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Tides
When high-school senior Noah Gallagher and his adopted teenage sister, Lo, go to live with their grandmother in her island cottage for the summer, they don’t expect much in the way of adventure. Noah has landed a marine biology internship, and Lo wants to draw and paint, perhaps even to vanquish her struggles with bulimia. But then things take a dramatic turn for them both when Noah mistakenly tries to save a mysterious girl from drowning. This dreamlike, suspenseful story—deftly told from multiple points of view—dives deeply into selkie folklore while examining the fluid nature of love and family.
336 pages, ebook
First published June 4, 2013
45 people are currently reading
5972 people want to read
About the author
Betsy Cornwell
10 books704 followersBetsy Cornwell is a New York Times bestselling author living in west Ireland. She is the story editor and a contributing writer at Parabola, and her short-form writing includes fiction, nonfiction, and literary translation and has appeared in Fairy Tale Review, Zahir Tales, The Violence Prevention Initiative Journal, and elsewhere. She holds an M.F.A. in creative writing from the University of Notre Dame and a B.A. from Smith College.
Mechanica was published in 2015 and has featured on several best of the year lists, including Amazon.com’s Best Young Adult Books and USA Today‘s Must-Read Romances. In a starred review, Kirkus called this retelling of Cinderella “a smart, refreshing alternative to stale genre tropes.” Mechanica is a YALSA Teens’ Top Ten nominee for 2016.
Betsy’s debut novel, Tides, was published in 2013 to critical acclaim including a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly, a place in the Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year, and a Bisexual Book Awards nomination.
Betsy has two more novels forthcoming from Clarion Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, in 2017 and 2018.
Mechanica was published in 2015 and has featured on several best of the year lists, including Amazon.com’s Best Young Adult Books and USA Today‘s Must-Read Romances. In a starred review, Kirkus called this retelling of Cinderella “a smart, refreshing alternative to stale genre tropes.” Mechanica is a YALSA Teens’ Top Ten nominee for 2016.
Betsy’s debut novel, Tides, was published in 2013 to critical acclaim including a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly, a place in the Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year, and a Bisexual Book Awards nomination.
Betsy has two more novels forthcoming from Clarion Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, in 2017 and 2018.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews
June 25, 2013
Upon finishing Tides, my breath was taken away. I am still having trouble coming up with sentences that will actually do this novel justice. Cornwell beautifully captures the salt water waves of the ocean, the magical, fantasy beings called selkies, the ties that bind a family, and love. Tides is a book that feels as real as it feels dreamy.
One of the many noteable qualities of the contents of Tides is the perfect melding of everyday life and fantasy. Cornwell takes time with the problems of the characters that many people have in their mundane lives: wanting to accomplish a dream and the frustration that comes with not quite reaching it, bulimia, conflict inside a family, and supporting your loved ones but not knowing how to. The author also puts a lot of focus on family, especially how a group of people can still be a family even if not blood related. Another major focus is loving someone completely regardless of gender. These themes are all handled with care and sensitivity that is very awe-inspiring.
The story of Tides does deal with the main fear of the selkies, having their skin stolen, that many stories of the same kind deal with, but Tides delivers it in such of a refreshing way that I have no complaints about it. Couple that with the wonderful contemporary element and I downright loved the story. The mystery is suspenseful, albeit a bit predictable since the reader can probably guess who the culprit is right off the bat, but still highly absorbing and quite emotional at times because of the terrible effects the culprit had on the selkies.
Pacing is far from fast in the beginning. There are many characters to introduce and relationships to establish, as this is a character driven story, before all the suspense and mystery kicks in. But when the mystery and suspense kick in, the pacing changes greatly, though not abruptly. I didn’t even notice the change until I thought back on it.
Cornwell writes her characters with amazing depth, each one having their own set of problems to face and conquer and a distinct personality. Which is impressive considering that Tides has a lot of characters. While characters like Noah, Lo, Mara, Maebh, and Gemm take the stage, the more minor characters are also written remarkable well. I could relate to all of them in some way and could emotionally connect with them.
I was absolutely touched by all the relationships in this book. The author definitely knows how to write family, friendship, and romance and doesn’t hold back in this novel. I adored the loving, romantic relationship between Maebh and Gemm, the sibling relationship Noah and Lo shared, the romance between Mara and Noah, and the relationship the selkies of the pod had together. Saying that this aspect of the story is top-notch doesn’t even begin to describe it.
Cornwell’s prose is exceptional with its soft, peaceful feel and power. The words flow nicely and beautifully emphasized the wonder of the ocean and shore. I could hear the waves of the ocean hitting the rocks on the shore. I could feel my feet in the water. The atmosphere was perpetual and comforting, which is something I consider brilliant.
Using multiple point of views in a story is very tricky considering that it can cause characters to be under-developed, and the writer also has the risk of not being able to make the different point of views distinct from each other. Fortunately, Cornwell doesn’t fall into that trap. She pits to use many, many point of views with skill. Transitions are smooth, choices are distinct, and no character is under-developed.
When I read a story I really love, I find it hard to form words with my fingers or mouth. But with Tides I can speak and type just fine– I just can’t stop pouring and rambling my out my feelings about it. Tides is an insightful, gorgeous novel that is full of heart. Saying that I recommend this book would be a massive understatement.
One of the many noteable qualities of the contents of Tides is the perfect melding of everyday life and fantasy. Cornwell takes time with the problems of the characters that many people have in their mundane lives: wanting to accomplish a dream and the frustration that comes with not quite reaching it, bulimia, conflict inside a family, and supporting your loved ones but not knowing how to. The author also puts a lot of focus on family, especially how a group of people can still be a family even if not blood related. Another major focus is loving someone completely regardless of gender. These themes are all handled with care and sensitivity that is very awe-inspiring.
The story of Tides does deal with the main fear of the selkies, having their skin stolen, that many stories of the same kind deal with, but Tides delivers it in such of a refreshing way that I have no complaints about it. Couple that with the wonderful contemporary element and I downright loved the story. The mystery is suspenseful, albeit a bit predictable since the reader can probably guess who the culprit is right off the bat, but still highly absorbing and quite emotional at times because of the terrible effects the culprit had on the selkies.
Pacing is far from fast in the beginning. There are many characters to introduce and relationships to establish, as this is a character driven story, before all the suspense and mystery kicks in. But when the mystery and suspense kick in, the pacing changes greatly, though not abruptly. I didn’t even notice the change until I thought back on it.
Cornwell writes her characters with amazing depth, each one having their own set of problems to face and conquer and a distinct personality. Which is impressive considering that Tides has a lot of characters. While characters like Noah, Lo, Mara, Maebh, and Gemm take the stage, the more minor characters are also written remarkable well. I could relate to all of them in some way and could emotionally connect with them.
I was absolutely touched by all the relationships in this book. The author definitely knows how to write family, friendship, and romance and doesn’t hold back in this novel. I adored the loving, romantic relationship between Maebh and Gemm, the sibling relationship Noah and Lo shared, the romance between Mara and Noah, and the relationship the selkies of the pod had together. Saying that this aspect of the story is top-notch doesn’t even begin to describe it.
Cornwell’s prose is exceptional with its soft, peaceful feel and power. The words flow nicely and beautifully emphasized the wonder of the ocean and shore. I could hear the waves of the ocean hitting the rocks on the shore. I could feel my feet in the water. The atmosphere was perpetual and comforting, which is something I consider brilliant.
Using multiple point of views in a story is very tricky considering that it can cause characters to be under-developed, and the writer also has the risk of not being able to make the different point of views distinct from each other. Fortunately, Cornwell doesn’t fall into that trap. She pits to use many, many point of views with skill. Transitions are smooth, choices are distinct, and no character is under-developed.
When I read a story I really love, I find it hard to form words with my fingers or mouth. But with Tides I can speak and type just fine– I just can’t stop pouring and rambling my out my feelings about it. Tides is an insightful, gorgeous novel that is full of heart. Saying that I recommend this book would be a massive understatement.
August 16, 2013
I have a secret fondness for selkies. They aren't deadly, like some mythological creatures, and they're most well known for being kidnapped and stuck with horrible men, which is not a great fate. But there's something about the folklore that resonates with me.
The two young people at the center of TIDES are Noah and Mara. Noah is working as an intern at the Marine Science Research his last summer before college and living with his grandmother (the lighthouse keeper) and younger sister (who needed to get away from their parents). He can't wait to move on and go to college in the fall. Mara is a selkie whose sister Aine was kidnapped years ago. Now, the Elder of her group is afraid to let the youngest selkies grow and Mara and her brother are stuck perpetually babysitting. She wants to be a leader and is chafing under the rules that keep her close and powerless. Then they meet.
TIDES is a quiet, lovely novel that builds to an action-packed finish. It's morality is fairly simple, but explored in interesting ways. It shows the ways that people can hurt each other, accidentally and on purpose, as well as how they can forge new connections and become stronger. I liked TIDES had a plot that came together neatly, even though the focus was on character.
Almost every character in TIDES has their own motivations and goals. Even the grandmother Gemm has a lovely (lesbian) romance that's given a fair amount of detail. There are also differences between the humans and selkies, culturally as well as physically. Perhaps my favorite moment that illustrated the difference was when Mara first meets Lo and muses about how she does and doesn't look like Noah and decides that they do look enough alike to be siblings. Then a human immediately mistakes them for not-siblings since Lo is adopted and Chinese. I did feel that Lo's eating disorder was overcome somewhat quickly, but I liked that it never completely disappeared from the story despite not being the focus. It's not a disease that shows up much outside of issue books.
I think TIDES will appeal to fans of classic fantasy novels like A RING OF ENDLESS LIGHT by Madeleine L'Engle. It has that quiet, intimate appeal. It's also a good choice for YA fans looking for a slightly older protagonist. Noah definitely doesn't have high school worries. I thoroughly enjoyed TIDES, and think I would've even if I weren't fond of selkies.
The two young people at the center of TIDES are Noah and Mara. Noah is working as an intern at the Marine Science Research his last summer before college and living with his grandmother (the lighthouse keeper) and younger sister (who needed to get away from their parents). He can't wait to move on and go to college in the fall. Mara is a selkie whose sister Aine was kidnapped years ago. Now, the Elder of her group is afraid to let the youngest selkies grow and Mara and her brother are stuck perpetually babysitting. She wants to be a leader and is chafing under the rules that keep her close and powerless. Then they meet.
TIDES is a quiet, lovely novel that builds to an action-packed finish. It's morality is fairly simple, but explored in interesting ways. It shows the ways that people can hurt each other, accidentally and on purpose, as well as how they can forge new connections and become stronger. I liked TIDES had a plot that came together neatly, even though the focus was on character.
Almost every character in TIDES has their own motivations and goals. Even the grandmother Gemm has a lovely (lesbian) romance that's given a fair amount of detail. There are also differences between the humans and selkies, culturally as well as physically. Perhaps my favorite moment that illustrated the difference was when Mara first meets Lo and muses about how she does and doesn't look like Noah and decides that they do look enough alike to be siblings. Then a human immediately mistakes them for not-siblings since Lo is adopted and Chinese. I did feel that Lo's eating disorder was overcome somewhat quickly, but I liked that it never completely disappeared from the story despite not being the focus. It's not a disease that shows up much outside of issue books.
