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Daughters of the Sea #1
Hannah
Daughters of the Sea tells the story of 3 mermaid sisters who are separated at birth by a storm and go on to lead three very different lives. Book 1 is about Hannah, who spent her early days in an orphanage and is now a scullery maid in the house of rich, powerful family. She is irresistibly drawn to the sea and through a series of accidents and encounters discovers her true identity. Hannah realizes that she must keep the truth a secret but she also knows that soon she will have to make the choice - to be a creature of the land or the sea.
310 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2009
78 people are currently reading
7084 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Lasky
267 books2,244 followersKathryn Lasky, also known as Kathryn Lasky Knight and E. L. Swann, is an award-winning American author of over one hundred books for children and adults. Best known for the Guardians of Ga’Hoole series, her work has been translated into 19 languages and includes historical fiction, fantasy, and nonfiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 315 reviews
March 19, 2012
So, what's with the demonic cat and the strange bond with the crazy eldest daughter? And what about the two vases? Are they some sort of portal? And does she really play the harp naked that night or did the author just forget that she told us Hannah likes to sleep naked because her sheets are softer than her nightdress? And the painter, does he regularly go after 15 year old girls?
You know, for all the questions the author brings up and doesn't bother to answer, the plot is spread thinly. There is plenty of space that could have been used to develop some of the ideas that pepper the book but are ultimately left to wilt.
Oh, and the main character gasps a lot. And draws in her breath sharply. A lot. A lot a lot.
Basically, the book has a useable idea that it doesn't bother to develop so that the bits that kept me reading never bloomed. (Oh, and the ending was lame. It just stops. Yep.)
If you want a very fast read that drags along and doesn't demand anything of you (other than suspending your deductive mind), maybe you'll enjoy it. For me, I think it ended up just being a waste of time.
You know, for all the questions the author brings up and doesn't bother to answer, the plot is spread thinly. There is plenty of space that could have been used to develop some of the ideas that pepper the book but are ultimately left to wilt.
Oh, and the main character gasps a lot. And draws in her breath sharply. A lot. A lot a lot.
Basically, the book has a useable idea that it doesn't bother to develop so that the bits that kept me reading never bloomed. (Oh, and the ending was lame. It just stops. Yep.)
If you want a very fast read that drags along and doesn't demand anything of you (other than suspending your deductive mind), maybe you'll enjoy it. For me, I think it ended up just being a waste of time.
June 14, 2010
WARNING: This review contains spoilers, very general or from early in the book, in the penultimate paragraph.
This book was so odd-kind of like Upstairs, Downstairs with mermaids. Which could be really cool, if the plot had lived up to the world-building. Instead, it felt like the author wanted to show off the research she had done on the life of domestic servants in the late 19th century, and leave the supernatural elements as an afterthought. The result is a book that doesn't feel at all driven by the heroine's personal struggles, most of which get resolved without her taking action.
Hannah Albury is a fifteen-year-old orphan in 1899, who is sent into domestic service. Her first position is to be in Kansas, but when Hannah is sent away from the sea, she becomes ill, itching all the time, and with crystals forming on her skin. She then ends up in a position as scullery maid in Boston, in the household of the wealthy Hawley family. Hannah must learn the ins and outs of domestic service while trying to figure out her own nature, dealing with the mental instability of the eldest Hawley daughter, and the attentions of the mysterious artist, Stannish Wheeler, who may know more about Hannah's nature than he's letting on.
Hannah: Daughters of the Sea is clearly designed to be a genre -bending work, straddling the lines between historical and supernatural fiction. I've read many a novel that blends those two genres successfully, and it's a combination that I usually enjoy. The problem with Hannah is the other lines it straddles, such as the line between Children's and Young Adult fiction. Although Hannah is a teenager, and there are romantic scenes throughout the novel, to me this felt like a book written for younger readers than the typical young adult novel. This is partly due to Lasky's reliance on telling rather than showing the reader the details of Hannah's daily life, which leads to the book crossing another line--between fiction and non-fiction. Now I'm not saying any of the characters are real or that the events of the story really happened; it's just that the book read at times like those books shelved in children's non-fiction, with titles like "If You Lived in the Middle Ages" or "I Was a Suffragist." In other words, books that use dramatization to educate kids about history, rather than books focused on telling a story, albeit one set in historical times.
