The Last Mermaid of the Mississippi

When her trailer park is threatened by developers, a determined girl will do anything to save it--even proving a real-life mermaid calls the nearby river home--in this unforgettable debut middle grade novel perfect for fans of Erin Entrada Kelly and Tae Keller. Twelve-year old Jocie Ballentine knows there is nowhere in the world better than home--and hers, the Great River Trailer Park in rural Iowa right along the Mississippi River, just happens to be the best. Not only is it where Zelda (her best friend) and Jasper (her biggest crush) live, it's also right down the shore from a real-life mermaid, Stormi (who also happens to be the local gas station clerk). Most importantly, it's the only place Jocie knows her mom will be able to find her (if she ever decides to come back home). So when Jocie discovers the trailer park is being sold to developers and she and her friends are being forced out, her previously perfect summer vacation (filled with old episodes of Jeopardy! and fried peanut butter sandwiches) is ruined. Suddenly, Jocie's life starts to unravel: Zelda is spending all her time with a new girl, her Aunt Cate is insisting they'll have to move, and no one else seems to believe that Stormi is a mermaid. The only thing that makes sense anymore is home, and nothing will stop Jocie from trying to save it. With Jasper's help, Jocie decides that Stormi must be the key--after all, if Jocie can capture a mermaid, she must be able to save the trailer park. Because without the home she's always known, where in the world does Jocie belong?