Review: Flipping the Scales by Pete Tarsi

Flipping the Scales by Pete Tarsi

Paperback, 250 pages

Published November 13th 2014 by Createspace
Source: I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review
My Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars



Description:

Meredith and Marina’s lives have been flipped upside down.

When the translucent skirt that straight-A-student Meredith finds hidden on the beach gets wet, it transforms her legs into a mermaid tail. Despite the evidence in front of her, she insists that becoming a mythical creature isn’t scientifically possible.

Marina is allowed to experience one day per moon cycle among the humans. After hiding her tail on the beach that morning, she takes her first timid steps on land. When she returns at sunset to find it missing, she is left stranded and alone.

For the first time in her life, Meredith doesn’t have all the answers. As she searches for a way to return to normal before the next full moon, she makes waves among the school of mermaids. Meanwhile, Marina uncovers information about her past, and for the first time in her life, she must stand on her own two feet and take the lead on her own adventure.

As Meredith senses her human side slipping away, a forbidden way to change back entices her. But it comes with a consequence: Marina wouldn’t be able to return to the ocean. 

My Review:

When serious and studious Meredith and her carefree friend Jill go to an island to stay with Jill's cousin, Hailey, for a few weeks during the summer, something unexpected happens: Meredith finds a skirt, tries it on, and transforms into a mermaid.

Honestly, I wasn't sure I was going to be able to finish this book at first because Hailey is very over-the-top with her teen lingo. Everything is an acronym (OMG, TTTH, SWIM, etc). I have teens and they sometimes text that way, but don't really speak that way, yet once I got to know Hailey better, it fit her personality, which is very fun and crazy, and I wasn't bothered as much. She's very gung-ho about life and jumps in to do whatever she can to help out.

I really enjoyed the creativity that went into this story. Mermaids have always fascinated me and I love reading about they ways of transformation, way of life, and myths surrounding them. I loved seeing characters develop in unexpected ways, due to being thrust into circumstances out of their control. Marina and Meredith have the most to lose and I love the friendship that's built between them.

I loved seeing all of these girls work together, on both land and in the sea. There are many dilemmas and big decisions to be made that can't be taken lightly and the thought and action processes were fun to experience. This is a great read for a teen (or even pre-teen), especially one who enjoys mermaids. This is a book I could let my daughters read.

Content: very mild romance; nothing else of note. Clean!

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About the Author:  

Pete Tarsi writes books that he hopes his daughters will enjoy. So far, so good.

He graduated from MIT with a degree in Creative Writing and Physics, and he considers himself fortunate that he gets to do both. When he's not writing, he can be found teaching high school science, directing theatre, or spending time with his three lovely daughters. He grew up in a small town north of Boston and still lives in Massachusetts. 

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