Mermaids seem to be the new vampires of the young adult paranormal world. Several books now entering the fray are about sirens, the mermaids known for luring sailors into the water with their haunting songs. Author/agent Mandy Hubbard plays with this dark story line in her new novel, Ripple.
Lexi suffers from a curse, handed down for generations, that turns her into a siren on her 16th birthday. Unaware of the power of her voice, she accidentally kills someone and ends up shunned by all her former friends. Things start to change when a new boy shows up at school, and one of her old friends reaches out to her. Soon Lexi is torn between keeping her secret and walking away from love.
This is Hubbard's third novel for the YA market and her strongest to date. Leaving behind the charming antics of Prada & Prejudice and You Wish, Hubbard has crafted a moodier novel with Ripple. Deftly combining an empathetic main character with an engaging plot, she also manages to add a deadly twist to the teenage love triangle. While some questions go unanswered and a few situations seem a bit far-fetched, the tight pacing of the story will keep readers turning the pages. Ripple is a satisfying contribution to the burgeoning ranks of mermaid lore. --Sherrie Petersen, reviewer and blogger