An idyllic holiday in the sun with her parents and best friends turns into a testing adventure for mer-girl Emily, and she finds herself caught up in an ancient prophecy. As ever, it makes for very exciting reading, Emily’s first-person narrative keeping things both immediate and completely recognisable for readers, even if she does swap her legs for a tail when she’s in water. What really sets this series apart though is what goes on beneath the surface, and the stories explore themes of tolerance, understanding and identity – all issues that are particularly important for the readership. There’s a big surprise at the end of this story, and an unexpected separation, but in true Emily Windsnap style, readers can be reassured that the bonds of friendship are as strong as ever.
Emily Windsnap and the Falls of Forgotten Island Synopsis
Emily Windsnap, an ordinary girl on land and a magical mermaid in water, is overdue a break from excitement - as her exhausted best friend Shona keeps reminding her! So, promising Shona she'll stay free of trouble and just 'swill out' ('chill out' for mermaids), Emily invites her best friend and her boyfriend Aaron along for a relaxing family holiday in the sun . . . But it seems adventure is hot on her heels - and her tail.
Soon, Emily discovers a hidden world beyond the falls of mysterious Forgotten Island - but it's not quite the paradise it seems. With a curse hanging over the island and a catastrophic disaster looming, Emily finds herself suddenly entangled in an ancient Prophecy. She must embark on a dangerous mission to seek the legendary giant the islanders believe will save them all, before it's too late.
But how can Emily save the day when rifts are forming between her and the very people she needs by her side? Must promises always be kept? And what happens when they are broken?
Liz Kessler has written over twenty books for children and young adults, including the internationally best-selling series about half-mermaid Emily Windsnap. She has an MA in Novel Writing from Manchester Metropolitan University and has been a full-time author for the last twenty years. Her book When the World Was Ours won the 'Choice of the Youth Jury' Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis award. Liz lives with her wife and their dog in Cheshire.
