What do you think?
Rate this book
Silverswift
The wind is always looking for a story to tell....
On a dark, wintry day, Eliza Grey receives a mysterious letter from her ailing Nana Mora begging her to come for a visit. This is an easy "Yes". Eliza has always preferred Nana Mora's beach cottage on St. Simons Island to the apartment she and her mom call home in the city. The island is a magical place where stories and legends grow as thick as the Spanish moss dangling in the trees. Now, Nana Mora's eyesight is fading, and there's something she wants to show Eliza before it’s totally gone: a mythical place locals refer to as Sirens Harbor. Supposedly hidden somewhere on the island, it's a place where all the mermaids in the world congregate once a year to sing their Winter Song. It's all fairy-tale silliness, according to Eliza's mom. But Nana Mora is convinced it's real.
With the help of an eccentric lighthouse keeper, Nana and Eliza pack up their gear and set out on their journey. As they travel, Eliza hears the real story of Sirens Harbor...along with the story of a fearsome mermaid named Silverswift, a warrior-princess rumored to have walked on the islands. Challenges abound for the adventurers: old maps are hard to read, and treacherous trails spiral through the woods. And there's a strange storm spinning all around them. It's almost as if some things are meant to stay secret. As if the harbor doesn't want to be found. Or as if, maybe, someone doesn't want them to find it....
One thing is for sure: what Eliza and her grandmother actually discover on the night of the winter solstice will be better than any fairytale. As Nana Mora says: "Some stories aren't fiction, my darling Eliza. Some stories are lifetimes."
On a dark, wintry day, Eliza Grey receives a mysterious letter from her ailing Nana Mora begging her to come for a visit. This is an easy "Yes". Eliza has always preferred Nana Mora's beach cottage on St. Simons Island to the apartment she and her mom call home in the city. The island is a magical place where stories and legends grow as thick as the Spanish moss dangling in the trees. Now, Nana Mora's eyesight is fading, and there's something she wants to show Eliza before it’s totally gone: a mythical place locals refer to as Sirens Harbor. Supposedly hidden somewhere on the island, it's a place where all the mermaids in the world congregate once a year to sing their Winter Song. It's all fairy-tale silliness, according to Eliza's mom. But Nana Mora is convinced it's real.
With the help of an eccentric lighthouse keeper, Nana and Eliza pack up their gear and set out on their journey. As they travel, Eliza hears the real story of Sirens Harbor...along with the story of a fearsome mermaid named Silverswift, a warrior-princess rumored to have walked on the islands. Challenges abound for the adventurers: old maps are hard to read, and treacherous trails spiral through the woods. And there's a strange storm spinning all around them. It's almost as if some things are meant to stay secret. As if the harbor doesn't want to be found. Or as if, maybe, someone doesn't want them to find it....
One thing is for sure: what Eliza and her grandmother actually discover on the night of the winter solstice will be better than any fairytale. As Nana Mora says: "Some stories aren't fiction, my darling Eliza. Some stories are lifetimes."
7 pages, Audible Audio
First published July 2, 2020
40 people are currently reading
636 people want to read
About the author
Natalie Lloyd
13books512followersNatalie Lloyd is the New York Times Bestselling Author of novels for young readers (and the young at heart).
Her first novel, A Snicker of Magic (2014), was an ALA Notable Book, a New York Times Book Review Editors� Choice, a top 10 Kids Indie Next Pick and an NPR, iBooks and Parents Magazine best book of the year for children. The book has been optioned for television by Sony Tristar. Natalie’s other novels include The Key to Extraordinary (Scholastic 2016), The Problim Children series (HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen 2017), and Over the Moon (Scholastic 2019). These novels have won accolades from Entertainment Weekly, Junior Library Guild, SIBA, Amazon and Bank Street College of Education, among others. Silverswift, her first Audible Original, was published in 2020. Hummingbird, her seventh (and most personal) novel for kids, was published in August 2022. In January 2023, it was awarded a Schneider Family Honor Award by the American Library Association. Her next novel, The Witching Wind, will be available in Fall 2024.
