I think it's important to note that at times this is a tense and difficult read, in the sense of coping with what Faith is dealing with. I found the first part of the story really quite upsetting, as the tension builds for Faith with all the balls she is trying to keep in the air, and her life just starts to feel completely impossible. As the story moves on it switches tone a little more to mystery and adventure story, and the ending is fortunately upbeat so you come away feeling positive. I don't think it's a bad thing for children to read about other children taking on these very difficult, stressful, caring roles because it does happen in real life. But I think it's useful to be aware when a story is going to be an emotional read, just so you can support your child, if it's needed, as they experience the book. There's a lot to talk about after reading, and as well as looking at some difficult topics such as dealing with loss, grief and depression it's also a good, thrilling adventure story.
For more adventure stories set by the sea, you might also enjoy reading [[Mistress of the Storm by Melanie Welsh]] or [[Adventure Island: The Mystery of the Whistling Caves by Helen Moss]] . For more from Cotter, try [[The Mermaid Call by Alex Cotter|The Mermaid Call]].
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