I'd like to close this review by discussing character and conflict as it plays out in Hannah: Daughters of the Sea. I didn't really have an issue with Hannah herself, except that she didn't do much to solve her own problems. Then again, she wasn't given a chance to. For example, when Hannah is too old to stay at her orphanage, the cruel matron Miss Pringle sends her on an Orphan Train to Kansas, claiming Hannah is unsuited for domestic service, the kind of job that would allow her to stay in Boston. In Kansas, since she is away from the sea, Hannah gets ill and ends up having to go back to the orphanage. Logically, she should have to convince Miss Pringle she isn't unsuited for domestic service, so she can take a job in Boston. But surprise! Miss Pringle is gone and has been replaced by the kind Mrs Larkin, who has no problem with Hannah performing domestic service. Hannah gets what she wants without having to do a thing. Likewise, when she is working in the Hawley household, Hannah has some unfortunate encounters with the oldest Hawley daughter, Lila. Lila is an interesting character, at first imperious and controlling, but gradually becoming more unhinged and a threat to Hannah personally and to the household tranquility in general. So Lila has to go. Then she comes back. Lila is sort of an "antagonist in a box;" Lasky gets her out when needed to stir up trouble, then puts her away again. Hannah's social status is far beneath Lila's, and it would be fascinating to see her negotiate this imbalance while standing up for herself, but she doesn't.
Despite its supernatural elements, I'd recommend Hannah: Daughters of the Sea to fans of historical fiction rather than fantasy. The fantasy elements are introduced, and will hopefully be explained in further installments of the series; the historical background, however, is detailed and interesting.* And I do like that domestic service is painted as, not glamorous or exciting, but a job one could live with, and have the prospect of promotion as well. The setting is rich, some of the characters quite likable, but the plot utterly lacking in suspense.
*Please note: I didn't say "accurate;" I know too little about the time period to make that claim!
This book was so odd-kind of like Upstairs, Downstairs with mermaids. Which could be really cool, if the plot had lived up to the world-building. Instead, it felt like the author wanted to show off the research she had done on the life of domestic servants in the late 19th century, and leave the supernatural elements as an afterthought. The result is a book that doesn't feel at all driven by the heroine's personal struggles, most of which get resolved without her taking action.
Hannah Albury is a fifteen-year-old orphan in 1899, who is sent into domestic service. Her first position is to be in Kansas, but when Hannah is sent away from the sea, she becomes ill, itching all the time, and with crystals forming on her skin. She then ends up in a position as scullery maid in Boston, in the household of the wealthy Hawley family. Hannah must learn the ins and outs of domestic service while trying to figure out her own nature, dealing with the mental instability of the eldest Hawley daughter, and the attentions of the mysterious artist, Stannish Wheeler, who may know more about Hannah's nature than he's letting on.
Hannah: Daughters of the Sea is clearly designed to be a genre -bending work, straddling the lines between historical and supernatural fiction. I've read many a novel that blends those two genres successfully, and it's a combination that I usually enjoy. The problem with Hannah is the other lines it straddles, such as the line between Children's and Young Adult fiction. Although Hannah is a teenager, and there are romantic scenes throughout the novel, to me this felt like a book written for younger readers than the typical young adult novel. This is partly due to Lasky's reliance on telling rather than showing the reader the details of Hannah's daily life, which leads to the book crossing another line--between fiction and non-fiction. Now I'm not saying any of the characters are real or that the events of the story really happened; it's just that the book read at times like those books shelved in children's non-fiction, with titles like "If You Lived in the Middle Ages" or "I Was a Suffragist." In other words, books that use dramatization to educate kids about history, rather than books focused on telling a story, albeit one set in historical times.
