rickshaw-girl\"\u003eRickshaw Girl\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eWatch the Trailer\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe height=\"315\" width=\"560\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OTk3cHicnEM\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"medium-cover\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/of-salt-and-shore-cover.jpg?v=1591390571\" alt=\"Of Salt and Shore book cover\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/of-salt-and-shore-cover-hires.jpg.zip?v=1594823791\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/of-salt-and-shore-discussion-guide.pdf?v=1602614466\"\u003eDownload the Discussion Guide\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAnnet Schaap, author \u0026amp; illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnnet Schaap is one of the Netherlands' best-loved illustrators. Her debut novel, \u003cem\u003eLampje,\u003c\/em\u003e now available in the United States as \u003cem\u003eOf Salt \u0026amp; Shore,\u003c\/em\u003e won four prizes, including the best Dutch children's book of 2018. She lives in Utrecht, the Netherlands. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/annet-schaap\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Annet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComing soon!\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?18127980511287865543\"\u003e Booklist\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrowing up in a village by the sea, Emilia, daughter of the lighthouse keeper and thus nicknamed Lampie, has heard the rumors about the monster in the Admiral’s Black House. Now she’s about to experience the Black House firsthand, all because she forgot to get the matches for the lighthouse lamp. As luck would have it, a storm blows in while the lamp is unlit and a ship wrecks on the rocks. Now, to pay off the damages, Lampie must work in the Black House for seven years while her father is locked in the lighthouse for the same period. Once in the mansion, Lampie’s curiosity leads her to a locked tower, where she finds not a monster but Edward, the admiral’s son, who is a merman. What ensues is a friendship that neither Lampie nor Edward ever expected, but one that rescues them for life. Divided into six sections, with intriguing artwork interludes, Schaap’s story of family, friendship, and loyalty is humorous, scary, and filled with goodness. The captivating supporting cast of characters—a mix of realistic, fanciful, and stereotypical—makes for a delightful read. This is the first U.S. edition of Schaap’s book, first published in the Netherlands to wide acclaim.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA young girl uncovers an incredible, terrifying secret inside a forbidding, ominous house perched on the edge of the sea. Ever since Lampie’s mother died, lighthouse keeper Augustus has drunk himself into debt and hurls his anger at Lampie. When a ship is wrecked, father and daughter are blamed for carelessly running out of matches to light the lamp. Augustus is imprisoned in his lighthouse, and illiterate Lampie must be a servant for seven years in the sinister Black House, rumored to harbor a monster. What Lampie discovers in the high tower room is not what she expects, but Lampie is her mother’s daughter, with resiliency to survive in the face of relentless cruelty and despair. The story is billed as a sequel to “The Little Mermaid,” but the ties to Han Christian Andersen’s classic fairy tale are not apparent until well into it. However, elements of The Secret Garden and “Beauty and the Beast” are evident throughout, enticing readers hungry for new yet classic-feeling books. Translated from Dutch, the third-person narration moves seamlessly, transitioning from character to character, drawing parallels, and setting up juxtapositions that further illuminate the characters’ motivations and growth. Many of the adults in this book are damaged, mentally and physically, and this affects most cruelly the children in their lives. Characters seem to be assumed white. Gritty and suspenseful, this atmospheric fairy tale will capture the hearts of sturdy middle-grade readers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Bulletin\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen Lampie and her drunken father’s negligence of their lighthouse duties leads to a shipwreck, locals lock her father in the lighthouse and indenture Lampie at the mysterious Black House to work off the cost of the lost ship. Despite the warnings of housekeeper Martha, Lampie dares the house’s stinking, ominous tower room to find and eventually befriend the Admiral’s secret merman son, a half-feral boy named Edward (Lampie dubs him Fish). With help from Martha’s sweet neurodiverse son Lenny, handyman Nick, a traveling sideshow, and last-minute pirates, Lampie helps Fish embrace his merman nature instead of trying to be human to please his exacting, emotionally withholding father. While some emotional resolution is missing for both Lampie and Fish in this Dutch import, the various points of view are highly effective, especially Fish’s earliest chapters when he is starving and furious. Watkinson’s translation flows easily, balancing momentum and present-tense narration with an almost folksy tone. Schaap’s illustrator chops are on display in five full-spread section breaks, where tightly sketched figures move through or contemplate vast, ink-washed landscapes and cavernous spaces. This would pair well with Potter’s The Kneebone Boy (BCCB 10\/10) in its combination of bittersweet whimsy, serious undertones, and gothic mystery delights.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith this haunting story, author-illustrator Schaap weaves together elements remniscent of Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid” and Burnett’s The Secret Garden to construct a gothic fable. After a shipwreck occurs during a storm, 11-year-old lighthouse keeper’s daughter Emilia Waterman, called Lampie, is taken from her father, who is blamed for the wreck. Inhabited by a bare-bones staff serving an absentee admiral, her bleak new cliffside home, the Black House, is reportedly haunted by a monster. Lampie eventually discovers that the “monster” is Edward, the reclusive, abrasive son of the admiral, who has scaly skin and a fish’s tail. Over time, she befriends the boy she nicknames Fish, who’s determined to learn how to walk on land despite his “deformity.” After a visit to a traveling fair reveals clues about Fish’s parentage, Lampie and her new friend wind up in an escapade that will change their lives. Formal language and multiple perspectives result in a narrative distance that, while appropriate for a fairy tale, betrays a lack of focus as the story develops. The inclusion of an era-appropriate “freak show,” though delicately handled, may still disturb some readers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-230-6\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePaperback\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-344-0\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eE-book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-63289-998-9 EPUB\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 10 and up\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 336\u003cbr\u003e5 \u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\/\u003csub\u003e2\u003c\/sub\u003e x 8 \u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\/\u003csub\u003e4\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]"}