Natalie writes in the shadows beside a sunny window in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She loves adventuring with her husband, Justin, and their dogs.
Her first novel, A Snicker of Magic (2014), was an ALA Notable Book, a New York Times Book Review Editors� Choice, a top 10 Kids Indie Next Pick and an NPR, iBooks and Parents Magazine best book of the year for children. The book has been optioned for television by Sony Tristar. Natalie’s other novels include The Key to Extraordinary (Scholastic 2016), The Problim Children series (HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen 2017), and Over the Moon (Scholastic 2019). These novels have won accolades from Entertainment Weekly, Junior Library Guild, SIBA, Amazon and Bank Street College of Education, among others. Silverswift, her first Audible Original, was published in 2020. Hummingbird, her seventh (and most personal) novel for kids, was published in August 2022. In January 2023, it was awarded a Schneider Family Honor Award by the American Library Association. Her next novel, The Witching Wind, will be available in Fall 2024.
Natalie writes in the shadows beside a sunny window in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She loves adventuring with her husband, Justin, and their dogs.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 281 reviews
July 9, 2020
This was definitely cute.
Silverswift just made me smile. Mostly because this little girl had dreams and she valued them so much. It sucked that her mom in the beginning was kind of shutting that all down and wouldn't let her go see her grandma. Yet, she eventually caved and let her go on this wild adventure.
I honestly loved her relationship with her grandma. They just seemed really close to one other.. which is something I didn't have with any of my grandparents. Kind of sucks but that's what I get for living states away. Thanks mom and dad (lol).
Other than that, I enjoyed all the magic and mermaids throughout the book. The ending almost made me shed a tear because of her last dream BUT again, this book was just adorable. I loved it so much.
Silverswift just made me smile. Mostly because this little girl had dreams and she valued them so much. It sucked that her mom in the beginning was kind of shutting that all down and wouldn't let her go see her grandma. Yet, she eventually caved and let her go on this wild adventure.
I honestly loved her relationship with her grandma. They just seemed really close to one other.. which is something I didn't have with any of my grandparents. Kind of sucks but that's what I get for living states away. Thanks mom and dad (lol).
Other than that, I enjoyed all the magic and mermaids throughout the book. The ending almost made me shed a tear because of her last dream BUT again, this book was just adorable. I loved it so much.
September 1, 2020
This was an Audible Original production of a middle grade tale of adventure involving an independent minded girl, her unconventional Nana with secrets in her past, and a mother who wants things to be normal. Oh, and mermaids. Lots of mermaids. Mermaid charms, mermaid ornaments, mermaid suckers and treasure maps. Because Nana lives on a tourist island where people are nuts about mermaid stories. And Mom couldn't wait to grow up and move off the island and get away from the mermaid nonsense.
So what does Eliza want? Mermaids! She wants to see a real live mermaid.
This story is a sweet tale of mothers and daughters, the stories we tell our children and how important they are, how they make us who we are. When our children stop believing our stories it takes something away from us we can never reclaim.
I only give "Silverswift" 3 stars because it tipped over into "precious" in my estimation. It was too saccharine, and I think my ten year old self would have fed it to the dog.
So what does Eliza want? Mermaids! She wants to see a real live mermaid.
This story is a sweet tale of mothers and daughters, the stories we tell our children and how important they are, how they make us who we are. When our children stop believing our stories it takes something away from us we can never reclaim.
I only give "Silverswift" 3 stars because it tipped over into "precious" in my estimation. It was too saccharine, and I think my ten year old self would have fed it to the dog.
April 22, 2022
This was such a good adventure. I enjoyed it so much, the story of love was great.
“No one is ever too old for fairytales, unless they decide they are.�
This was a powerful stories with great echoes of truth in it. I enjoyed it so much this second time around.
“There’s still magic in this world.�
“No one is ever too old for fairytales, unless they decide they are.�
This was a powerful stories with great echoes of truth in it. I enjoyed it so much this second time around.