I'd like to close this review by discussing character and conflict as it plays out in Hannah: Daughters of the Sea. I didn't really have an issue with Hannah herself, except that she didn't do much to solve her own problems. Then again, she wasn't given a chance to. For example, when Hannah is too old to stay at her orphanage, the cruel matron Miss Pringle sends her on an Orphan Train to Kansas, claiming Hannah is unsuited for domestic service, the kind of job that would allow her to stay in Boston. In Kansas, since she is away from the sea, Hannah gets ill and ends up having to go back to the orphanage. Logically, she should have to convince Miss Pringle she isn't unsuited for domestic service, so she can take a job in Boston. But surprise! Miss Pringle is gone and has been replaced by the kind Mrs Larkin, who has no problem with Hannah performing domestic service. Hannah gets what she wants without having to do a thing. Likewise, when she is working in the Hawley household, Hannah has some unfortunate encounters with the oldest Hawley daughter, Lila. Lila is an interesting character, at first imperious and controlling, but gradually becoming more unhinged and a threat to Hannah personally and to the household tranquility in general. So Lila has to go. Then she comes back. Lila is sort of an "antagonist in a box;" Lasky gets her out when needed to stir up trouble, then puts her away again. Hannah's social status is far beneath Lila's, and it would be fascinating to see her negotiate this imbalance while standing up for herself, but she doesn't.
Despite its supernatural elements, I'd recommend Hannah: Daughters of the Sea to fans of historical fiction rather than fantasy. The fantasy elements are introduced, and will hopefully be explained in further installments of the series; the historical background, however, is detailed and interesting.* And I do like that domestic service is painted as, not glamorous or exciting, but a job one could live with, and have the prospect of promotion as well. The setting is rich, some of the characters quite likable, but the plot utterly lacking in suspense.
*Please note: I didn't say "accurate;" I know too little about the time period to make that claim!
July 22, 2011
Don't have time to write a full review. I probably will later.
In short though, this book is really slow and dull. The characters lacked any luster for me and the most unique ones were introduced at the end. The main character, Hannah, was boring, too innocent, and just not easy to relate to. Plot wise, it was awful. I knew the ending before I even read the book, simply based on the description. There's no guessing involved at all. The only interesting part is the younger girl in the house that Hannah works at, with her creepy cat. But, even that doesn't make up for the fact that the book is incredibly slow, and the whole thing leads up to an event that the reader should know is going to happen no matter what. There were a few characters and ideas that the author could have expanded on to make the book actually interesting, but she didn't even do that much. Honestly, I can usually find something in a book that I liked. There wasn't much in this one. I finished it with a gut feeling that I had wasted my time and money on the novel. My advice is to not pick this one up. I have no clue why it's a Young Adult book. If anything, I would put it in the children's section (as younger kids are the only ones that might find this interesting). If you want a mermaid story, go read Siren by Tricia Rayburn or Mermaid Park (this isn't exactly ABOUT mermaids, but it seemed to satisfy me when I was younger and extremely interested in them) by Beth Mayall. Apparently there's a sequel to Hannah out...? Hopefully it's better than this. I personally don't intend on finding out.
In short though, this book is really slow and dull. The characters lacked any luster for me and the most unique ones were introduced at the end. The main character, Hannah, was boring, too innocent, and just not easy to relate to. Plot wise, it was awful. I knew the ending before I even read the book, simply based on the description. There's no guessing involved at all. The only interesting part is the younger girl in the house that Hannah works at, with her creepy cat. But, even that doesn't make up for the fact that the book is incredibly slow, and the whole thing leads up to an event that the reader should know is going to happen no matter what. There were a few characters and ideas that the author could have expanded on to make the book actually interesting, but she didn't even do that much. Honestly, I can usually find something in a book that I liked. There wasn't much in this one. I finished it with a gut feeling that I had wasted my time and money on the novel. My advice is to not pick this one up. I have no clue why it's a Young Adult book. If anything, I would put it in the children's section (as younger kids are the only ones that might find this interesting). If you want a mermaid story, go read Siren by Tricia Rayburn or Mermaid Park (this isn't exactly ABOUT mermaids, but it seemed to satisfy me when I was younger and extremely interested in them) by Beth Mayall. Apparently there's a sequel to Hannah out...? Hopefully it's better than this. I personally don't intend on finding out.
November 14, 2011
Hannah is the story of one of three mermaid sisters who were separated at birth at the end of the 19th century. The story starts out with her living in an orphanage in Boston. Once the orphans turn 14 they have to work, most often as servants for wealthy families. Hannah is found to be unsuitable for living in one of these homes because she is outspoken and smarter than the average girl, so she's stuck on an orphan train destined for Kansas to work on a farm. On the train she develops a rash and her face swells up. Since she looks diseased, only a pastor and his wife are willing to take her on as hired help. Hannah quickly comes to realize though that she can't be so far from the ocean and she gets sicker and sicker until she convinces them to let her go back to Boston.
