Maybe a Mermaid

By Josephine Cameron

A skeptical girl seeks true friendship amidst mermaid rumors and tangled truths at a summer resort.

3.9/5 Goodreads · 740 ratings

288 pages· 54,322 words· Est. 7.5 hour read

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Bookroo's summary

Eleven-year-old Anthoni Gillis arrives at Thunder Lake, determined to find a True Blue Friend using her foolproof checklist. But as she navigates local gossip about a mysterious mermaid and her mother's stretching of the truth, Anthoni faces a choice: stick to her plan or embrace unexpected adventures. Will she uncover the truth behind the mermaid legend, or will her summer be defined by new friendships and surprising possibilities? Dive into a heartfelt journey where truth and lies blur, and hope emerges in the most unexpected places.

From the publisher

A summer romp full of mystery, new friends, and maybe a mermaid!

Eleven-year-old Anthoni Gillis is not the kind of kid who believes in fairies, unicorns, or even the word “maybe.” She’s more of a comic-books girl. So when her mom brings her to Thunder Lake for a summer at the Showboat Resort, she doesn’t believe the local rumors about the Boulay Mermaid.

Anthoni has bigger fish to fry. She’s always wanted a True Blue Friend. But it’s been hard to find one, since for the past five years she’s been bouncing from town to town, helping her mother sell Beauty &amp; the Bee cosmetic products to keep them both afloat. This summer will be different, though. Anthoni has a plan–a foolproof checklist for making lifelong friends! There won’t be any “maybes” this time.

But as she grows entangled in local gossip, and her mother stretches the truth, Anthoni must decide if she’ll “stick to the plan,” like always, or dive into a summer full of extraordinary possibilities.

Josephine Cameron’s energetic and heartfelt debut raises timeless questions about truth, lies, and the hope that grows between them.

At a glance

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 288
Words: 54,322
Reading age: 8–11
Audience: Middle Grade
Lexile: 660L

Themes & topics

Books about family Books about parents Books about friendship Books about mermaids Books about mother-daughter relationships

For the grown-ups

The parent guide

What families may want to know

Every family reads differently. These are the concepts our editors noticed in this book — worth seeking out for some readers, worth knowing about for others. The list isn't exhaustive, but it's a spoiler-light head start.

Language

This book has one instance of taking the Lord's name in vain, and occasional unkind language such as "jerk."

For readers who can't stop at one