“There’s still magic in this world.�
July 17, 2020
5/5 ⭐️
Aawww this was so cute!
Aawww this was so cute!
August 10, 2020
This was so beautiful and full of adventure. Just what I needed to lift up my mood. �
June 11, 2021
What a sweet story! Like I said in one of my updates, Audible Originals can be hit-or-miss for me because, thus far, the authors of the originals are completely new to me, so I'm going in blind every time I choose to try one. I was hopeful for this book, though, since it sounded like it had a close grandmother/granddaughter relationship which I love reading, and also mermaids, which I've always felt are perfect subject matter for summer. This story does take place near the winter solstice, but it still worked as a summer story for me. :)
The relationship between Eliza and her grandmother was what attracted me to this story and it was indeed my favorite thing about it. Eliza's mom doesn't always understand her daughter and mother, but Eliza and Nana Mora understand each other just fine. As the synopsis states, Nana Mora writes to Eliza to invite her on one last adventure before Mora's failing eyesight fades completely and it was beautiful to watch their friendship grow deeper as they strove toward their goal. I also enjoyed the interludes of the mermaid Silverswift's story as Nana Mora told Eliza about her. Her parts were written in such lovely, classic, fairytale style and her story was a touching one. I loved the themes of strength, forgiveness, love, and healing both in Eliza's and Silverswift's stories. I loved seeing Eliza's entire family starting to heal by the end, too. There was even a fun little fantasy twist near the end that I wasn't expecting, but it gave Eliza and Nana Mora's adventure even more meaning. I also appreciated a sweet and poignant little scene at the end of the book where Eliza has a dream that was (while not directly so) reminiscent of people being healed and reunited in heaven. I believe this was intentional imagery on the author's part, and will explain why in the next paragraph.
As I listened to and enjoyed the book I thought the author's name seemed oddly familiar despite being sure I'd read nothing by her before. So when I was finished I came here to ŷ and looked at her previous books and was pleased to find that I had actually heard of her before. Back in 2009 she released a Christian devotional book for teen girls called, "Paperdoll: What Happens When an Ordinary Girl Meets an Extraordinary God." I never read it myself, but remember seeing a glowing review of it in Focus on the Family's teen girl magazine called "Brio" back in the mid 2000's. I also see that a friend who's opinion I trust has reviewed it well. Knowing this is the same Natalie Lloyd makes me appreciate the beautiful themes in Silverswift even more because now I know where the author was coming from with them. It makes me super happy when I see authors who are Christians slip positive, healthy themes into books even when it's not specifically Christian fiction. As C.S. Lewis said, "The world does not need more Christian literature. What it needs is more Christians writing good literature." And I believe Natalie Lloyd accomplished that here.
Content Advisory
Sexual:
Eliza's mom has a boyfriend who is not Eliza's father. It's briefly stated that he's handsy with her mom and Eliza finds it gross, but there's no description of this.
There's sweet, slow-growing romance between two adult characters in the story of Silverswift that Nana Mora tells Eliza. Nothing physical gets described or implied.
Violence:
Some tales of Mermaids that get told say that they lure people to their deaths or kill people outright, but none of this is given gory detail.
Silverswift encounters sailors who have captured a bunch of mermaids in a net. The sailors have the intent of killing them and selling their scales. Trying to rescue her people, Silverswift ends up in a fight with a sailor who is trying to capture her too and makes it clear he has harmful intent toward her especially. She has no choice but to kill him in self defense because he won't let go of her. The killing isn't described but blood on her hands and scales is mentioned. She also sustains an injury that bleeds. She feels awful about the killing but her family reminds her it was self defense and not intended. They forgive her and encourage her to forgive herself.
Magic:
Mermaids are able to change from having a tail to having human legs, simply by thinking pleasant thoughts about the ocean or the land.