Back in Boston she manages to get a job as a scullery girl for the very wealthy Hawley family. She learns how to live life as a servant while also trying to come to terms with the strange things her body is doing. We already know what Hannah is from the description of the book, but she has no idea what's going on.
The Hawley family has three daughters, and one of them, Lila, is pretty much evil. Lila and her equally evil cat Jade dislike Hannah. Things are made especially worse when the handsome painter that comes to paint the daughters' portrait seems to take a liking to Hannah. So Lila is quickly set up as the villain of the story and proceeds to wreak havoc on the household.
The bulk of this book is mostly about Hannah's life as a servant, and I think I would have been fine with that if the mermaid part didn't feel so tacked on at the end. This could have been a nice historical fiction novel otherwise. I could have easily rated this book 4 stars if it wasn't for the way it ended. This book is part of a trilogy but it also doesn't seem to stand on its own. It doesn't end in a cliffhanger leaving you wanting more though, it just ends. I honestly thought they forgot to print part of it! And this is doubly frustrating without a date anywhere on the horizon for the next book.
I enjoyed the characters and the world imagined for this story but the fact that it didn't have a solid ending really bothered me. I will read the next book to find out what happens, but I'm hoping it doesn't end the same.
Back in Boston she manages to get a job as a scullery girl for the very wealthy Hawley family. She learns how to live life as a servant while also trying to come to terms with the strange things her body is doing. We already know what Hannah is from the description of the book, but she has no idea what's going on.
The Hawley family has three daughters, and one of them, Lila, is pretty much evil. Lila and her equally evil cat Jade dislike Hannah. Things are made especially worse when the handsome painter that comes to paint the daughters' portrait seems to take a liking to Hannah. So Lila is quickly set up as the villain of the story and proceeds to wreak havoc on the household.
The bulk of this book is mostly about Hannah's life as a servant, and I think I would have been fine with that if the mermaid part didn't feel so tacked on at the end. This could have been a nice historical fiction novel otherwise. I could have easily rated this book 4 stars if it wasn't for the way it ended. This book is part of a trilogy but it also doesn't seem to stand on its own. It doesn't end in a cliffhanger leaving you wanting more though, it just ends. I honestly thought they forgot to print part of it! And this is doubly frustrating without a date anywhere on the horizon for the next book.
I enjoyed the characters and the world imagined for this story but the fact that it didn't have a solid ending really bothered me. I will read the next book to find out what happens, but I'm hoping it doesn't end the same.
November 1, 2016
I gave this more of a 2.5 ratings. My issue with this was that it never really dealt with the mermaid issue until the very end of the book. It was mostly her time living and working for the rich family. If it had dealt more with her being a mermaid then I would have enjoyed it more.
August 28, 2009
The other orphan girls at the Boston Home for Little Wanderers fantasize that they are secretly the long-lost daughters of wealthy families, or even of royalty. Hannah harbors no such dreams. What she doesn't know, however, is that her heritage is the strangest of all. When she is packed off to live in dry landlocked Kansas and falls deathly ill, she begins to realize that she's not like other girls.
Desperate, Hannah returns to Boston and finds a job as a scullery maid with the wealthy Hawley family. She begins to discover more signs of her not-quite-human nature, while at the same time dealing with the first stirrings of young love and with the Hawleys' creepy oldest daughter (whose voice I kept hearing as Drusilla's from Buffy). When the family travels to their vacation home in Maine, Hannah feels the pull of the sea even more strongly, and learns that she must make a difficult choice.
Many of the conflicts in Hannah come from the restrictions that surrounded women and the lower classes at the turn of the century. At first, this vivid portrayal of strict social etiquette reminded me a bit of Libba Bray's novels (though there's a lot less of the Gothic here), but as Hannah progressed, I realized that it reminded me of nothing so much as Eileen Kernaghan's Wild Talent. Both Hannah and Wild Talent focus on working-class girls with unusual abilities making their way through a sometimes unwelcoming society. Both novels have a hint of romance but are primarily coming-of-age tales. Readers who like one will probably like the other.
Hannah started a little slowly for me, since I felt like the Kansas plot was too quickly and easily resolved, and almost could have been left out. Once the story moves back to the East Coast, though, it's smooth sailing.