I think TIDES will appeal to fans of classic fantasy novels like A RING OF ENDLESS LIGHT by Madeleine L'Engle. It has that quiet, intimate appeal. It's also a good choice for YA fans looking for a slightly older protagonist. Noah definitely doesn't have high school worries. I thoroughly enjoyed TIDES, and think I would've even if I weren't fond of selkies.
July 15, 2013
This YA novel feels a bit at odds with itself. The age of the main characters with Noah nearly in college, and his sister, Lo, in high school seems like this is targeted toward the older end of the YA market, but the simple writing style and cover art makes this feel more appropriate for the younger end of the market. And it’s a story about selkies - changeling seals who can trade their seal shapes for human ones (but at a risk!), which is initially what caught my attention. In second grade (I think), I read a book by Sylvia Peck called Seal Child and became enthralled with selkie stories ever since.
The book has the cadence of a story meant to be read aloud, and though the book flits between several different characters’ perspectives, none of them fully come to life. The plot and romances (between young and old characters) follow predictable paths and the story holds no surprises. Despite the selkie premise, the book does not really provide enough depth or detail to even make the magical part of the plot sparkle. Ultimately, this is a shallow story that perfunctorily touches on some key YA issues (anorexia/bulimia, adoption, same-sex relationships), but never fully deals with any of them. The book promises magic and mystery, but fails to deliver either of them.
The book has the cadence of a story meant to be read aloud, and though the book flits between several different characters’ perspectives, none of them fully come to life. The plot and romances (between young and old characters) follow predictable paths and the story holds no surprises. Despite the selkie premise, the book does not really provide enough depth or detail to even make the magical part of the plot sparkle. Ultimately, this is a shallow story that perfunctorily touches on some key YA issues (anorexia/bulimia, adoption, same-sex relationships), but never fully deals with any of them. The book promises magic and mystery, but fails to deliver either of them.
June 3, 2013
4.5/5 stars!
Selkies. They're quickly becoming the new mermaids of the YA paranormal world, and I'm happy to see that happen. Two books alone this month ("Ashes on the Waves" being the second, along with this one) are being pubbed with selkies as major characters, and I couldn't be happier. "Tides" is a gorgeous story filled with not only magical realism, but also tough stuff issues that aren't couched in their usual terrible filling of bullying, suicide, or other such destructive behaviors, but treated with love and kindness, giving the reader hope if they're in the same situation. If you're looking for some absolutely wonderful new magical realism from a debut author this summer, "Tides" is definitely your book.
I guess my only issue with this book was the underdevelopment with some of the more minor bits of the main cast (Ronan and the younglings being the ones that come to mind the most) since especially the latter of the above two become really important to the plot near the climax of the book (though I won't spoil as to how). I wanted to know more about the Pod, and why they became so fractured aside from Aine's disappearance - that seemed too simple an explanation for me, and I just wanted a little more on the entire fracturing of the pod, as well as how much strength it takes to go back to Ireland within a selkie body. Stuff like that. Little more development on the characters and some of the finer points of the selkie body (in terms of what we don't know from the legends/folklore) would have been nice, but I'm happy with what I got.
Otherwise this is an amazing little book. It's not very big or exciting or loud with its prose, but more of a laid back, summer-y beach book one can sink into when you need to get away. The characters and world are pretty thorough and sturdily built, and the sensory imagery is lovely and starkly written. I could feel everything that was written, and for an author to really nail it when it comes to sensory stuff (especially when most of their book takes place in water) really makes me happy.
There's also the GLBT angle - that came totally out of nowhere, but I melted a little when it did. Especially considering the age group of the two women it pertains to. I was really touched that the author thought to include that, and also included the message that the GENDER of the person you're with doesn't really matter - just the person themselves. It's quietly sewn throughout the novel, but by the end, it becomes very loud and clear, and that made me very happy. No one talks much about the older GLBT set or what they've had to face (especially ones that have lived pre-Stonewall - kids, if you don't know what that is, search for it on wikipedia), so this was really refreshing in that sense. The only other book this year that talks about earlier LGBT action and rights is "Two Boys Kissing", which I'll have a review for soon. But I'm glad that "Tides" managed to balance two romances and two types of romance and make it all mesh and play nicely together in such a good way.
The world was absolutely absorbing and by the time I got to the final page, I definitely didn't want to leave. "Tides" is a wonderful standalone, full of danger and adventure and learning to live in harmony not just with other people in terms of who they are, but learning to co-exist with all creatures everywhere, big and small. Cornwell is definitely an author to watch, and I can't wait until her next book. She does magical realism right.
"Tides" is out June 4, 2013 from HMH in North America, so be sure to check it out then! It's made my best of 2013 list, and rightfully so - it's absolutely beautiful. It's also the perfect beach book, so be sure to give it a chance!
(posted to goodreads, shelfari, and birthofanewwitch.wordpress.com)
Selkies. They're quickly becoming the new mermaids of the YA paranormal world, and I'm happy to see that happen. Two books alone this month ("Ashes on the Waves" being the second, along with this one) are being pubbed with selkies as major characters, and I couldn't be happier. "Tides" is a gorgeous story filled with not only magical realism, but also tough stuff issues that aren't couched in their usual terrible filling of bullying, suicide, or other such destructive behaviors, but treated with love and kindness, giving the reader hope if they're in the same situation. If you're looking for some absolutely wonderful new magical realism from a debut author this summer, "Tides" is definitely your book.
I guess my only issue with this book was the underdevelopment with some of the more minor bits of the main cast (Ronan and the younglings being the ones that come to mind the most) since especially the latter of the above two become really important to the plot near the climax of the book (though I won't spoil as to how). I wanted to know more about the Pod, and why they became so fractured aside from Aine's disappearance - that seemed too simple an explanation for me, and I just wanted a little more on the entire fracturing of the pod, as well as how much strength it takes to go back to Ireland within a selkie body. Stuff like that. Little more development on the characters and some of the finer points of the selkie body (in terms of what we don't know from the legends/folklore) would have been nice, but I'm happy with what I got.
Otherwise this is an amazing little book. It's not very big or exciting or loud with its prose, but more of a laid back, summer-y beach book one can sink into when you need to get away. The characters and world are pretty thorough and sturdily built, and the sensory imagery is lovely and starkly written. I could feel everything that was written, and for an author to really nail it when it comes to sensory stuff (especially when most of their book takes place in water) really makes me happy.
There's also the GLBT angle - that came totally out of nowhere, but I melted a little when it did. Especially considering the age group of the two women it pertains to. I was really touched that the author thought to include that, and also included the message that the GENDER of the person you're with doesn't really matter - just the person themselves. It's quietly sewn throughout the novel, but by the end, it becomes very loud and clear, and that made me very happy. No one talks much about the older GLBT set or what they've had to face (especially ones that have lived pre-Stonewall - kids, if you don't know what that is, search for it on wikipedia), so this was really refreshing in that sense. The only other book this year that talks about earlier LGBT action and rights is "Two Boys Kissing", which I'll have a review for soon. But I'm glad that "Tides" managed to balance two romances and two types of romance and make it all mesh and play nicely together in such a good way.
The world was absolutely absorbing and by the time I got to the final page, I definitely didn't want to leave. "Tides" is a wonderful standalone, full of danger and adventure and learning to live in harmony not just with other people in terms of who they are, but learning to co-exist with all creatures everywhere, big and small. Cornwell is definitely an author to watch, and I can't wait until her next book. She does magical realism right.
"Tides" is out June 4, 2013 from HMH in North America, so be sure to check it out then! It's made my best of 2013 list, and rightfully so - it's absolutely beautiful. It's also the perfect beach book, so be sure to give it a chance!
(posted to goodreads, shelfari, and birthofanewwitch.wordpress.com)
February 11, 2021
See more of my reviews on The YA Kitten! My copy was an ARC I got from the publisher thanks to winning a giveaway.
Winning a giveaway feels ridiculously good, doesn't it? I think the only way you lose that exhilarated feeling of winning is to enter and win giveaways all the time. And maybe even then, you might not. I dunno, I'm not a regular giveaway winner. But Tides is one of the few books I've ever won from a giveaway! I got it from the "retweet and win" style giveaway the publisher's account @HMHKids held right before the book's release date.
Yeah, that was in 2013. I'M SO SUPER PUNCTUAL, I KNOW. I heard good things about it back then and I'm happy I finally got to read it.
Even though it's been four years since Tides came out, I've remained blissfully unaware about the book's content. The paranormal creature featured being selkies was a delight, seeing as they've severely underexplored in YA books and their mythology is a stealthy kind of horrifying. Being forcibly bound to whichever human picks up your skin? Yeah, that's terrifying. It fondly reminded me of Feather Bound by Sarah Raughley, one of my favorite novels. In fact, Feather Bound may well have drawn from selkie mythology!
Anyway, the fact selkies are at the heart of the book is revealed quickly. Like, within the first 50-100 pages kind of quickly. It doesn't force the reader to wallow in mystery and instead sees siblings Lo and Noah bond with the selkies that live around their grandmother's island home. Their grandmother Gemm is closer to the selkies than even they are, seeing as she's in a relationship with Maebh, the Elder of the selkie pod. GAY SELKIES!!!
Also, it gives me a small boost of joy every time there's an elderly QUILTBAG person who doesn't die for the main character's development or function as the one-note quirky character. Their mere existence can be encouraging to QUILTBAG kids by telling them yes, you WILL survive and you'll grow old like anyone else. With such high suicide rates among queer people and especially queer teens, it can mean a lot to a queer kid to see that someone like them makes it to old age.
The characters are delightful and I love the romance between Noah and Mara, the teenage selkie who likes to hang out on land while the rest of the pod stay in the sea (sans Maebh, who's sneaking onshore to be with Gemm). Since the disappearance/kidnapping of one selkie named Aine a few years before, they've done their best to remain in the sea.
The book's small cast makes what happened to Aine obvious, but the reveal of what's been going on is chilling. I'd say it strays into the realm of body horror, even. However, the book feels overly linear somehow? It took me so long to finish Tides once I started it because it couldn't hold my attention. It moved from point A to point B to point C in a way that simply couldn't grab me.
But the most important thing: Lo and Aine are definitely gay even though they're not. I DON'T MAKE THE RULES, I JUST STATE THEM.
Tides is an underappreciated gem of a YA novel. I don't know if I'll read any of Cornwell's other books because they never interested me, but I'll be looking out for a copy of Tides I can add to my personal shelf. I prefer to replace my ARCs with finished copies, especially when I love the book!
*Lo is Chinese
*Lo and Noah's grandmother is gay and in a relationship with one of the selkies
*Lo is recovering from bulimia
Winning a giveaway feels ridiculously good, doesn't it? I think the only way you lose that exhilarated feeling of winning is to enter and win giveaways all the time. And maybe even then, you might not. I dunno, I'm not a regular giveaway winner. But Tides is one of the few books I've ever won from a giveaway! I got it from the "retweet and win" style giveaway the publisher's account @HMHKids held right before the book's release date.
Yeah, that was in 2013. I'M SO SUPER PUNCTUAL, I KNOW. I heard good things about it back then and I'm happy I finally got to read it.
Even though it's been four years since Tides came out, I've remained blissfully unaware about the book's content. The paranormal creature featured being selkies was a delight, seeing as they've severely underexplored in YA books and their mythology is a stealthy kind of horrifying. Being forcibly bound to whichever human picks up your skin? Yeah, that's terrifying. It fondly reminded me of Feather Bound by Sarah Raughley, one of my favorite novels. In fact, Feather Bound may well have drawn from selkie mythology!