There are characters in the story who believe mermaids are real and some that don't. In the end it turns out
The relationship between Eliza and her grandmother was what attracted me to this story and it was indeed my favorite thing about it. Eliza's mom doesn't always understand her daughter and mother, but Eliza and Nana Mora understand each other just fine. As the synopsis states, Nana Mora writes to Eliza to invite her on one last adventure before Mora's failing eyesight fades completely and it was beautiful to watch their friendship grow deeper as they strove toward their goal. I also enjoyed the interludes of the mermaid Silverswift's story as Nana Mora told Eliza about her. Her parts were written in such lovely, classic, fairytale style and her story was a touching one. I loved the themes of strength, forgiveness, love, and healing both in Eliza's and Silverswift's stories. I loved seeing Eliza's entire family starting to heal by the end, too. There was even a fun little fantasy twist near the end that I wasn't expecting, but it gave Eliza and Nana Mora's adventure even more meaning. I also appreciated a sweet and poignant little scene at the end of the book where Eliza has a dream that was (while not directly so) reminiscent of people being healed and reunited in heaven. I believe this was intentional imagery on the author's part, and will explain why in the next paragraph.
As I listened to and enjoyed the book I thought the author's name seemed oddly familiar despite being sure I'd read nothing by her before. So when I was finished I came here to ŷ and looked at her previous books and was pleased to find that I had actually heard of her before. Back in 2009 she released a Christian devotional book for teen girls called, "Paperdoll: What Happens When an Ordinary Girl Meets an Extraordinary God." I never read it myself, but remember seeing a glowing review of it in Focus on the Family's teen girl magazine called "Brio" back in the mid 2000's. I also see that a friend who's opinion I trust has reviewed it well. Knowing this is the same Natalie Lloyd makes me appreciate the beautiful themes in Silverswift even more because now I know where the author was coming from with them. It makes me super happy when I see authors who are Christians slip positive, healthy themes into books even when it's not specifically Christian fiction. As C.S. Lewis said, "The world does not need more Christian literature. What it needs is more Christians writing good literature." And I believe Natalie Lloyd accomplished that here.
Content Advisory
Sexual:
Eliza's mom has a boyfriend who is not Eliza's father. It's briefly stated that he's handsy with her mom and Eliza finds it gross, but there's no description of this.
There's sweet, slow-growing romance between two adult characters in the story of Silverswift that Nana Mora tells Eliza. Nothing physical gets described or implied.
Violence:
Some tales of Mermaids that get told say that they lure people to their deaths or kill people outright, but none of this is given gory detail.
Silverswift encounters sailors who have captured a bunch of mermaids in a net. The sailors have the intent of killing them and selling their scales. Trying to rescue her people, Silverswift ends up in a fight with a sailor who is trying to capture her too and makes it clear he has harmful intent toward her especially. She has no choice but to kill him in self defense because he won't let go of her. The killing isn't described but blood on her hands and scales is mentioned. She also sustains an injury that bleeds. She feels awful about the killing but her family reminds her it was self defense and not intended. They forgive her and encourage her to forgive herself.
Magic:
Mermaids are able to change from having a tail to having human legs, simply by thinking pleasant thoughts about the ocean or the land.
There are characters in the story who believe mermaids are real and some that don't. In the end it turns out
July 30, 2020
This story is enchanting from the first line to the last.
In this coming-of-age tale, Eliza's mother wants her to forget about fantasy - especially mermaids. But first, Eliza will make one last visit to her eccentric grandmother, who lives on one of Georgia's barrier islands. Eliza and her grandmother embark on a secret quest to find Siren's Harbor, a hidden place where, according to local lore, the mermaids gather once a year. This story is both that of Eliza and of Silverswift, a mermaid warrior-princess, who according to legend lived on the island as a human; Eliza's grandmother says Silverswift is more than a fairy tale; she's real, and Nana Mora wants to tell Eliza the true story. *Silverswift* is the story of mothers and daughters; of the passage of time; of transformation and being true to ourselves; of loss and love; and of the things that make life magical.
