Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

Author: Tera Lynn Childs
Title: Forgive My Fins
Publisher: HarperCollins Publisher
Copyright 2010 by Tera Lynn Childs
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Tera Lynn Childs Official Webpage

Synopsis:

Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it’s not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you’re a normal teenage girl, but when you’re half human, half mermaid like Lily, there’s no such thing as a simple crush.

Lily’s mermaid identity is a secret that can’t get out, since she’s not just any mermaid – she’s a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn’t feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she’s been living on land and going to Seaview high school ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems – like her obnoxious, biker boy neighbor Quince Fletcher – but it has that one major perk – Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren’t really the casual dating type – when they “bond,” it’s for life.

When Lily’s attempt to win Brody’s love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily-ever-after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

Wow! I loved this book! Tera Lynn Childs wrote an easy, fun, and light-hearted story that I truly enjoyed. If there was ever a mythical character I wanted to be, it was a mermaid.


For some people, the darkness of many storylines in YA books is frowned upon. (I, personally, think that people need to realize that fiction is fiction and sometimes people read to escape.) However, Forgive My Fins gives readers a lighter escape.


I warn though, tears did surface a few times. I love books that actually bring my emotions to the surface.

The characters made this story completely amazing. Each of them were quirky in there own way.

• Waterlily - or Lily as she is known to "terrapeds" or humans is a royal princess to the Kingdom of Thalassinia, she has a unique way with words, she will have to make choices that will forever define her life. Such a difficult thing for any teenager to do.
• Shannen - is the terraped best friend to Lily. She is smart, trusting, supporting, accepting and helpful. Shannen is all the things best friends should be.
• Quince Fletcher - is the boy next door who is a "pain in the tail fin." He may not be exactly the person Lily thought he was, though.
• Brody - is the all American boy. He is an olympic level swimmer with a bright future. He is also Lily's main crush.
• King Whelk of Thalassinia - is the father of Lily. He is a charming and understanding dad. He has ruled Thalassinia with a firm but honest hand.
• Peri - is Lily's best MerFriend. They grew up together and Peri knows Lily better than Lily knows herself.
• Dosinia - is Lily's pesky MerCousin. She is shallow, bratty, and has a hatred for all terrapeds.
• Aunt Rachel - is Lily's terraped aunt on her mother's side of the family. She has taken Lily to raise while Lily searches for what she truly wants in life.

The characters have great chemistry with each other. From the beginning, I laughed with them and then I cried with them. Lily's "bizarre obsession with fish terminology" always managed to make me giggle.


I saw this as a coming-of-age story about a young lady who must make many tough decisions before she turns 18. Many of these decisions are difficult at any age, but much more so for an eighteen year-old whose choices will affect her for her entire life. Can you imagine the decisions you make at eighteen being permanent for your entire life? Eeks!!!