I did wish there had been more resolution to Hannah's story. It appears that this will be a series, and I assume we will learn in later books what becomes of her, but my personal preference as a reader is for series installments to stand on their own even if they do have an overarching plot as well.
Still, this is a pleasant and often lovely read, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to a young girl. I will happily read further books in the Daughters of the Sea series.
Desperate, Hannah returns to Boston and finds a job as a scullery maid with the wealthy Hawley family. She begins to discover more signs of her not-quite-human nature, while at the same time dealing with the first stirrings of young love and with the Hawleys' creepy oldest daughter (whose voice I kept hearing as Drusilla's from Buffy). When the family travels to their vacation home in Maine, Hannah feels the pull of the sea even more strongly, and learns that she must make a difficult choice.
Many of the conflicts in Hannah come from the restrictions that surrounded women and the lower classes at the turn of the century. At first, this vivid portrayal of strict social etiquette reminded me a bit of Libba Bray's novels (though there's a lot less of the Gothic here), but as Hannah progressed, I realized that it reminded me of nothing so much as Eileen Kernaghan's Wild Talent. Both Hannah and Wild Talent focus on working-class girls with unusual abilities making their way through a sometimes unwelcoming society. Both novels have a hint of romance but are primarily coming-of-age tales. Readers who like one will probably like the other.
Hannah started a little slowly for me, since I felt like the Kansas plot was too quickly and easily resolved, and almost could have been left out. Once the story moves back to the East Coast, though, it's smooth sailing.
I did wish there had been more resolution to Hannah's story. It appears that this will be a series, and I assume we will learn in later books what becomes of her, but my personal preference as a reader is for series installments to stand on their own even if they do have an overarching plot as well.
Still, this is a pleasant and often lovely read, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to a young girl. I will happily read further books in the Daughters of the Sea series.
August 9, 2015
I really got into this book. But as with all books there are pros and cons. This book was 2/3rds about servent life in the turn of the century with a very tiny part spent on the actual mermaid part. As a fan of mermaids I would have loved to see more then 5 pages dedicated to it, but alas it wouldn't be a series if we jumped to the good parts.
There's romance, drama, and a couple of boring interactions or details that could have been left out but over all it's a good book
I will pick up the series later but I really hope that as the series mentions 3 sisters, that the second book doesn't focus on some other aspect of life and only have a tiny part of the mermaid in it.
Also this book left off just when it got good, which was disappointing. 300 pages and I still don't know what happens. I felt incomplete and that's not always good.
Great story for preteens maybe even teens, and I can see some adults getting into it :)
There's romance, drama, and a couple of boring interactions or details that could have been left out but over all it's a good book
I will pick up the series later but I really hope that as the series mentions 3 sisters, that the second book doesn't focus on some other aspect of life and only have a tiny part of the mermaid in it.
Also this book left off just when it got good, which was disappointing. 300 pages and I still don't know what happens. I felt incomplete and that's not always good.
Great story for preteens maybe even teens, and I can see some adults getting into it :)
March 25, 2016
I thought this was a book about mermaids. Where are the mermaids??
Seriously, the book jacket explains to us that the main character Hannah is a mermaid from the beginning, so from page one and on it's very clear that the strange things happening to her body through the expansion of the book are because she's a mermaid. And as she keeps asking herself over and over again "What am I?" and "What's happening to me?" we already know. In turn I wondered what the finale of this story was going to be, and kept asking what all of this dull build up was about. Guess what the big reveal in the end was? THAT SHE'S A MERMAID! Really?! REALLY! And this not-so-secretive reveal occurs 10 PAGES before the end of the book! What kind of an interest is that!?
Picking up this book I thought it would be at least entertaining, but it certainly was not. The majority of this book is Hannah working as a scullery maid for the Hawley's all while timidly trying to cover up her bizarre bodily behavior (which doesn't happen often as the book calls for) not even giving a thought to the fact that she might not even BE human, just a freakish human. I mean, we're talking about Kathryn Lasky, writer of the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series. And I know this is not an adventure book, but what is it then? It definitely isn't a romance if that's what she was going for concerning the genre (there was ONE "romantic" moment and it was NOT romantic at all), and far from what I'd call a fantasy.
