Reviews for The Mermaid's Twin Sister

by Lynn Joseph

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

A sequel to A Wave in Her Pocket (1991, ALA Notable) with six more tales featuring such characters from superstition and folklore as ``de duennes,'' the mischievous spirits of babies who died unbaptized, and ``La Diablesse,'' ghost of the last Arawak on Trinidad: a siren with one cloven hoof who dances men to their deaths. Mixed with these supernatural stories are bits of Trinidadian history and cultural lore, e.g., the origin of ``callaloo'' (a tale resembling ``Stone Soup''). Written in dialect, each chapter contains a story-within-a-story (told by ``Tantie'' to her grand niece) that unhurriedly unfolds to reward patient readers or listeners with its suspense, humor, and folk wisdom. Inviting, neon-bright pastels vibrate in the jacket art; each chapter has its own full-page b&w illustration. (Folklore. 8-12)


Horn Book
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Fiction: NF Age: 4-6 Accompanied by striking black-and-white illustrations in chalk pastel, the companion volume to [cf2]A Wave in Her Pocket[cf1] (Clarion) features six more spellbinding stories from Trinidad. Once again, it is the narrator's great-aunt, a master storyteller, who tells Amber and her cousins spooky, funny, traditional tales. The authentic folklore is told with flair, and a fine afterword sets each story in context. Horn Rating: Superior, well above average. Reviewed by: mvp (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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