Anyway, the fact selkies are at the heart of the book is revealed quickly. Like, within the first 50-100 pages kind of quickly. It doesn't force the reader to wallow in mystery and instead sees siblings Lo and Noah bond with the selkies that live around their grandmother's island home. Their grandmother Gemm is closer to the selkies than even they are, seeing as she's in a relationship with Maebh, the Elder of the selkie pod. GAY SELKIES!!!
Also, it gives me a small boost of joy every time there's an elderly QUILTBAG person who doesn't die for the main character's development or function as the one-note quirky character. Their mere existence can be encouraging to QUILTBAG kids by telling them yes, you WILL survive and you'll grow old like anyone else. With such high suicide rates among queer people and especially queer teens, it can mean a lot to a queer kid to see that someone like them makes it to old age.
The characters are delightful and I love the romance between Noah and Mara, the teenage selkie who likes to hang out on land while the rest of the pod stay in the sea (sans Maebh, who's sneaking onshore to be with Gemm). Since the disappearance/kidnapping of one selkie named Aine a few years before, they've done their best to remain in the sea.
The book's small cast makes what happened to Aine obvious, but the reveal of what's been going on is chilling. I'd say it strays into the realm of body horror, even. However, the book feels overly linear somehow? It took me so long to finish Tides once I started it because it couldn't hold my attention. It moved from point A to point B to point C in a way that simply couldn't grab me.
But the most important thing: Lo and Aine are definitely gay even though they're not. I DON'T MAKE THE RULES, I JUST STATE THEM.
Tides is an underappreciated gem of a YA novel. I don't know if I'll read any of Cornwell's other books because they never interested me, but I'll be looking out for a copy of Tides I can add to my personal shelf. I prefer to replace my ARCs with finished copies, especially when I love the book!
August 19, 2012
I got to read this early. It's very sweet and moving with lovely writing, and it made me cry at least three times!
May 30, 2013
This review can originally be found at The Twins Read.
While staying in their grandmother's house for the summer, Noah and Lo's grandmother tell them stories of selkies. But as enchanting as these stories are, Noah and Lo believe them to be nothing more but stories, mere myth and folklore. Mara, a headstrong young selkie, has been warned against heading onto shore, humans are dangerous and can't be trusted. They're greedy and they want nothing more to get their hands on their precious skins. But when they unwittingly meet, their lives will forever be changed, bound by the intricacies of love and pain and family.
Tides is told in alternating points of view, mostly Noah, Mara and Lo. We're fairly surprised at how well the author managed to shift voices, each character had a distinct voice and there was no trouble getting to know them. Noah is a protective big brother, ambitious and maybe a bit introverted. He loves marine biology and with the opportunity that this summer's internship brings, he's determined to prove himself. Lo is an artist who suffers from bulimia, she thought that her stay in her grandmother's house would be a good thing for her, but it's not really helping and she doesn't really know what to do. Mara is a selkie, she's fascinated by humans and confused by her longing for a friend. She's not supposed to go onto land but she can't help it, the land holds endless curiosities and fascination for her and so when she has free time, she sneaks off towards the shore and she watches.
The romance was something that caught us off-guard because of how quickly things sped up. As much as Mara found humans interesting, we don't think she was prepared enough when she had a personal encounter with one of them, much less quickly fall for a guy even as sweet and adorkably awkward as Noah. We think the more interesting aspect of the book here was how Cornwell combined different real life issues in the book. Usually, authors only make use of one or two themes to bring the story together. But what Cornwell did was to combine the fresh and unexpected approach to homosexual relationships (which is not as much as falling in love with a gender, as people take it, but just falling for the totality of the person, irregardless of gender), issues centering on body image, unconventional romance. The passion that Noah has for marine biology is truly amazing, and the characters really made us feel like they were actual people, but the problem with Tides is that we felt that there was something lacking about it.
If you're in a summer resort somewhere or planning your beachside getaway, you might want to check out Tides. It's just in time for the summer vibes because it's light enough for a quick read, and a quick daydream or fantasy about what really lurks beneath the aqua-blue shadows of the deep.
While staying in their grandmother's house for the summer, Noah and Lo's grandmother tell them stories of selkies. But as enchanting as these stories are, Noah and Lo believe them to be nothing more but stories, mere myth and folklore. Mara, a headstrong young selkie, has been warned against heading onto shore, humans are dangerous and can't be trusted. They're greedy and they want nothing more to get their hands on their precious skins. But when they unwittingly meet, their lives will forever be changed, bound by the intricacies of love and pain and family.
Tides is told in alternating points of view, mostly Noah, Mara and Lo. We're fairly surprised at how well the author managed to shift voices, each character had a distinct voice and there was no trouble getting to know them. Noah is a protective big brother, ambitious and maybe a bit introverted. He loves marine biology and with the opportunity that this summer's internship brings, he's determined to prove himself. Lo is an artist who suffers from bulimia, she thought that her stay in her grandmother's house would be a good thing for her, but it's not really helping and she doesn't really know what to do. Mara is a selkie, she's fascinated by humans and confused by her longing for a friend. She's not supposed to go onto land but she can't help it, the land holds endless curiosities and fascination for her and so when she has free time, she sneaks off towards the shore and she watches.
The romance was something that caught us off-guard because of how quickly things sped up. As much as Mara found humans interesting, we don't think she was prepared enough when she had a personal encounter with one of them, much less quickly fall for a guy even as sweet and adorkably awkward as Noah. We think the more interesting aspect of the book here was how Cornwell combined different real life issues in the book. Usually, authors only make use of one or two themes to bring the story together. But what Cornwell did was to combine the fresh and unexpected approach to homosexual relationships (which is not as much as falling in love with a gender, as people take it, but just falling for the totality of the person, irregardless of gender), issues centering on body image, unconventional romance. The passion that Noah has for marine biology is truly amazing, and the characters really made us feel like they were actual people, but the problem with Tides is that we felt that there was something lacking about it.
If you're in a summer resort somewhere or planning your beachside getaway, you might want to check out Tides. It's just in time for the summer vibes because it's light enough for a quick read, and a quick daydream or fantasy about what really lurks beneath the aqua-blue shadows of the deep.
October 8, 2015
Oh, wow. This is so gorgeous! I don't even know where to start!
Tides manages to be perfectly on the line between dreamy and beautifully realistic. It's more than the subject matter - the incredible selkies! - it's the way Cornwell uses language; poetic and ever so slightly magical. I would have devoured this book for the writing alone! But there was so much more to keep me occupied.
Like the characters. Oh good lord, the cast! I'm so glad Cornwell switched between the POVs of a good handful of the cast - I can think of a dozen books where the authors don't manage to pull it off, but here it works beautifully. I loved getting a closer look at each of the fabulous characters. Noah, the young man about to go off to college, staying with his grandmother for a summer internship; Lo, his (adopted Chinese) sister, struggling with her body; Mara, the strong, adventurous selkie girl; Ronan, another selkie who is eager to leave the pod to find the rest of his family; and Maebh, the Elder of the selkie pod, in love with Noah and Lo's grandmother.
(Why yes, there IS a positive lesbian relationship in this book! And it's lovely and sweet and REAL, and I heartily approve!)
For such a short book, the characters manage to develop quite a bit. By the end of the story Noah has been reminded of what really matters (not, to be fair, that he was some horrible career-obsessed-to-the-exclusion-of-all-else kind of person to start with), Lo has come into her strength (and a gorgeous strength it is), Mara has what she's always wanted, as does Ronan, and Maebh has put her fears away. I still think it's incredible that Cornwell manages to get as much plot and development into Tides as she does - without anything feeling rushed. It's wonderful!
Especially wonderful are the female characters. I have to say this: there aren't many strong girls in fantasy. (In YA anywhere, perhaps). I don't mean 'strong' in the sense of kicking ass (although Mara is very much able to beat Noah, and anybody else, into the ground if necessary!) but strong as in sure of themselves, and confident, and just - very real. Lo, for example. Lo struggles with bulimia, and her shame over her weight at the start of the book is something that I, and probably many teenagers (and even, sadly, adults) can identify with. But with the help of her family, and friends, and most of all HERSELF, she comes closer and closer to triumphing over her illness, and seems to have done so by the end of the book. Mara, as I already said, is strong in the traditional sense as well as a very feminine one: I loved that she wasn't afraid to dress up and be typically girly, while also being very able to handle physical confrontation and her sister's kidnapper. Gem (Noah and Lo's grandmother) and Maebh, too, are fully developed, with their own story within and before the book (I'd love to see a prequel all about them!)
Cornwell definitely has a gift for creating characters that jump right off the page.
I can't possibly encapsulate everything I loved about this book (BECAUSE I LOVED EVERYTHING!) but one more thing I have to say: I am a huge fan of worldbuilding. Nothing makes me swoon like all the tiny details that tell me an author has really thought about their secondary world, or their magical race, or whatever. YA is particularly bad at worldbuilding, as a genre, and I'm often disappointed. Not so here. Tides at no point overwhelms or infodumps the reader with information about the selkies; instead, here and there, we have a little gem of detail skilfully woven into the narrative, such as the bit about selkie naming traditions, and little snippets of selkie culture. This, more than anything else to me, says that Cornwell is someone to watch - rest assured, I'll be snapping up everything else she chooses to write!
Can't recc this enough. Gone straight to my favourites shelf!
Tides manages to be perfectly on the line between dreamy and beautifully realistic. It's more than the subject matter - the incredible selkies! - it's the way Cornwell uses language; poetic and ever so slightly magical. I would have devoured this book for the writing alone! But there was so much more to keep me occupied.
Like the characters. Oh good lord, the cast! I'm so glad Cornwell switched between the POVs of a good handful of the cast - I can think of a dozen books where the authors don't manage to pull it off, but here it works beautifully. I loved getting a closer look at each of the fabulous characters. Noah, the young man about to go off to college, staying with his grandmother for a summer internship; Lo, his (adopted Chinese) sister, struggling with her body; Mara, the strong, adventurous selkie girl; Ronan, another selkie who is eager to leave the pod to find the rest of his family; and Maebh, the Elder of the selkie pod, in love with Noah and Lo's grandmother.
(Why yes, there IS a positive lesbian relationship in this book! And it's lovely and sweet and REAL, and I heartily approve!)
For such a short book, the characters manage to develop quite a bit. By the end of the story Noah has been reminded of what really matters (not, to be fair, that he was some horrible career-obsessed-to-the-exclusion-of-all-else kind of person to start with), Lo has come into her strength (and a gorgeous strength it is), Mara has what she's always wanted, as does Ronan, and Maebh has put her fears away. I still think it's incredible that Cornwell manages to get as much plot and development into Tides as she does - without anything feeling rushed. It's wonderful!
Especially wonderful are the female characters. I have to say this: there aren't many strong girls in fantasy. (In YA anywhere, perhaps). I don't mean 'strong' in the sense of kicking ass (although Mara is very much able to beat Noah, and anybody else, into the ground if necessary!) but strong as in sure of themselves, and confident, and just - very real. Lo, for example. Lo struggles with bulimia, and her shame over her weight at the start of the book is something that I, and probably many teenagers (and even, sadly, adults) can identify with. But with the help of her family, and friends, and most of all HERSELF, she comes closer and closer to triumphing over her illness, and seems to have done so by the end of the book. Mara, as I already said, is strong in the traditional sense as well as a very feminine one: I loved that she wasn't afraid to dress up and be typically girly, while also being very able to handle physical confrontation and her sister's kidnapper. Gem (Noah and Lo's grandmother) and Maebh, too, are fully developed, with their own story within and before the book (I'd love to see a prequel all about them!)
