Of Salt and Shore by Annet Schaap Book Review

Of Salt and Shore by Annet Schaap was a dark, nautical story that featured a brave girl named Lampie. It initially reminded me a bit of the classic The Secret Garden. The way the two main kids’ families are set up, their backgrounds, their handicaps, kids sneaking out together, etc. I enjoyed the darker mermaid tale. So many modern mermaid tales are light and happy, but the original mermaid stories were not. I feel Of Salt and Shore really revives original folklore and Schaap’s adds her own twist to it. It is different from its contemporary counterparts. 

I think the scare factour of this story is perfect for Middle Grade. I am a big scaredy cat and at no point was I scared. So, I think as long as kids do not mind darker themed books, being a little creeped, and the subject matter they should be fine. The only part I was extremely creeped out by was when a carnie asked for a kiss from Lampie. A grown adult asking a kid for a kiss is super creepy. 

The plot drove Of Salt and Shore. I did have a few issues at the beginning of the plot, such as why is a child getting left when the owner of the house is not there, and the maid does not want her there. Why is the town leaving Lampie at this house for seven years and not checking on her? Is the dad telling Lampie to lie to protect her or to protect himself? These are questions that do get answered, but initially, I felt them to be farfetched. I am okay with plots being stretched, especially in a fantasy driven book. However, I do not know if a younger reader would think about these points as much or if they would just go with the flow. 

Fish is our other main character. He is a merman. There was an underlying message that just because people are different does not make them weird or scary. They are humans like everyone else. Don’t fear them. Embrace them. I fully embraced that message. 

Lastly, I was surprised by all the turns this book took. I could not figure out how the story was going to end. It kept me engaged and reading. 

This book does deal with some domestic abuse, “foster care” if you can really call it that, by the end of the book, and alcoholism. 

There are illustrations throughout the story, and they bring a great aesthetic to the book. 

I did receive an Advanced Read Copy from Charlesbridge through Net Galley, at my request. The opinions are 100% my own. Thank you so much for allowing me to read this story!