This Audible Original is wonderfully performed and produced. Yet I wish this title was available in other formats, because it is now one of my favorite books! I long to have a hard copy on my bookshelf.
This was a "free" selection with Audible Membership.
In this coming-of-age tale, Eliza's mother wants her to forget about fantasy - especially mermaids. But first, Eliza will make one last visit to her eccentric grandmother, who lives on one of Georgia's barrier islands. Eliza and her grandmother embark on a secret quest to find Siren's Harbor, a hidden place where, according to local lore, the mermaids gather once a year. This story is both that of Eliza and of Silverswift, a mermaid warrior-princess, who according to legend lived on the island as a human; Eliza's grandmother says Silverswift is more than a fairy tale; she's real, and Nana Mora wants to tell Eliza the true story. *Silverswift* is the story of mothers and daughters; of the passage of time; of transformation and being true to ourselves; of loss and love; and of the things that make life magical.
This Audible Original is wonderfully performed and produced. Yet I wish this title was available in other formats, because it is now one of my favorite books! I long to have a hard copy on my bookshelf.
This was a "free" selection with Audible Membership.
September 5, 2020
Audiobook. I needed a break from reality, and this modern, matriarchal take on the little mermaid was a sweet retreat.
July 13, 2020
Got this book for free on Audible, and I'm glad I didn't really spend any money on it. While it might be a cute story, and one I wouldn't mind listening to as a kid, I found the story dragged a lot. There were a lot of characters that weren't important in the long run, and a lot of meandering. Not to mention one of the narrators were sooooo slow!
August 16, 2020
This was a 7 hour Audible Original that was thankfully free. I’m not sure if this was supposed to be a kids book or just a fantasy book for any age. It was so slow that I almost gave up and deleted it. I hate to DNF so I hung in there with it. I felt bad giving 1 star since maybe I was not the intended audience so went with 2 stars out of guilt.
August 17, 2020
The story was very cute. I should have read it instead of listening to it.
BUT!!! the narration (from Audible) was horrible.
The main narrator “attempts� an Irish that I can only describe as speaking with her mouth sewn shut.
She also had poor pronunciations. Pitchers and pictures are two very different words and said very differently.
BUT!!! the narration (from Audible) was horrible.
The main narrator “attempts� an Irish that I can only describe as speaking with her mouth sewn shut.
She also had poor pronunciations. Pitchers and pictures are two very different words and said very differently.
July 26, 2020
This was so freaking cute! I loved it!!!
August 25, 2020
This was a cute surprise! I felt like a kid again going on this adventure with Mora & Eliza. It was fun & sweet!
August 18, 2022
It’s just not summer without a Natalie Lloyd tale full of magic. And this one includes *gasp* mermaids! 🧜♀� Wild child Eliza and her kooky grandmother are on a quest: to find the secret Siren’s Harbor on the winter solstice, when the mermaids appear and sing their song. The pair meet a cast of characters, overcome issues with sight, mobility, and meddling inn-owners, and delve into memory. Maybe we’re all just looking for our “better than forever�. So much love for this beautiful story!
November 24, 2022
""When you are old you'll be able to read fairy tales." C. S. Lewis
This was great new one for the 21st century!
This was great new one for the 21st century!
July 21, 2020
Mermaid
Review of the Audible Original audiobook (July 2020)
3.5 rounded up.
This was an interesting take on the fantasy world of mermaids, with a young girl joining her grandmother in a mermaid seeking adventure. The present day story alternates with the tale of a legendary mermaid named Silverswift as she approaches her time to live on land and then decide whether to remain there or return to the mermaid community. It was rather different from a standard young adult fantasy tale and had a terrific twist ending as well.
The narration by Holly Palance and Imani Parks was excellent.
Silverswift was one of ten free Audible Originals available to members in July 2020. It is available to everyone for a standard price.
Review of the Audible Original audiobook (July 2020)
3.5 rounded up.