Cornwell definitely has a gift for creating characters that jump right off the page.
I can't possibly encapsulate everything I loved about this book (BECAUSE I LOVED EVERYTHING!) but one more thing I have to say: I am a huge fan of worldbuilding. Nothing makes me swoon like all the tiny details that tell me an author has really thought about their secondary world, or their magical race, or whatever. YA is particularly bad at worldbuilding, as a genre, and I'm often disappointed. Not so here. Tides at no point overwhelms or infodumps the reader with information about the selkies; instead, here and there, we have a little gem of detail skilfully woven into the narrative, such as the bit about selkie naming traditions, and little snippets of selkie culture. This, more than anything else to me, says that Cornwell is someone to watch - rest assured, I'll be snapping up everything else she chooses to write!
Can't recc this enough. Gone straight to my favourites shelf!
June 6, 2016
I picked this up a while back because I needed something by a local author for a book challenge, and this was conveniently located on an office display.
It's a YA urban fantasy romance from back when mermaids were trying to be the new vampires.
The book was better than I expected because I was expecting manatee selkies and the high school student who saves the day by doing all the science ever, but I was pleasantly surprised to find competent writing and a high school student whose marine biology internship dreams were crushed by filing for 3 months straight.
However, it came off as over-written and it all ended with a scientist being evil for the sake of evil, which is a trope I absolutely hate.
Also, they weren't manatee selkies. :( Just regular Irish selkies. I may not have been rooting for the love triangle/tropes aspect, but manatee selkies would have been a welcome diversion in any case.
I believe the sequel is supposed to be Compass, and with Mechanica (another steampunk Cinderella) out and doing reasonably well, maybe that will see the light of day.
It's a YA urban fantasy romance from back when mermaids were trying to be the new vampires.
The book was better than I expected because I was expecting manatee selkies and the high school student who saves the day by doing all the science ever, but I was pleasantly surprised to find competent writing and a high school student whose marine biology internship dreams were crushed by filing for 3 months straight.
However, it came off as over-written and it all ended with a scientist being evil for the sake of evil, which is a trope I absolutely hate.
Also, they weren't manatee selkies. :( Just regular Irish selkies. I may not have been rooting for the love triangle/tropes aspect, but manatee selkies would have been a welcome diversion in any case.
I believe the sequel is supposed to be Compass, and with Mechanica (another steampunk Cinderella) out and doing reasonably well, maybe that will see the light of day.
January 9, 2017
This review can also be found at http://fortheloveofbooksreviews.blogs...
Noah and Lo head to their grandmother's house on an island for the summer. Noah is excited to start his internship at a center for marine biology, and Lo continues to struggle with an eating disorder. When their grandmother's friend reacts strangely to a story about selkies, Noah brushes it off. And then he meets Mara, who happens to be a real life selkie.
Becoming friends with Mara is unexpected, but a positive addition to his summer. His grandmother's friend turns out to be more than a friend, and he hopes that his mentor at the internship will give him a job other than organizing papers for his work. As the summer goes on, relationships change, and secrets are revealed. No matter the outcome, Noah and Lo will not leave the island the same as they were before.
I knew that I was going to enjoy this book from the very start, from the prologue. The prologue sets the stage for the story, on the islands, the Isles of Shoals, and of course, in the water. The writing style immediately drew me in, with the beautiful description of the setting, that made me long to walk along a beach or lake, to experience the beauty of the water and of islands and bright summer days. This description did not lose its quality, as throughout the novel, the water and islands were once again discussed with great detail, which provided me with amazing visuals as a reader.
The third person narration was a great choice, with multiple perspectives used throughout the book. I think that the use of multiple perspectives brought a lot to the book because it gave the reader glimpses into what was going on in Mara's head, in Lo's thoughts, and in the minds of other characters. It provided insight on what they were struggling with.
Lo and Noah faced different issues, including an eating disorder and the promise of college in the future. However, it was not only the human characters who faced their own problems, as Mara's hopes to lead her "pod" provided a coming-of-age story-line, and her fears over her brother leaving reflected the fears of real people in every day life. Noah's grandmother and her friend, who turns out to be a little something more than a friend, brought up the societal issues and pressures revolving around love and sexuality, which was further explored when their pasts together were explained in detail, which provided some great back story and a background for their own sweet sub-plot.
There was a bit of romance within the book between Noah and Mara. While it seemed genuine and refrained from the addition of a love triangle, it was very predictable. I think that was one of the short comings of this book for me. It was extremely predictable, as I guessed the majority of the events and reveals correctly, which was a bit disappointing.
Overall this was a great read, with beautiful descriptions and a bittersweet ending. I recommend this to those looking for books which explore real-life issues while including paranormal or fantasy creatures. If you're interested in young adult novels that take place on islands or near beaches, this is a great pick for you.
Noah and Lo head to their grandmother's house on an island for the summer. Noah is excited to start his internship at a center for marine biology, and Lo continues to struggle with an eating disorder. When their grandmother's friend reacts strangely to a story about selkies, Noah brushes it off. And then he meets Mara, who happens to be a real life selkie.
Becoming friends with Mara is unexpected, but a positive addition to his summer. His grandmother's friend turns out to be more than a friend, and he hopes that his mentor at the internship will give him a job other than organizing papers for his work. As the summer goes on, relationships change, and secrets are revealed. No matter the outcome, Noah and Lo will not leave the island the same as they were before.
I knew that I was going to enjoy this book from the very start, from the prologue. The prologue sets the stage for the story, on the islands, the Isles of Shoals, and of course, in the water. The writing style immediately drew me in, with the beautiful description of the setting, that made me long to walk along a beach or lake, to experience the beauty of the water and of islands and bright summer days. This description did not lose its quality, as throughout the novel, the water and islands were once again discussed with great detail, which provided me with amazing visuals as a reader.
The third person narration was a great choice, with multiple perspectives used throughout the book. I think that the use of multiple perspectives brought a lot to the book because it gave the reader glimpses into what was going on in Mara's head, in Lo's thoughts, and in the minds of other characters. It provided insight on what they were struggling with.
Lo and Noah faced different issues, including an eating disorder and the promise of college in the future. However, it was not only the human characters who faced their own problems, as Mara's hopes to lead her "pod" provided a coming-of-age story-line, and her fears over her brother leaving reflected the fears of real people in every day life. Noah's grandmother and her friend, who turns out to be a little something more than a friend, brought up the societal issues and pressures revolving around love and sexuality, which was further explored when their pasts together were explained in detail, which provided some great back story and a background for their own sweet sub-plot.
There was a bit of romance within the book between Noah and Mara. While it seemed genuine and refrained from the addition of a love triangle, it was very predictable. I think that was one of the short comings of this book for me. It was extremely predictable, as I guessed the majority of the events and reveals correctly, which was a bit disappointing.
Overall this was a great read, with beautiful descriptions and a bittersweet ending. I recommend this to those looking for books which explore real-life issues while including paranormal or fantasy creatures. If you're interested in young adult novels that take place on islands or near beaches, this is a great pick for you.
October 2, 2013
I never heard about this book before i saw it at Barnes & Noble.
I bought it for two reasons.
1. Betsy Cornwell is a new author. So I bought it to support new authors (everyone should break out of their comfort zone every onece in a while and stray from the path of mainstream writers).
2. I picked up this book soley on cover appeal.
The cover is this gorgeous shade of shiny green, and girl swimming with the seal sparked my curiosity. (One of the prettiest books on my shelf)
Thankfully, this book was really enjoyable.
In the book, Noah aspires to be a marine biologist and is excited when he earns an internship with the marine biologist he has look up to all his life.
However, it's on the Shoals Isles. So he and his sister Lo, who is struggling with some demons of her own, go to live with their grandmother while Noah completes his internship.
Soon, Noah find out that there is many more secrets that lie beneath the ocean surface. He and Lo, learn about selkies.
And they find out that they are real and are closer to them, than either thought.
Side note: Selkies are creatures that are able to transform from seals to human by taking off their seal skin.
I loved this book for so many reasons. The concept was so different from the normal mermaid stories, and it bought to light, creatures that I've never heard of.
More importantly, this book discusses real social issues, such as eating disorders and same sex relationship.
Lastly, the ending was well done. It left the reader to assume what happened with the characters and their futures. The conclusion was open ended, but not in an confusing, "what the flip happened" kind of way.
This is a summer read that YA readers will love.
I bought it for two reasons.
1. Betsy Cornwell is a new author. So I bought it to support new authors (everyone should break out of their comfort zone every onece in a while and stray from the path of mainstream writers).
2. I picked up this book soley on cover appeal.
The cover is this gorgeous shade of shiny green, and girl swimming with the seal sparked my curiosity. (One of the prettiest books on my shelf)
Thankfully, this book was really enjoyable.
In the book, Noah aspires to be a marine biologist and is excited when he earns an internship with the marine biologist he has look up to all his life.
However, it's on the Shoals Isles. So he and his sister Lo, who is struggling with some demons of her own, go to live with their grandmother while Noah completes his internship.
Soon, Noah find out that there is many more secrets that lie beneath the ocean surface. He and Lo, learn about selkies.
And they find out that they are real and are closer to them, than either thought.
Side note: Selkies are creatures that are able to transform from seals to human by taking off their seal skin.
I loved this book for so many reasons. The concept was so different from the normal mermaid stories, and it bought to light, creatures that I've never heard of.
More importantly, this book discusses real social issues, such as eating disorders and same sex relationship.
Lastly, the ending was well done. It left the reader to assume what happened with the characters and their futures. The conclusion was open ended, but not in an confusing, "what the flip happened" kind of way.
This is a summer read that YA readers will love.
September 30, 2013
Bittersweet and Magical: A Review of Tides by Betsy Cornwell Soon-to-be college student Noah Gallagher expects a boring summer with his sister and grandmother and working a marine biology internship. Then he meets Mara, who’s beautiful, mysterious and shares a chemistry like never before, only to find out she’s a selkie like those in his grandmother’s tales. Soon, Noah embarks on a quest to save Mara’s kidnapped selkie sister.TIDES isn’t the most exciting or quick-paced book, but it’s definitely a beautifully written novel. The language flows extremely well and has a mellow, peaceful sort of feel that’s both pleasant sounding and intriguing. The world Cornwell creates is especially beautiful, making you feel as if you can actually feel and see the island and ocean! However, because of this the plot moves more slowly, focusing more on building the world and sweet romance. In fact, Noah actually doesn’t start investigating the kidnapping until after over half of the book. I was also a bit disappointed to see not as much focus on Lo’s bulimia, as it was resolved pretty easily.Still, TIDES is a very well-written story, complete with a heartbreaking and bittersweet ending. Cornwell's world and language is beautifully crafted, and definitely an author to watch out for! Younger fantasy readers or fans of selkie lore definitely should check this book out.
* I received a free copy of this book for review purposes. This did not affect my opinion of the book.
* I received a free copy of this book for review purposes. This did not affect my opinion of the book.