The characters in this book are completely flat. We have no idea what they're thinking OR feeling; we just watch them do stuff, especially Hannah. It's true actions speak louder than words, but you at least need facial expressions.
The only character that has..."character" is the (villain??) Lila Hawley, the crazy daughter of the family Hannah works for, and her cat Jade. Lila is mentally imbalanced and threatens the social status of the Hawley household with her furious emotional explosions every so often. She giggles maniacally, whispers nonsense to her cat, and literally attacks anyone who opposes her.
In a whole, the ordinary story fits well with the flavorless characters, and confusing, contradicting conclusions, leading to hardly any build up, and no pay off. I'm definitely NOT looking forward to the rest of this trilogy (even though my sister really wants me to) and certainly won't be reading this again.
Seriously, the book jacket explains to us that the main character Hannah is a mermaid from the beginning, so from page one and on it's very clear that the strange things happening to her body through the expansion of the book are because she's a mermaid. And as she keeps asking herself over and over again "What am I?" and "What's happening to me?" we already know. In turn I wondered what the finale of this story was going to be, and kept asking what all of this dull build up was about. Guess what the big reveal in the end was? THAT SHE'S A MERMAID! Really?! REALLY! And this not-so-secretive reveal occurs 10 PAGES before the end of the book! What kind of an interest is that!?
Picking up this book I thought it would be at least entertaining, but it certainly was not. The majority of this book is Hannah working as a scullery maid for the Hawley's all while timidly trying to cover up her bizarre bodily behavior (which doesn't happen often as the book calls for) not even giving a thought to the fact that she might not even BE human, just a freakish human. I mean, we're talking about Kathryn Lasky, writer of the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series. And I know this is not an adventure book, but what is it then? It definitely isn't a romance if that's what she was going for concerning the genre (there was ONE "romantic" moment and it was NOT romantic at all), and far from what I'd call a fantasy.
The characters in this book are completely flat. We have no idea what they're thinking OR feeling; we just watch them do stuff, especially Hannah. It's true actions speak louder than words, but you at least need facial expressions.
The only character that has..."character" is the (villain??) Lila Hawley, the crazy daughter of the family Hannah works for, and her cat Jade. Lila is mentally imbalanced and threatens the social status of the Hawley household with her furious emotional explosions every so often. She giggles maniacally, whispers nonsense to her cat, and literally attacks anyone who opposes her.
In a whole, the ordinary story fits well with the flavorless characters, and confusing, contradicting conclusions, leading to hardly any build up, and no pay off. I'm definitely NOT looking forward to the rest of this trilogy (even though my sister really wants me to) and certainly won't be reading this again.
November 23, 2010
This book was both mysterious and sweet, as Hannah very slowly discovers what she is and where she truly comes from. Even though I found the whole process of discovery rather drawn out, I didn't mind the slow pace because of the age of the girl and setting that she lived in, at a time in which women were never even given the opportunity to go to college and the wage of a few dollars was considered good income. How the orphans were handled, some even being "adopted" into households in the midwest, had me wondering just how common this practice was at the time and how it played into geneologies. The intricacies of how the household is run that Hannah works in is enlightening, as I had no idea there was such a heirarchy among the servant class of that time period.
Hannah is only 14 when she goes through these changes to become a mermaid, but if that had happened to me at that age, I don't think I would have had the courage to abandon what security I could find for the great unknown of the vast ocean. What I found greatly disappointing was how her budding romance with the painter was just left hanging, with no resolution or explanation of what he was and why he left the ocean. I can only assume that since this is the first of three books, that his character will be further explored in future books. I also worried for the household that Hannah had been working in and what happened to them in the impending storm, but that loose end was not resolved either. The nuances of Hannah's revelation that give me clues as to what she is are interesting, such as the changing nature of Hannah's hair, her ability with the harp, and the way she sheds salt and scales. I always love when the author gives such attention to details. I look forward to reading about Hannah's two long-lost sisters and their own revelations.
