Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings (Real Mermaids, 1) - Softcover

""Jade is pretty certain that she has just experienced the most humiliating moment ever: when she gets her first period in the mall, she has to enlist her dad for help, since her mom disappeared a year ago.
That's nothing compared to later that night, though, when she sprouts a tail in the bath, and her father explains to her that her mom is a mermaid who petitioned to become human. No one was sure how their offspring would develop, but Jade's tail growth pretty much cinches her mermaid status. She quickly decides to hide her condition from her hunky new crush, but she will use her new abilities to find her missing mother, who was abducted in hopes that she would tell imprisoned merfolk the secret of her conversion so that they might follow suit. Despite the jocular title, there's a hefty dose of darkness in the fantasy, especially surrounding Jade's mother's savage kidnapping and the physical torments of her transformation. On the other hand, Jade's tone is an accessible mix of bluster, insecurity, and sincerity, and the story makes menstrual embarrassment, mermaid abductions, and true
(pesco-sapien) love all simultaneously plausible and deserving of reader sympathy. In true young-teen fashion, everything is exclamation-point-style dramatic, from the horrific change from mermaid to human to Jade's emphatic assertions about trying on bathing suits.
Offer this quirky novel to readers who love mermaids but wish that they were occasionally less flowy and perfect and more . . . real. " -Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books" - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

""This was a quick and easy read and I managed to read it in one sitting as I was curled up on the couch one afternoon. The day I read it was over cast and dreary out. Your typical winter day so it was nice to imagine being somewhere nice and summery.

This is a great middle grade book for girl readers." - Cindy's Love of Books" - Cindy's Love of Books

""Everything about Hélène Boudreau's latest release was wonderful. The characters were likable, the plot was somewhat unique, and the outcome, although slightly predictable, was completely satisfying. I was hooked from the first page, and pleased when I flipped over the last one.

Overall, this is one book you just can't miss. Its a fun and quick read, and even comes with Jade's recipe for scrumptious 5-Minute Chocolate Mug Cake in the end!" - Icey Books" - Icey Books

""...an absolutely charming book...[Jade's] 'voice' was well articulated, strong, and often comical." - I Just Wanna Sit Here And Read" - I Just Wanna Sit Here And Read

""What I most loved about this book was the main character. She just felt like a completely real person, like someone you went to middle school with. And her voice was hilarious. When I finished the book, I put it down with a contented sigh. It was an incredibly fun and satisfying read." - Anna of First Page Panda" -

""This coming of age tale (sorry, I couldn't resist the pun!) has a lot that tween/teen girls can relate to - friendship drama, crushes, puberty/body image issues - with a fantasy flair and a bit of mystery to boot." - Chrissie Morrison, Tween & Teen Librarian, The East Greenbush Community Library" - Librarina: Great books for Tweens & Teens

""Real mermaids are really cute. This was adorable." - (W)ords and (W)ardances" - (W)ords and (W)ardances

""Boudreau has woven an exciting tale of mermaid mythology and growing up... a witty, fun, and humorous novel with many cute lessons to learn!" - The Bookologist" - The Bookologist

""I loved this book! I don't want to spoil very many of the plot points, so I'll just gush about Jade instead. She makes the book. She has a great personality and she's very down to earth, but she also suffers from some very pesky issues with her self-confidence.

Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings is a fun read, with mystery, suspense, and lots of danger. I liked the characters, I thought the premise was great, and I enjoyed reading along as Jade gains confidence in herself and comes to terms with who and what she is. I hope that there will be a sequel, because I would love to learn more about Jade and I look forward to spending more time with her." - Manga Maniac Cafe" - Manga Maniac Cafe

""...a cute mermaid book with depth. It's a coming-of-age tale. It's a mystery. It's a friendship novel. It's a first crush story. All of these combined make one fun read. There's danger, romance, family drama, funny escapades, and sweet moments between a father and his daughter." - TeensReadToo.com" - TeensReadToo.com

Freak of nature takes on a whole new meaning...

If she hadn't been so clueless, she might have seen it coming. But really, who expects to get into a relaxing bathtub after a stressful day of shopping for tankinis and come out with scales and a tail?

Most. Embarrassing. Moment. Ever.

Jade soon discovers she inherited her mermaid tendencies from her mom. But if Mom was a mermaid, how did she drown?

Jade is determined to find out. So how does a plus-size, aqua-phobic mer-girl go about doing that exactly? And how will Jade ever be able to explain her secret to her best friend, Cori, and to her crush, Luke?

This summer is about to get a lot more interesting...

"Absolutely fresh and sweet, a quirky coming of age story."
-The YA-5