June 2, 2013
Tides is a quiet book filled with secrets, Selkie folklore, love and a hint of magic.
Unfortunately for someone who is used to stories starting with a lot of drama or action this one was a bit slow to start. However the secrets woven into the pages and characters kept me from putting it down. Somewhere around chapter eight things started to heat up.
The writing took some getting used to but it wasn't a deal breaker. The sentences were often long and sometimes the dialogue was a bit wordy but once I was sucked into the story all that no longer mattered.
What stuck with me most was the atmosphere of the islands and the ocean. The author's descriptions will spark your imagination and make you long for a vacation on an island somewhere. Everything from the feel of the ocean on a bare skin to the cold weather at night was so vivid. I hated to leave that world when the story was over.
I loved how deep the author went with the relationships between the characters. Lo and her brother Noah, Gemm and Maebh, Lo and Ani, Noah and Mara. At the end of the day love was love and that was that.
I also enjoyed how elaborate the Selkie folklore was and all the details she gave on their way of life through Mara and her pod. I must say her scientific twist toward the end was the cherry on my cake.
If you are looking for a perfect read on a summer vacation make sure to bring a copy of Tides with you.
Unfortunately for someone who is used to stories starting with a lot of drama or action this one was a bit slow to start. However the secrets woven into the pages and characters kept me from putting it down. Somewhere around chapter eight things started to heat up.
The writing took some getting used to but it wasn't a deal breaker. The sentences were often long and sometimes the dialogue was a bit wordy but once I was sucked into the story all that no longer mattered.
What stuck with me most was the atmosphere of the islands and the ocean. The author's descriptions will spark your imagination and make you long for a vacation on an island somewhere. Everything from the feel of the ocean on a bare skin to the cold weather at night was so vivid. I hated to leave that world when the story was over.
I loved how deep the author went with the relationships between the characters. Lo and her brother Noah, Gemm and Maebh, Lo and Ani, Noah and Mara. At the end of the day love was love and that was that.
I also enjoyed how elaborate the Selkie folklore was and all the details she gave on their way of life through Mara and her pod. I must say her scientific twist toward the end was the cherry on my cake.
If you are looking for a perfect read on a summer vacation make sure to bring a copy of Tides with you.
January 11, 2014
Simply put, Tides is a beautiful book. But it is far, far from a simple book. It is a complex and ingeniously crafted gem that blends magical realism and topical issues in a deft and fluid manner. Finely drawn characters grapple with self discovery, commitment and true love. They are, everyone of them, flawed and loveable, be they selkie or human. Cornwell knows how to write about adoption, eating disorders, prejudice, same sex love, and abuse without heavy handedness. Her ingenious description of the transformation from selkie to human back to selkie form come off without a hitch. Her sense of place is palpable. You can almost smell the salty air drifting off the page during her descriptions of The Shoals, the islands off the coast of New Hampshire where most of the action takes place. A splendid book to curl up with on a rainy day with a cup of tea or something stronger. Can't wait for the sequel!
November 10, 2014
Lemme just tell you. I saw this book online on the website tumblr and loved the book cover and the concept, and added the author. I was given the opportunity to read her book in exchange for an honest review and here it is:
This book is unlike anything I have read for many reasons. This book doesn't just follow on the story for young love, but old love as well, which I am a huge intergenerational fan of this! The subject of bulimia is not a pretty subject to discuss, but it presents its in this book, just like real life. Speaking of real life, this one of the few that show bisexuality, in such a natural way. The very way the book is written as though you can hear the waves creating up the shore as you read. This book breaks the mold and I cannot wait for the sequel!
This book is unlike anything I have read for many reasons. This book doesn't just follow on the story for young love, but old love as well, which I am a huge intergenerational fan of this! The subject of bulimia is not a pretty subject to discuss, but it presents its in this book, just like real life. Speaking of real life, this one of the few that show bisexuality, in such a natural way. The very way the book is written as though you can hear the waves creating up the shore as you read. This book breaks the mold and I cannot wait for the sequel!
June 7, 2013
Tides is a really quick read (at least for me I read it in about two days). It is a really innovative blend of traditional selkie folklore and contemporary teen life/issues. I didn't know anything about selkies before reading this book, but am definitely intrigued now!
Want to read
August 27, 2012Selkies. Interesting. Selkie folklore has always been a favorite of mine.
August 13, 2017
Kind of unsure as to how to review this one. It was really dark and heavy in some places, but also seemed like it was written for middle readers in others. I'll have to think on this one a bit more.
March 10, 2015
GOSH. The ending killed me. I want to know what happens after. ): but so good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2014
This review was originally posted on Mermaid With A Book.
3.5 stars.
I first heard of the term selkies at age 11 when I read Half-Human , a short story compilation by Bruce Coville. Selkies have also surfaced in Karen Amanda Hooper's Sea Monster Memoirs series, which is mainly about mermaids. However, I'd never read a novel solely about selkies until Tides came along.
Now, that isn't the only reason why Tides is such a unique novel to me. It starts off quietly, softly dealing with tough issues like bulimia along the way, and there's even a lesbian relationship thrown into the mix. Towards the ending, the plot goes into high tide and you get a thrilling, action-packed finish.
Our main characters in Tides are Noah and Mara. Noah's interning at the Marine Science Research Center during his last summer before entering college, and he and his sister Lo go to live with their grandmother, Gemm, on the Isles of Shoals. Noah is endearing in his own geeky way, though he isn't exactly book boyfriend material. I could really understand his disappointment when he thought he was special to Professor Foster in the beginning. On the other hand, Mara, a selkie whose sister has been missing for many years, has to deal with the Elder of her selkie pod being unwilling to let the younglings grow up because of her sister Aine's supposed kidnapping. Mara's fascinated with humans, yet knows that she will never be allowed to properly make friends with them.
Tides gives an insight to selkie life and addresses the selkies' worst fear of having their sealskin stolen from them. The interaction between Cornwell's selkie and human characters are a beautiful representation of how fantasy and magic can be present in our everyday lives. I found Noah and Mara's first meeting so adorable. Their relationship takes a bit of time to actually start developing due to the plot's necessary setup, but I thought Cornwell showed Mara's headstrong personality brilliantly by introducing a major conflict between her and Noah in a later part of the novel.
I felt that the supporting characters could've been fleshed out more. Lo constantly struggles with her body image and is trying to recover from her bulimia. I would have liked to have stayed in her head a little longer, as towards the end it was quite of a touch-and-go as to how she started to overcome her condition. Ronan realising he couldn't do what he initially thought he could accomplish and learning his lesson was great, but I do wish Cornwell had written more about the younglings.
The lesbian relationship between Gemm and Maebh was something extremely new for me. It was pleasantly surprising to have an aspect of this novel focusing on the older LGBT set and this made it all the more sweeter on Cornwell's part, who introduced it in a nice, gradual way. Also, this relationship is the reason why the selkies in Tides are tied to our human main characters. However, though necessary, Gemm and Maebh's love story slowed down the pacing of the main plot quite a bit. It was a while before the main action and conflict could take off.
I couldn't grasp the novel's villain entirely. While his motive made sense at first, it still seemed like an easy way to label him as a mental person who did what he did because he was plain desperate. I actually predicted who the villain was early in the novel even before his identity was revealed. I felt that I was supposed to understand Cornwell's reason for adding in the villain's flawed version of his selkie story, but I couldn't. He would have been a villain with more oomph if there'd been more insanity added to him (for example making him a real psycho killer who has a dark past with selkies or something – someone who was more cruel, ruthless and downright scary).
Cornwell's fluid writing style grabbed my attention right from the prologue. She possesses the ability to simply yet vividly convey even the most abstract things, such as sunlight in water. I also love how she likens water to metal in her descriptions. However, while her multiple third-person POVs provide omniscience, they also take away elements of surprise, one of which is Noah finding out that Mara is a selkie (or perhaps it wasn't Cornwell's intention to surprise at all). Though the POVs are not confusing, I found myself a little more detached from the characters; the scenes were playing out in my head like a documentary and I felt something was missing – I can't pinpoint what, exactly.
With that being said, though, I think there's so much more to be explored in this world Cornwell has created. There was an awesome buildup to the ending, and Tides has been set up for a sequel, so I'm most eager to know what will happen between Noah and Mara next!
I personally think what makes Tides a beautiful story in its own right is that its real life issues (the older LGBT set, unconventional romance, foreign adoption, eating disorders) come together to show just how a little love and understanding can go a long way. Cornwell doesn't write about these issues smack-in-your-face, nor does she present them with socially destructive consequences. Though not written in-depth, these are gently treated with love between the characters of this novel. With all that being melded with fantasy elements, Tides is an ethereal summer tale of selkies, romance, and familial bonds set in the Isles of Shoals.
3.5 stars.
I first heard of the term selkies at age 11 when I read Half-Human , a short story compilation by Bruce Coville. Selkies have also surfaced in Karen Amanda Hooper's Sea Monster Memoirs series, which is mainly about mermaids. However, I'd never read a novel solely about selkies until Tides came along.
Now, that isn't the only reason why Tides is such a unique novel to me. It starts off quietly, softly dealing with tough issues like bulimia along the way, and there's even a lesbian relationship thrown into the mix. Towards the ending, the plot goes into high tide and you get a thrilling, action-packed finish.
Our main characters in Tides are Noah and Mara. Noah's interning at the Marine Science Research Center during his last summer before entering college, and he and his sister Lo go to live with their grandmother, Gemm, on the Isles of Shoals. Noah is endearing in his own geeky way, though he isn't exactly book boyfriend material. I could really understand his disappointment when he thought he was special to Professor Foster in the beginning. On the other hand, Mara, a selkie whose sister has been missing for many years, has to deal with the Elder of her selkie pod being unwilling to let the younglings grow up because of her sister Aine's supposed kidnapping. Mara's fascinated with humans, yet knows that she will never be allowed to properly make friends with them.
Tides gives an insight to selkie life and addresses the selkies' worst fear of having their sealskin stolen from them. The interaction between Cornwell's selkie and human characters are a beautiful representation of how fantasy and magic can be present in our everyday lives. I found Noah and Mara's first meeting so adorable. Their relationship takes a bit of time to actually start developing due to the plot's necessary setup, but I thought Cornwell showed Mara's headstrong personality brilliantly by introducing a major conflict between her and Noah in a later part of the novel.
I felt that the supporting characters could've been fleshed out more. Lo constantly struggles with her body image and is trying to recover from her bulimia. I would have liked to have stayed in her head a little longer, as towards the end it was quite of a touch-and-go as to how she started to overcome her condition. Ronan realising he couldn't do what he initially thought he could accomplish and learning his lesson was great, but I do wish Cornwell had written more about the younglings.
The lesbian relationship between Gemm and Maebh was something extremely new for me. It was pleasantly surprising to have an aspect of this novel focusing on the older LGBT set and this made it all the more sweeter on Cornwell's part, who introduced it in a nice, gradual way. Also, this relationship is the reason why the selkies in Tides are tied to our human main characters. However, though necessary, Gemm and Maebh's love story slowed down the pacing of the main plot quite a bit. It was a while before the main action and conflict could take off.