Hannah is only 14 when she goes through these changes to become a mermaid, but if that had happened to me at that age, I don't think I would have had the courage to abandon what security I could find for the great unknown of the vast ocean. What I found greatly disappointing was how her budding romance with the painter was just left hanging, with no resolution or explanation of what he was and why he left the ocean. I can only assume that since this is the first of three books, that his character will be further explored in future books. I also worried for the household that Hannah had been working in and what happened to them in the impending storm, but that loose end was not resolved either. The nuances of Hannah's revelation that give me clues as to what she is are interesting, such as the changing nature of Hannah's hair, her ability with the harp, and the way she sheds salt and scales. I always love when the author gives such attention to details. I look forward to reading about Hannah's two long-lost sisters and their own revelations.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2009
Hannah is the story about the title character, who is an orphan living in 1899 in Boston. Hannah discovers that she seems to have an affinity to the sea and becomes ill when she is not near it. Eventually, Hannah goes to work as a servant for a rich family. The eldest daughter, Lila, comes to despise Hannah for her beauty and for taking the attention of an attractive painter whom they both fancy. In the end, Hannah learns the (somewhat obvious) nature of her love of the sea.
This was not the best read I've encountered.
The language and overall writing quality was fine, but the story and the characters were completely lackluster. The budding romance between Hannah and the painter is a bit jarring as there is little cause and build up. It's clear that the author is trying to make the couple come off as a drawn to each other via that supernatural connection of two souls from a similar place. This sort of connection can work in some instances, but sadly, it does not come across well enough in this book. Similarly, there is little explaination behind the books main antagonist, Lila's motivation. She is simply chalked up to being just "evil" and/or "crazy" with little explaination given. Her actions come across as unmotivated and confusing as a result. The story also doesn't seem to have a full conclusion. The ending is more like the end of a chapter and not the end of a book, even for a series, which I believe it is planned to be. There is little to pull the reader from chapter to chapter. It comes off as flat and confusing, in the end.
It wasn't porrly written, just poorly executed. If more books come in the series, I will not read them because the story and the character do not capture my interest.
This was not the best read I've encountered.
The language and overall writing quality was fine, but the story and the characters were completely lackluster. The budding romance between Hannah and the painter is a bit jarring as there is little cause and build up. It's clear that the author is trying to make the couple come off as a drawn to each other via that supernatural connection of two souls from a similar place. This sort of connection can work in some instances, but sadly, it does not come across well enough in this book. Similarly, there is little explaination behind the books main antagonist, Lila's motivation. She is simply chalked up to being just "evil" and/or "crazy" with little explaination given. Her actions come across as unmotivated and confusing as a result. The story also doesn't seem to have a full conclusion. The ending is more like the end of a chapter and not the end of a book, even for a series, which I believe it is planned to be. There is little to pull the reader from chapter to chapter. It comes off as flat and confusing, in the end.
It wasn't porrly written, just poorly executed. If more books come in the series, I will not read them because the story and the character do not capture my interest.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2010
Living in 1899, fifteen-year-old Hannah is a strong, smart, hardworking girl, who is both self-aware and at the same time, completely naive and innocent. Even though she tries very hard to fit in, deep down she knows that she is different. From the strange sickness that she develops whenever she is away from the ocean, to the bizarre salt crystals that she sheds, and the constant longing to be in the water, Hannah realizes there is more to her life than what she is now. Meeting some very interesting characters along the way, including a sweet, headstrong little girl, her mad and possibly evil older sister (plus her creepy cat), and a very interesting, handsome young painter who seems to know more about her than she knows herself, Hannah finally realizes her unique gift. She is a mermaid. The question is, what should she do now?
I was hesitant to pick up this book because it just seemed odd, but I heard a lot of good things about it, and was looking for a book to fit the tween/young teen group, so I grabbed this at the library. I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Although I did find it a little strange, (and it kind of seemed like a big long trailer for books to come) it was a fast, fun read, and I'm happy to say that I am now officially a mermaid fan! I'm looking forward to meeting the other Daughters of the Sea. To hear a preview of this book, go to Kathryn Lasky's Web site.
~Andye
Parents should know: Although this book is pretty tame, there are some mild instances of violence, language, and kissing. If you'd like more information on content, go to Hannah on Parental Book Reviews.
I was hesitant to pick up this book because it just seemed odd, but I heard a lot of good things about it, and was looking for a book to fit the tween/young teen group, so I grabbed this at the library. I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Although I did find it a little strange, (and it kind of seemed like a big long trailer for books to come) it was a fast, fun read, and I'm happy to say that I am now officially a mermaid fan! I'm looking forward to meeting the other Daughters of the Sea. To hear a preview of this book, go to Kathryn Lasky's Web site.