This was an interesting take on the fantasy world of mermaids, with a young girl joining her grandmother in a mermaid seeking adventure. The present day story alternates with the tale of a legendary mermaid named Silverswift as she approaches her time to live on land and then decide whether to remain there or return to the mermaid community. It was rather different from a standard young adult fantasy tale and had a terrific twist ending as well.
The narration by Holly Palance and Imani Parks was excellent.
Silverswift was one of ten free Audible Originals available to members in July 2020. It is available to everyone for a standard price.
July 26, 2020
You can't argue with a pure truth, any good story is a love story. I am now a Natalie Lloyd fan. I was expecting a Peter Pan style of mermaid story or even Sirens but I was delighted to experience something different. Lloyd creates a infectious mystery in the relationship between Eliza and her grandmother Mora and the legend of Sirens Harbor. Courageous choices, misunderstandings, and the love of family make for a story you need to be true. I now have to search for mermaids at the shore. I hope you will feel equally compelled to as well.
April 17, 2021
I thought this was a beautifully written story. It was engaging and even a little suspenseful. It spoke to my heart, ignited my imagination, and stimulated my curiosity-a good trifecta.
I listened to it audibly and enjoyed the two different readers. I thought maybe the Eliza reader shouldn't have tried an Irish accent, because it took me out of the story. So maybe read it rather than listen to it.
I listened to it audibly and enjoyed the two different readers. I thought maybe the Eliza reader shouldn't have tried an Irish accent, because it took me out of the story. So maybe read it rather than listen to it.
June 5, 2022
This is a tale of family, love, hope, adventure, and mermaids.
While this is geared to the middle grade audience, it has some great themes and reminders for adults to never lose that sense of wonder and that sometimes a fairy tale is true. I also love the dynamic of the grandmother and granddaughter.
While this is geared to the middle grade audience, it has some great themes and reminders for adults to never lose that sense of wonder and that sometimes a fairy tale is true. I also love the dynamic of the grandmother and granddaughter.
July 18, 2020
Cute, but predictable.
August 4, 2020
Very cute young adult/tween book about the relationship between a grandma and her granddaughter (and daughter).
September 12, 2020
Great Kids book, but for adults also! Our grandsons were fascinated with it.
November 25, 2020
Fun enjoyable story for all ages.
March 16, 2021
Book Rating: ★★☆☆� (2 / 5 stars, DNF @ 60%)
Eliza loves her Nana Mora, especially her stories about Silverswift, the legendary mermaid! One winter, Eliza receives a letter from Mora asking her to spend time with her for the holidays on St. Simmons Island. After arguing with her mother about the story, eventually she is allowed to go. But when she arrives, she finds her grandmother more distraught than ever. Is it possible the story of Silverswift is true? And if so…can they make it to Siren’s Harbor before the solstice so Nana Mora can see Silverswift one last time?
I suppose it has finally happened: I have DNF’d a book that I can actually rate. I never rate a book unless I hit 50% of the way through. For awhile, I kept trying to push through this story, but something just didn’t work for me.
The story itself is heartwarming: a grandmother and her granddaughter hunting for a mythical legend, while facing issues about family and friendships. The message is warm, and it’s well written, intermingled with a subtle hint of fantasy. I wanted to find Siren’s Harbor as much as Mora and Eliza!
But, especially for a middle-grade novel, it dragged. It might have been the narration, which still seemed slow at 1.25x speed! I felt my mind wandering while listening to this book. Often times, when I am listening to an audiobook and I struggle the narrator, I’ll go and find the actual book or eBook. But, this story was only shared as an audiobook, so I had to make the choice as to whether or not I wanted to finish it, especially when I have many other stories in my Library.
I chose to DNF it. While I am sure the story ultimately has a great message in it, now just wasn’t the time for me to listen to it.
Also, personally, I was more interested in Eliza and Mora than in the detours into Silverswift’s tale, and that’s when my interest began to wane. I’m sure a lot of children will want to hear about Silverswift though…and possibly find Eliza and Mora less interesting (but I don’t speak for children). What I do think is that since the narration was so slow, it might not keep the interest of children. Though, it might help them get to sleep at night (for better or worse).