I couldn't grasp the novel's villain entirely. While his motive made sense at first, it still seemed like an easy way to label him as a mental person who did what he did because he was plain desperate. I actually predicted who the villain was early in the novel even before his identity was revealed. I felt that I was supposed to understand Cornwell's reason for adding in the villain's flawed version of his selkie story, but I couldn't. He would have been a villain with more oomph if there'd been more insanity added to him (for example making him a real psycho killer who has a dark past with selkies or something – someone who was more cruel, ruthless and downright scary).
Cornwell's fluid writing style grabbed my attention right from the prologue. She possesses the ability to simply yet vividly convey even the most abstract things, such as sunlight in water. I also love how she likens water to metal in her descriptions. However, while her multiple third-person POVs provide omniscience, they also take away elements of surprise, one of which is Noah finding out that Mara is a selkie (or perhaps it wasn't Cornwell's intention to surprise at all). Though the POVs are not confusing, I found myself a little more detached from the characters; the scenes were playing out in my head like a documentary and I felt something was missing – I can't pinpoint what, exactly.
With that being said, though, I think there's so much more to be explored in this world Cornwell has created. There was an awesome buildup to the ending, and Tides has been set up for a sequel, so I'm most eager to know what will happen between Noah and Mara next!
I personally think what makes Tides a beautiful story in its own right is that its real life issues (the older LGBT set, unconventional romance, foreign adoption, eating disorders) come together to show just how a little love and understanding can go a long way. Cornwell doesn't write about these issues smack-in-your-face, nor does she present them with socially destructive consequences. Though not written in-depth, these are gently treated with love between the characters of this novel. With all that being melded with fantasy elements, Tides is an ethereal summer tale of selkies, romance, and familial bonds set in the Isles of Shoals.
April 16, 2014
Tides was absolutely wonderful. Set on the idyllic New England coast, on a cluster of small, private islands, Tides is brimming with sandy, salt-watered atmosphere, transcendent love, and the links that connect us to our families.
There must be more selkies in YA lit – at least, that’s what I thought for a while. But after reading Tides, I’d like to ban anyone from trying to write about the lore because it will never top Betsy Cornwell’s debut. Cornwell deftly weaves the magical Celtic lore into our everyday world so intricately that you, the reader, can almost believe it’s true. I was fascinated by the inner workings of the pod, or the selkie family, and by the politics of selecting Elders and people to care for the younglings. I could have read about that forever, but the introduction of the human characters, their fallibility and their fragile interpersonal connections, gave this story the depth it deserved.
You will fall in love with every character within Tides‘ pages. The story starts with Noah, a teenage boy standing at the brink of summer wherein all his work will finally pay off through an internship under his idol, Professor Foster. Noah has spent years working towards his goal of becoming a marine scientist, at times letting his other responsibilities fall to the wayside. He has a very one-track mind, but his determination and ambition and his quest to always do the right thing endear him to the reader. His ability to accept his flaws and learn from his mistakes make him a character you will want to root for.
With Noah for the summer is his younger adopted sister, Lo. She is struggling with an eating disorder and depression and is taking the time away to try to get better. Her character really spoke to me. She showed the most growth and strength of any of them. Lo is a typical teenage girl, I think, and that will give someone the readers can relate to.
Noah and Lo are staying on the White Island, one of a cluster of islands of the New England coast. They’re living with their grandmother, Gemm (or Dolores), who lives in the keeper’s cottage, alone on her particular island, under the steadfast white tower, the lighthouse. Gemm’s story is fragile and beautiful and heartbreaking all at once. She is estranged from her daughter because of a choice she made well into adulthood; she does not regret it though. Gemm is in love with a woman named Maebh, and has been since her young teen years. But Maebh is no ordinary woman – she is a selkie. And because of Maebh’s inhuman heritage, she and Gemm share a psychic connection, and link connecting their souls. Theirs is a deep, everlasting love, that even 40 years of separation could not end.
I love so much that Cornwell included an LGBT couple and did not make the story about that aspect of their love. I love, too, that she wrote Lo with an eating disorder and did not make the disease take over Lo’s personality. Finally, I love that she created Noah to be an ambitious, studious bookworm, but showed the negative effects of that lifestyle – like dropping grades in other classes because of the one-track mind, or not having as many friends or experiences because he decided to stay in one too many times. These details made the characters jump out of the pages and into real life for me, and heightened my level of respect for Cornwell as an author that much more.
Tides follows two paths – that of Gemm and Maebh’s romantic love story, and the contemporary plot line of Noah falling in love with the strange and beautiful Mara. Mara is a selkie, too, and over the course of this gorgeous story, we will get to learn all of her and her pod’s secrets. Cornwell’s prose is exquisite and breathtaking; her imagery is vivid and moving enough so that you will feel that you are there with the characters, feeling their fear, their heartbreak, and their joy. Many perspectives are featured in Tides but Cornwell has the skill to write each narrative differently and effectively, so the reader will never be confused.
I can’t properly explain why I loved Tides so much. The story is brutally beautiful; the characters are real people you fall in love with; the atmosphere brings you to the briny shores, the depths of the sea; and the writing is enough to make every aspiring author green with envy. Lovers of books like Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama and Fathomless by Jackson Pearce will lose themselves in the lore Betsy Cornwell has revived. Doubtless, she is an author to watch out for.
There must be more selkies in YA lit – at least, that’s what I thought for a while. But after reading Tides, I’d like to ban anyone from trying to write about the lore because it will never top Betsy Cornwell’s debut. Cornwell deftly weaves the magical Celtic lore into our everyday world so intricately that you, the reader, can almost believe it’s true. I was fascinated by the inner workings of the pod, or the selkie family, and by the politics of selecting Elders and people to care for the younglings. I could have read about that forever, but the introduction of the human characters, their fallibility and their fragile interpersonal connections, gave this story the depth it deserved.
You will fall in love with every character within Tides‘ pages. The story starts with Noah, a teenage boy standing at the brink of summer wherein all his work will finally pay off through an internship under his idol, Professor Foster. Noah has spent years working towards his goal of becoming a marine scientist, at times letting his other responsibilities fall to the wayside. He has a very one-track mind, but his determination and ambition and his quest to always do the right thing endear him to the reader. His ability to accept his flaws and learn from his mistakes make him a character you will want to root for.
With Noah for the summer is his younger adopted sister, Lo. She is struggling with an eating disorder and depression and is taking the time away to try to get better. Her character really spoke to me. She showed the most growth and strength of any of them. Lo is a typical teenage girl, I think, and that will give someone the readers can relate to.
Noah and Lo are staying on the White Island, one of a cluster of islands of the New England coast. They’re living with their grandmother, Gemm (or Dolores), who lives in the keeper’s cottage, alone on her particular island, under the steadfast white tower, the lighthouse. Gemm’s story is fragile and beautiful and heartbreaking all at once. She is estranged from her daughter because of a choice she made well into adulthood; she does not regret it though. Gemm is in love with a woman named Maebh, and has been since her young teen years. But Maebh is no ordinary woman – she is a selkie. And because of Maebh’s inhuman heritage, she and Gemm share a psychic connection, and link connecting their souls. Theirs is a deep, everlasting love, that even 40 years of separation could not end.
I love so much that Cornwell included an LGBT couple and did not make the story about that aspect of their love. I love, too, that she wrote Lo with an eating disorder and did not make the disease take over Lo’s personality. Finally, I love that she created Noah to be an ambitious, studious bookworm, but showed the negative effects of that lifestyle – like dropping grades in other classes because of the one-track mind, or not having as many friends or experiences because he decided to stay in one too many times. These details made the characters jump out of the pages and into real life for me, and heightened my level of respect for Cornwell as an author that much more.
Tides follows two paths – that of Gemm and Maebh’s romantic love story, and the contemporary plot line of Noah falling in love with the strange and beautiful Mara. Mara is a selkie, too, and over the course of this gorgeous story, we will get to learn all of her and her pod’s secrets. Cornwell’s prose is exquisite and breathtaking; her imagery is vivid and moving enough so that you will feel that you are there with the characters, feeling their fear, their heartbreak, and their joy. Many perspectives are featured in Tides but Cornwell has the skill to write each narrative differently and effectively, so the reader will never be confused.
I can’t properly explain why I loved Tides so much. The story is brutally beautiful; the characters are real people you fall in love with; the atmosphere brings you to the briny shores, the depths of the sea; and the writing is enough to make every aspiring author green with envy. Lovers of books like Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama and Fathomless by Jackson Pearce will lose themselves in the lore Betsy Cornwell has revived. Doubtless, she is an author to watch out for.
June 20, 2014
3.5 Stars!
MERMAIDS, SELKIES, FOLKLORE! This was supposed to be everything I wanted in a story. I have been on the search for such books, but it seems like I have yet to stumble across an amazing one. Although Tides met my expectations, I felt that something was missing in the storyline. However, it's still a pretty good read! I'm sure this is one of the first books I've read that discusses both bulimia and bisexuality.
The story of Tides revolves around the idea of selkies and their seal skins. By taking their seal skin off, they reveal their human self, which allows them to walk on land and also talk to each other. However, if their skin is taken away, say by a fisherman, then they are forever bound to him until they get their seal skin back.
And then there's Noah and Lo, a pair of siblings taking the summer off to stay with their divorced grandmother, Gemm, who is living with another woman named Maeb. We later find out that, yes, they are together (yay) but there's something off about Maeb. And also the new girl Mara, who Noah meets on his way to his internship. What could possibly be so mysterious about them? HM. I WONDER.
Actually, both Mara and Maeb revealed the fact that they were selkies very early on in the book, which is semi-surprising because most mermaid stories I've come across, the MCs keep this secret for a very long time. Instead, most of the plot of this book focused on the struggles in Maeb's pod. You see, LITTLE SELKIE YOUNGLINGS are being KIDNAPPED. GASP. How could someone do such a thing!?
When it comes to characters, I would have to say Lo develops the most throughout the story. Coming in, we see Lo struggling with the image of her body. More specifically, she hates herself and is bulimic. Fortunately, both her grandmother and Noah try in every way to help her, but you can see how Noah is getting a little tired. BUT SHE GROWS GUYS. Throughout the novel, we see her become more and more confident in herself. Also, another thing, Lo is adopted from China!. Unfortunately, she's put down because of it.
"Their dad probably would have made a crack about Lo insulated against the cold. She had been such a skinny baby, he'd say. Was New Hampshire really so much colder than China that she had to get fat just to keep warm?"
"Forgive me, Miss Gallagher. Mixed race-adoption was not so...common in my day"
BUT SHE STILL STAYS STRONG. Because NO ONE NEEDS THIS CRAP.
Unfortunately, I didn't have as strong as a connection with Noah and Mara compared to Lo. I did like them as characters, but they aren't ones that will stick to me for a long time. With that said, I still liked them both. The romance was kind of insta-love, but the whole story didn't center on kissing or making out or constant thoughts about each other (well maybe just a little). But no, this was about SAVING BABIES.
My main gripe with Tides, is that the world of selkies could have been developed better, maybe just a little. I wanted to know more about their pod, how they came to be, more legends and folktales. This was more of a family story dealing with relationships, rather than a mythological one. AND I WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT RONAN, the older selkie brother. Come on, why aren't there any male selkie/merman love stories out there? It shouldn't always be the girl who's the mermaid (Of Poseidon was an exception to this, but I wasn't that much of a fan of the book itself) The plot itself didn't even start until more than halfway in the novel. And plus it was obvious who the culprit was. THE KIDNAPPER. D:
Regardless, I enjoyed reading Tides. It kind of reminded me of Ingo, especially the feel of the writing. I'm still looking for more mermaid/selkie/whatever stories, so feel free to recommend me some. I'M STILL LOOKING FOR THE ONE!
MERMAIDS, SELKIES, FOLKLORE! This was supposed to be everything I wanted in a story. I have been on the search for such books, but it seems like I have yet to stumble across an amazing one. Although Tides met my expectations, I felt that something was missing in the storyline. However, it's still a pretty good read! I'm sure this is one of the first books I've read that discusses both bulimia and bisexuality.
The story of Tides revolves around the idea of selkies and their seal skins. By taking their seal skin off, they reveal their human self, which allows them to walk on land and also talk to each other. However, if their skin is taken away, say by a fisherman, then they are forever bound to him until they get their seal skin back.
And then there's Noah and Lo, a pair of siblings taking the summer off to stay with their divorced grandmother, Gemm, who is living with another woman named Maeb. We later find out that, yes, they are together (yay) but there's something off about Maeb. And also the new girl Mara, who Noah meets on his way to his internship. What could possibly be so mysterious about them? HM. I WONDER.
Actually, both Mara and Maeb revealed the fact that they were selkies very early on in the book, which is semi-surprising because most mermaid stories I've come across, the MCs keep this secret for a very long time. Instead, most of the plot of this book focused on the struggles in Maeb's pod. You see, LITTLE SELKIE YOUNGLINGS are being KIDNAPPED. GASP. How could someone do such a thing!?
When it comes to characters, I would have to say Lo develops the most throughout the story. Coming in, we see Lo struggling with the image of her body. More specifically, she hates herself and is bulimic. Fortunately, both her grandmother and Noah try in every way to help her, but you can see how Noah is getting a little tired. BUT SHE GROWS GUYS. Throughout the novel, we see her become more and more confident in herself. Also, another thing, Lo is adopted from China!. Unfortunately, she's put down because of it.
"Their dad probably would have made a crack about Lo insulated against the cold. She had been such a skinny baby, he'd say. Was New Hampshire really so much colder than China that she had to get fat just to keep warm?"
"Forgive me, Miss Gallagher. Mixed race-adoption was not so...common in my day"
BUT SHE STILL STAYS STRONG. Because NO ONE NEEDS THIS CRAP.
Unfortunately, I didn't have as strong as a connection with Noah and Mara compared to Lo. I did like them as characters, but they aren't ones that will stick to me for a long time. With that said, I still liked them both. The romance was kind of insta-love, but the whole story didn't center on kissing or making out or constant thoughts about each other (well maybe just a little). But no, this was about SAVING BABIES.
My main gripe with Tides, is that the world of selkies could have been developed better, maybe just a little. I wanted to know more about their pod, how they came to be, more legends and folktales. This was more of a family story dealing with relationships, rather than a mythological one. AND I WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT RONAN, the older selkie brother. Come on, why aren't there any male selkie/merman love stories out there? It shouldn't always be the girl who's the mermaid (Of Poseidon was an exception to this, but I wasn't that much of a fan of the book itself) The plot itself didn't even start until more than halfway in the novel. And plus it was obvious who the culprit was. THE KIDNAPPER. D:
Regardless, I enjoyed reading Tides. It kind of reminded me of Ingo, especially the feel of the writing. I'm still looking for more mermaid/selkie/whatever stories, so feel free to recommend me some. I'M STILL LOOKING FOR THE ONE!
July 23, 2018
I had never heard of selkies until I picked up this book. Whilst reading the description, I thought it was going to be either about mermaids or sirens. I was pleasantly incorrect. The myth of selkies was probably more magical, mysterious, and heart breaking than any mermaid or siren myths I have read or come across.
What I liked...Everything. I mean I really really really really loved this book. Really. This is officially going onto my favorites shelf because I honestly loved every single thing about the story, the characters, the plot, the mythical creatures, the romance, it was all there and I felt my heart growing with warmth every time I turned a page or finished a chapter. It was written exquisitely well. The characters were so unique and they way they developed throughout the book was done beautifully. The story is also written in different perspectives. It's all in third person, but each chapter is written from a different point of view. Almost every character in the book gets their own chapter, all but one. The villain. Because nobody gives a crap what he has to say in the end anyways. And it's kind of funny because he ends up telling the "exact" same Selkie Myth from an entirely different point of view of the original, and it really says a lot about his character. It was just really well written. Oh and one more thing!! This amazing author, Betsy Cornwell, managed to add a lesbian relationship and a girl suffering from some serious eating disorders. And she handled it SO. WELL. Oh and that's not all! One of the characters is a person of color, and adopted, and it isn't even mentioned until some inconsiderate jack ass in the story had to address/comment on it in a really rude and offensive way. Which, by the way, was written so freaking well. Diversity representation to the max! I loved it so much.
What I disliked...Nothing. Except that it had to end. As a matter of fact, I loved the ending very much, and that's saying something because an ending is difficult to write and it's sometimes what really makes the whole thing fall apart. SPOILER MAYBE, not really but idk??? Let me just say that this ending is not exactly the traditional happy ending, but rather, it leaves you with a little bit of wonder, sorrow, but also contentment and closure. (this was supposed to be the part where I talked about the things I disliked, but I ended up writing more about how great it was!)
My favorite characters...Lo is my absolute favorite character. I loved all of them, but Lo really brought it home. Just a brief description of Lo, she struggles with an eating disorder and is adopted. So there's a crap load of things going on with Lo and to me she ended up being the strongest, bravest character of them all. And, out of all the other characters, she showed the most emotional growth than any of them. I love Lo. She's perfect. And even though Noah wasn't exactly my favorite character, I adored his relationship with Lo. I could really feel the love that he had for his sister, but what was most important was the fact that Cornwell managed to write how frustrating it can be to deal with someone that has an eating disorder. It was wonderful seeing it from both sides. Lo on one side struggling and fighting with herself with no one that understands her, and Noah on the other, wanting nothing more than for his beautiful sister to get better, love herself as much as he loves her, but at the same time getting angry and frustrated because he genuinely does not understand what Lo is truly going through.
So basically I have no choice but to give Tides by Betsy Cornwell five stars. It was beautifully written, really easy to read and follow, magical, mysterious, dark, emotional, just everything you can think of. I definitely recommend this book to anyone that enjoys fantasy, mystical creatures, romance, and of course it is a great coming of age story. I wish everyone would read it since it also addresses some pretty controversial topics such as same sex couples, depression/anxiety/eating disorders/obsessive compulsive disorders, and diversity.
Okay I need to stop talking about how amazing this book was. Just read it, okay? Just...just do it. Five stars, would recommend, pick it up when you can and tell me that you love it.
What I liked...Everything. I mean I really really really really loved this book. Really. This is officially going onto my favorites shelf because I honestly loved every single thing about the story, the characters, the plot, the mythical creatures, the romance, it was all there and I felt my heart growing with warmth every time I turned a page or finished a chapter. It was written exquisitely well. The characters were so unique and they way they developed throughout the book was done beautifully. The story is also written in different perspectives. It's all in third person, but each chapter is written from a different point of view. Almost every character in the book gets their own chapter, all but one. The villain. Because nobody gives a crap what he has to say in the end anyways. And it's kind of funny because he ends up telling the "exact" same Selkie Myth from an entirely different point of view of the original, and it really says a lot about his character. It was just really well written. Oh and one more thing!! This amazing author, Betsy Cornwell, managed to add a lesbian relationship and a girl suffering from some serious eating disorders. And she handled it SO. WELL. Oh and that's not all! One of the characters is a person of color, and adopted, and it isn't even mentioned until some inconsiderate jack ass in the story had to address/comment on it in a really rude and offensive way. Which, by the way, was written so freaking well. Diversity representation to the max! I loved it so much.
What I disliked...Nothing. Except that it had to end. As a matter of fact, I loved the ending very much, and that's saying something because an ending is difficult to write and it's sometimes what really makes the whole thing fall apart. SPOILER MAYBE, not really but idk??? Let me just say that this ending is not exactly the traditional happy ending, but rather, it leaves you with a little bit of wonder, sorrow, but also contentment and closure. (this was supposed to be the part where I talked about the things I disliked, but I ended up writing more about how great it was!)
My favorite characters...Lo is my absolute favorite character. I loved all of them, but Lo really brought it home. Just a brief description of Lo, she struggles with an eating disorder and is adopted. So there's a crap load of things going on with Lo and to me she ended up being the strongest, bravest character of them all. And, out of all the other characters, she showed the most emotional growth than any of them. I love Lo. She's perfect. And even though Noah wasn't exactly my favorite character, I adored his relationship with Lo. I could really feel the love that he had for his sister, but what was most important was the fact that Cornwell managed to write how frustrating it can be to deal with someone that has an eating disorder. It was wonderful seeing it from both sides. Lo on one side struggling and fighting with herself with no one that understands her, and Noah on the other, wanting nothing more than for his beautiful sister to get better, love herself as much as he loves her, but at the same time getting angry and frustrated because he genuinely does not understand what Lo is truly going through.
So basically I have no choice but to give Tides by Betsy Cornwell five stars. It was beautifully written, really easy to read and follow, magical, mysterious, dark, emotional, just everything you can think of. I definitely recommend this book to anyone that enjoys fantasy, mystical creatures, romance, and of course it is a great coming of age story. I wish everyone would read it since it also addresses some pretty controversial topics such as same sex couples, depression/anxiety/eating disorders/obsessive compulsive disorders, and diversity.
Okay I need to stop talking about how amazing this book was. Just read it, okay? Just...just do it. Five stars, would recommend, pick it up when you can and tell me that you love it.
April 2, 2014
From my review at Greg's Book Haven. http://gregsbookhaven.blogspot.com/20...
Tides by Betsy Cornwell is the story of Noah Gallagher and his sister Lo who are coming to the Isles of Shoals, off the coast of New Hampshire, to stay with their grandmother for the summer. Noah has taken an internship at the local marine research center, and Lo has been struggling with bulimia and is basically coming for a change of scenery and hopefully a new start. Their grandmother lives alone on the island although it quickly becomes apparent she has a relationship with another woman. That relationship is in many ways central to the story as the past and present come together.
This is really the story of Noah and Mara however. Mara is a selkie a seal who can take human form. Mara seems more drawn to the land than many of her kind, and she likes to watch people from afar, like the guests on the lawn at the island hotel. She and Noah meet by accident, he is running one day and sees a girl who he thinks is drowning. He rescues her- or tries too, but quickly realizes she doesn’t need rescuing at all. Their relationship starts off a little rocky, but they soon discover a mutual attraction… and some surprising family links.
Mara feels early on that she can trust Noah, and doesn't really understand why. Their relationship is complicated by a lot of things, not least of which is the natural distrust the selkies feel towards humans. We learn more about the selkies and their ways, and also the complex relationship Noah's grandmother has with these ancient beings.
It was refreshing to read a story where the characters actually communicate with each other. So often in stories like this secrets are kept and the characters don’t know what’s going on for half the book, but here people talk to each other. This book is instead about exploring the feelings bubbling under the surface, and I appreciated that. There’s a moment towards the end where Noah is in trouble and Mara is coming to help. She thinks "I’m coming” and it was a powerful moment. I loved it.