I definitely do not recommend using my review to determine if you’ll enjoy this book. Perhaps you can overlook the slow narration, or will find the tale to be the mermaid story of your dreams. Personally, this audiobook did not work for me.
Eliza loves her Nana Mora, especially her stories about Silverswift, the legendary mermaid! One winter, Eliza receives a letter from Mora asking her to spend time with her for the holidays on St. Simmons Island. After arguing with her mother about the story, eventually she is allowed to go. But when she arrives, she finds her grandmother more distraught than ever. Is it possible the story of Silverswift is true? And if so…can they make it to Siren’s Harbor before the solstice so Nana Mora can see Silverswift one last time?
I suppose it has finally happened: I have DNF’d a book that I can actually rate. I never rate a book unless I hit 50% of the way through. For awhile, I kept trying to push through this story, but something just didn’t work for me.
The story itself is heartwarming: a grandmother and her granddaughter hunting for a mythical legend, while facing issues about family and friendships. The message is warm, and it’s well written, intermingled with a subtle hint of fantasy. I wanted to find Siren’s Harbor as much as Mora and Eliza!
But, especially for a middle-grade novel, it dragged. It might have been the narration, which still seemed slow at 1.25x speed! I felt my mind wandering while listening to this book. Often times, when I am listening to an audiobook and I struggle the narrator, I’ll go and find the actual book or eBook. But, this story was only shared as an audiobook, so I had to make the choice as to whether or not I wanted to finish it, especially when I have many other stories in my Library.
I chose to DNF it. While I am sure the story ultimately has a great message in it, now just wasn’t the time for me to listen to it.
Also, personally, I was more interested in Eliza and Mora than in the detours into Silverswift’s tale, and that’s when my interest began to wane. I’m sure a lot of children will want to hear about Silverswift though…and possibly find Eliza and Mora less interesting (but I don’t speak for children). What I do think is that since the narration was so slow, it might not keep the interest of children. Though, it might help them get to sleep at night (for better or worse).
I definitely do not recommend using my review to determine if you’ll enjoy this book. Perhaps you can overlook the slow narration, or will find the tale to be the mermaid story of your dreams. Personally, this audiobook did not work for me.
April 3, 2021
The mermaid on the front of this beautiful book cover drew me in, as did the price (free for Audible members). I have always been obsessed with mermaids, so that was an easy way to lure me in. Bad pun intended. 😂
The story follows Eliza Grey as her grandmother asks her to come visit so that they can go on a quest together. Eliza adores her whimsical grandmother, so she's excited to oblige. However, it takes some convincing with her mother who has a grudge against her mother's eccentric behavior. You see, Nana Mora and her late husband made their living selling mermaid maps and souvenirs, as well as telling fantastical stories to go with them. Eliza's mother wants nothing to do with her mother or the island she lives on. But Eliza knows that her grandmother's eyesight is fading and that this is her last chance to go on this type of quest, so she convinces her mother in the end.
Together with a wacky lighthouse keeper, Eliza and Nana Mora go to the place where all the mermaids in the world convene once a year for their Winter Song. Eliza believes it's just a story, but as they travel closer to the location, Nana Mora tells a tale Eliza has never heard before.
This was a really cute story. Parts of it were very similar to The Little Mermaid; however, there were many unique parts. Not only is there a fantasy element with mermaids, but this story deals with the topics of: death of loved ones, illness and aging, family members who don't get along, divorced parents, dating parents, and speration of family. This could be a good way for a child to bridge those topics in a relatively light manner. Most of the book I felt was a solid 3 stars for me, but the ending rounded it up to 3.5. I think in this case, the book may be better received by children then adults. Overall, I do recommend this book to lovers of family stories and mermaids.