I was really taken with the love story between Noah and Mara, it was sweet and virtuous and real. It didn’t feel cheap or rushed… their relationship evolved naturally. I also liked the sibling relationship between Noah and Lo- you could really feel her pain at times, and the way her feelings towards Noah changed. They grew closer through their shared experiences, and that felt natural too.
The only thing I didn’t like was the plotline regarding Aine. Early on we learn about Mara’s sister Aine and her disappearance but there is no indication that this will play an immediate role in the story- however it becomes clear that the disappearance is relevant when tragedy strikes again, and Noah and Mara must take action. The truth about Aine’s disappearance is somewhat horrific and provides the only action sequence in the book, but I thought it was too closely linked to Noah and his reason for being on the island in the first place. It just seemed a little too convenient for me.
The ending is bittersweet and pulled at the heartstrings a bit. It is however the only realistic ending- and it left me wanting a sequel. Another summer on the Shoals with these characters… I’d take it. In a heartbeat
Tides by Betsy Cornwell is the story of Noah Gallagher and his sister Lo who are coming to the Isles of Shoals, off the coast of New Hampshire, to stay with their grandmother for the summer. Noah has taken an internship at the local marine research center, and Lo has been struggling with bulimia and is basically coming for a change of scenery and hopefully a new start. Their grandmother lives alone on the island although it quickly becomes apparent she has a relationship with another woman. That relationship is in many ways central to the story as the past and present come together.
This is really the story of Noah and Mara however. Mara is a selkie a seal who can take human form. Mara seems more drawn to the land than many of her kind, and she likes to watch people from afar, like the guests on the lawn at the island hotel. She and Noah meet by accident, he is running one day and sees a girl who he thinks is drowning. He rescues her- or tries too, but quickly realizes she doesn’t need rescuing at all. Their relationship starts off a little rocky, but they soon discover a mutual attraction… and some surprising family links.
Mara feels early on that she can trust Noah, and doesn't really understand why. Their relationship is complicated by a lot of things, not least of which is the natural distrust the selkies feel towards humans. We learn more about the selkies and their ways, and also the complex relationship Noah's grandmother has with these ancient beings.
It was refreshing to read a story where the characters actually communicate with each other. So often in stories like this secrets are kept and the characters don’t know what’s going on for half the book, but here people talk to each other. This book is instead about exploring the feelings bubbling under the surface, and I appreciated that. There’s a moment towards the end where Noah is in trouble and Mara is coming to help. She thinks "I’m coming” and it was a powerful moment. I loved it.
I was really taken with the love story between Noah and Mara, it was sweet and virtuous and real. It didn’t feel cheap or rushed… their relationship evolved naturally. I also liked the sibling relationship between Noah and Lo- you could really feel her pain at times, and the way her feelings towards Noah changed. They grew closer through their shared experiences, and that felt natural too.
The only thing I didn’t like was the plotline regarding Aine. Early on we learn about Mara’s sister Aine and her disappearance but there is no indication that this will play an immediate role in the story- however it becomes clear that the disappearance is relevant when tragedy strikes again, and Noah and Mara must take action. The truth about Aine’s disappearance is somewhat horrific and provides the only action sequence in the book, but I thought it was too closely linked to Noah and his reason for being on the island in the first place. It just seemed a little too convenient for me.
The ending is bittersweet and pulled at the heartstrings a bit. It is however the only realistic ending- and it left me wanting a sequel. Another summer on the Shoals with these characters… I’d take it. In a heartbeat
June 24, 2015
I need a quick easy read after struggling with a couple of books prior. So this one seemed to be what I needed with a completely different concept, that being Selkie Folklore. The plot was not like any book I had ever read before which was what drew me to it. But sadly the book was just ok for me and also a bit predictable as well.
In this book we have Noah and his adopted sister Lo, who go to visit there Grandmother in her island cottage since Noah has a marine biology internship there to keep him busy, meanwhile his sister Lo struggles with bulimia and trying to fit in. Noah finds himself trying to, what he thinks, save a local girl from drowning. This begins a whole new life for both Noah and his sister, something they never expected.
I thought the plot line was very different, and exciting, but I felt like it still lacked some depth which made it kind of boring. I would have loved to know more about the island, I had hoped the imagery would have been better than it was. I could not place myself there in the middle of things because I could not imagine the island. Due to the nature of the story I would have thought there would have been a lot more action the there was, so that was disappointing as well. There were parts of the story that I liked and it was a quick fun read.
The characters also lacked depth. Although I did like them for the most part, I would like to have known a bit more about them especially Noah and Lo. There is very little backstory on either of them. I found Mara to be a bit annoying, but I guess that is due to the type of character she is. She was not trusting and she easily jumps to conclusions. The bad guy I could not even class as a bad guy, therefore I could not hate him properly. LOL
I really don't recommend this book to anyone, if you see this review and decide to want to read then let me know what you think of it. Overall it has a good plot line that was pretty exciting to think about, it just needed to be executed better than it was. I feel like the 2 star rating is pretty generous for this book, but because I liked the plot and there were parts I did enjoy, I think it deserves that much.
In this book we have Noah and his adopted sister Lo, who go to visit there Grandmother in her island cottage since Noah has a marine biology internship there to keep him busy, meanwhile his sister Lo struggles with bulimia and trying to fit in. Noah finds himself trying to, what he thinks, save a local girl from drowning. This begins a whole new life for both Noah and his sister, something they never expected.
I thought the plot line was very different, and exciting, but I felt like it still lacked some depth which made it kind of boring. I would have loved to know more about the island, I had hoped the imagery would have been better than it was. I could not place myself there in the middle of things because I could not imagine the island. Due to the nature of the story I would have thought there would have been a lot more action the there was, so that was disappointing as well. There were parts of the story that I liked and it was a quick fun read.
The characters also lacked depth. Although I did like them for the most part, I would like to have known a bit more about them especially Noah and Lo. There is very little backstory on either of them. I found Mara to be a bit annoying, but I guess that is due to the type of character she is. She was not trusting and she easily jumps to conclusions. The bad guy I could not even class as a bad guy, therefore I could not hate him properly. LOL
I really don't recommend this book to anyone, if you see this review and decide to want to read then let me know what you think of it. Overall it has a good plot line that was pretty exciting to think about, it just needed to be executed better than it was. I feel like the 2 star rating is pretty generous for this book, but because I liked the plot and there were parts I did enjoy, I think it deserves that much.
September 10, 2013
I liked this book a lot more than I expected to based on the summary and first few chapters. The selkie mythology is solid and the main plot (in which a man kidnaps and tortures selkie children for nefarious purposes) was more engaging and also creepy than I thought it would be. There were awesome background lesbians in the form of the main character's grandma and her selkie partner, and their relationship gets a lot of development - in my opinion, more than the main couple's - and screen time. One of the main characters, Lo, spends much of her time struggling with her eating disorder, which didn't quite work for me. I'm not sure, though, if that's because of how it was written or just because I don't really like to read about eating disorders and body image issues. I was also completely unenthused about the main romance, which is between the male main character and a selkie girl. There just wasn't any spark to it, and I spent a lot of time wishing the narrative would leave them alone already so we could get to the good stuff. Fortunately, the selkies and the lesbian grandmas made up for it.
January 10, 2014
Without their seal skins, selkies become trapped in their human forms, in thrall to the person who has captured their pelts. In “Tides” a pod of selkies fears to morph into seals, and hasn’t for nearly a decade, because someone inexplicably kidnapped the younglings the last time the pod met to celebrate their ability to change.
Noah and Lo are spending the summer on the New England coast. Noah has a marine biology internship and hopes a change of scenery will be good for his bulimic sister, Lo. The youngsters are bunking with Maebh and Gemm, their grandmother and her life partner. The adults have more secrets than their matter-of-fact lesbian relationship, one of them is a selkie! When Noah rescues a teen selkie and brings her home to his family, recognition is immediate between the selkies and everyone is outed.
Cornwell’s prose is particularly evocative when describing the wonder of ocean and shore. However, she also creates a well-paced mystery featuring interesting, strong characters. Writing from multiple points-of-view can be tricky, but Cornwell handles the challenge masterfully.
Noah and Lo are spending the summer on the New England coast. Noah has a marine biology internship and hopes a change of scenery will be good for his bulimic sister, Lo. The youngsters are bunking with Maebh and Gemm, their grandmother and her life partner. The adults have more secrets than their matter-of-fact lesbian relationship, one of them is a selkie! When Noah rescues a teen selkie and brings her home to his family, recognition is immediate between the selkies and everyone is outed.
Cornwell’s prose is particularly evocative when describing the wonder of ocean and shore. However, she also creates a well-paced mystery featuring interesting, strong characters. Writing from multiple points-of-view can be tricky, but Cornwell handles the challenge masterfully.
April 4, 2015
Think there's no diversity in YA? This book will prove you wrong. Sick of vampire epics, but still want an epic love story? This book is for you. Enjoy a side of sobs with your YA? This book is for you. Don't know what a Selkie is? Read this book and find out!
I had the pleasure of reading this book for a Children's Literature course last summer, though it technically falls under the category of YA. I was very refreshed. Cornwell writes with a certain je-ne-sais-quoi, and readers immediately have the sense of a well of emotion as deep as the sea that figures so beautifully into this novel behind the words that she writes. I was surprised by this book, something that does not happen often.
If you like YA, pick up a copy of Tides, click the link to Cornwell's bio, follow her as an author, and mark your calendars for August 4th, 2015, the day her new novel Mechanica is to be released, and prepare for an emotional ride!
I had the pleasure of reading this book for a Children's Literature course last summer, though it technically falls under the category of YA. I was very refreshed. Cornwell writes with a certain je-ne-sais-quoi, and readers immediately have the sense of a well of emotion as deep as the sea that figures so beautifully into this novel behind the words that she writes. I was surprised by this book, something that does not happen often.
If you like YA, pick up a copy of Tides, click the link to Cornwell's bio, follow her as an author, and mark your calendars for August 4th, 2015, the day her new novel Mechanica is to be released, and prepare for an emotional ride!
January 5, 2014
A wonderful book full of magic and wonder. It is the perfect combination of my two favorite kinds of books which are magical and realistic fiction. This book captures the imagination of the reader but also represents a lot of real life obstacles such as Lo's brother going away to collage and Noah worrying about Lo's bulimia. Not to mention true love! I appreciated the love presented in Noah and lows grandmothers even more than Noah's and mara's! It was so nice read about same sex love being in someone that was not of my generation. Its a reminder that even though older generations seem less tolerant that doesn't mean they don't have their own LBGTQ community and supporters of that generation. I give it a five stars that is well deserved!
December 12, 2014
This book was incredible. I've experienced some burnout from YA recently, but this little book reminds me of why I like YA in general. Noah and Lo are siblings, and they are spending the summer with their grandmother that they rarely get to see (this might be the weakest part of the book, how quickly they form a strong relationship to what is mostly a stranger).
They meet her partner Maebh, and then Noah meets a mysterious girl called Mara. What follows is a tangling of loves and loyalties, and the solving a years-long mystery.
The ending sort of leaves it open for another book, but this one was so successful, I'd be worried about it holding up.
Still, way to go, Cornwell!
They meet her partner Maebh, and then Noah meets a mysterious girl called Mara. What follows is a tangling of loves and loyalties, and the solving a years-long mystery.
The ending sort of leaves it open for another book, but this one was so successful, I'd be worried about it holding up.
Still, way to go, Cornwell!
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