3.5 Stars Rounded Up
The story follows Eliza Grey as her grandmother asks her to come visit so that they can go on a quest together. Eliza adores her whimsical grandmother, so she's excited to oblige. However, it takes some convincing with her mother who has a grudge against her mother's eccentric behavior. You see, Nana Mora and her late husband made their living selling mermaid maps and souvenirs, as well as telling fantastical stories to go with them. Eliza's mother wants nothing to do with her mother or the island she lives on. But Eliza knows that her grandmother's eyesight is fading and that this is her last chance to go on this type of quest, so she convinces her mother in the end.
Together with a wacky lighthouse keeper, Eliza and Nana Mora go to the place where all the mermaids in the world convene once a year for their Winter Song. Eliza believes it's just a story, but as they travel closer to the location, Nana Mora tells a tale Eliza has never heard before.
This was a really cute story. Parts of it were very similar to The Little Mermaid; however, there were many unique parts. Not only is there a fantasy element with mermaids, but this story deals with the topics of: death of loved ones, illness and aging, family members who don't get along, divorced parents, dating parents, and speration of family. This could be a good way for a child to bridge those topics in a relatively light manner. Most of the book I felt was a solid 3 stars for me, but the ending rounded it up to 3.5. I think in this case, the book may be better received by children then adults. Overall, I do recommend this book to lovers of family stories and mermaids.
3.5 Stars Rounded Up
September 10, 2020
A fun -esque type tale (but more like the Disney version than Hans Christian Andersen's). Not a retelling exactly, but lots of similarities. The story is predictable but sweet. A lovely middle-grade fairy tale.
I loved that Nana Mora and Eliza write handwritten letters to each other and I loved what the author says about letter writing:
When the story starts, I understood what the tension between the mother and Eliza was setting up. But the entire time, I was thinking, the grandmother is exactly the type of person I strive to be—wild, free, and entirely my own person living on my own terms.
The narration by Holly Palance and Imani Parks was excellent. 3.5 stars.
I loved that Nana Mora and Eliza write handwritten letters to each other and I loved what the author says about letter writing:
There is something magical about mail . . . letters are intentional.
When the story starts, I understood what the tension between the mother and Eliza was setting up. But the entire time, I was thinking, the grandmother is exactly the type of person I strive to be—wild, free, and entirely my own person living on my own terms.
The narration by Holly Palance and Imani Parks was excellent. 3.5 stars.
September 13, 2024
This was a fun & beautiful adventure! Family & roots are so important. It shapes us & helps us bond with our family. Heirlooms, memories, and stories passed down from generations. THAT'S THE GOOD STUFF!
Eliza learns about some very important roots that deepen her ties with her family & it is such a wonderful adventure!
Yes, there are mermaids involved. And to be honest, I LOVED this story fast better than the Disney version of Little Mermaid!
Eliza learns about some very important roots that deepen her ties with her family & it is such a wonderful adventure!
Yes, there are mermaids involved. And to be honest, I LOVED this story fast better than the Disney version of Little Mermaid!
November 6, 2020
Sweet middle grade story about family, adventure, love, and the ocean. Eliza visits her grandmother to help her look for Siren's Harbor one last time before she loses her eyesight. The tale is told through 2 narrators: a young girl telling Eliza's experiences and an older woman as Nana Mora recounting the story of Silverswift. I listened at 1.2x speed because they both spoke really slowly and paused a lot, especially the girl. The writing was almost lyrical, evoking a sense of magic and an ethereal world of mythical beings from the sea. However, because of the storytelling style the pacing of the plot seems sluggish compared to a typical middle grade book. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go listen for the Winter Wind...
April 21, 2021
Super sweet!
Dare to believe.
Be adventurous.
Love.
There were some flaws but mostly this surpassed expectations!
very fairy tale-esque but great for any 2nd grade up girl (also great for g'mas!)
Dare to believe.
Be adventurous.
Love.
There were some flaws but mostly this surpassed expectations!
very fairy tale-esque but great for any 2nd grade up girl (also great for g'mas!)
July 15, 2021
Such a cute book. I enjoyed listening to this one between classes at night.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 281 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.