~Andye
Parents should know: Although this book is pretty tame, there are some mild instances of violence, language, and kissing. If you'd like more information on content, go to Hannah on Parental Book Reviews.
December 1, 2010
I received this book to review from Scholastic, and while it was wholesome and a good clean read, I found that there were too many characters that got developed too late in the book. Hannah had a great story that was lost with the development of the other characters, some of whom didn't play a huge role in her story. I felt that the middle of the book should have spent more time in developing Hannah's story, instead of towards the very end of the book.
The middle of the book talked about or had a lot about the family with whom she lived at the early turn of the century. While you get a good understanding of what it was like to be a servant to a very wealthy Boston family at that time, you got very little of the changes that Hannah was going through and she discovers who is she and what she's becoming.
I liked Hannah a lot. She's a great character who like many girls wants to find her place in the world, but stay true to herself and her quest to finding out what the feelings and yearnings she has for the sea are about.
The middle of the book talked about or had a lot about the family with whom she lived at the early turn of the century. While you get a good understanding of what it was like to be a servant to a very wealthy Boston family at that time, you got very little of the changes that Hannah was going through and she discovers who is she and what she's becoming.
I liked Hannah a lot. She's a great character who like many girls wants to find her place in the world, but stay true to herself and her quest to finding out what the feelings and yearnings she has for the sea are about.
August 13, 2010
Overly simplistic, very predictable. The set up for the next book in the series happens in the last paragraph, leaving me wondering why I'd just spent 300 pages to only get a promise of action. The whole thing could have been edited down to 75-100 pages and served as a decent introduction to whatever comes next. Which I won't know about since I have no intention of following up.
August 29, 2016
I just finished this book. I really liked the writing. I could step into to a whole different world while reading this book-a world of 19th century America, maids, love, ocean, and wishes.
May 24, 2018
Why wasn't this good? I was so disappointed.
July 12, 2018
It’s 1899. Hannah is an orphan and, at 15 years old, can no longer be supported by the orphanage. When she is sent inland (from Boston), she has an odd skin reaction and soon after ends up back in Boston where the sea air seems better for her. She finds a job as a scullery maid, and meets a painter who seems to be able to sense something about her…
I really liked this. It’s YA, so very quick to read. The author has some beautiful descriptions. Quickly glancing at other reviews, some people didn’t like the focus on a servant’s life, but I really like historical fiction and found it very interesting!
I really liked this. It’s YA, so very quick to read. The author has some beautiful descriptions. Quickly glancing at other reviews, some people didn’t like the focus on a servant’s life, but I really like historical fiction and found it very interesting!
May 26, 2024
Loved this book 4.5 stars for me. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. This one seemed to leave a few loose ends. Added a little mystery to it. Really enjoyed this quick easy read. Book pulled me in and I couldn't put it down.
August 20, 2014
Amazing!
Fascinating!
Never thought that kid/young adult book can be so entartataining and also possesing educational value.
Set in 19th century "Daughters of the Sea" series concerns life o three teenage orphans differing only with the shade of their hair. Separated after the birth by the uknown accident, the girls, not knowing initially about one another, find themselves unfitting to the roles prescribed to them by fin de siecle society. Each of them finds that there is something unusual about them which drives them to inquiring about their origins and to discover each other.
First novel narrates the history of Hannah. We meet her when she is ready to leave an orphanage to live with foster parents in US interior. Soon, hovever it becomes obvious that she can not live far from sea due to strange medical condition. Therefore a job is arranged for her in home of a wealthy New York bourgeois. There Hannah matures performing duties as a lowly servant, meeting both sympathy and despise from various inhabitants of rich New York mansion. Among other things she meets a famous painter, entrusted with creating series of family portraits, who may possess a clue regarding her origins and true identity.......
What is so amazing in Mrs Lasky books is their formula. Mrs Lasky writes educational books for kids and teenagers usually trying to explain epochs and their people by means of historical narrative. This aproach is applied in "Daughters of the sea" as well,Hannah her thoughts and observations serve as a means of explaining fin de siecle customs and value to reader. What is so astonishing is the handling of that task. I have never imagined that it is possible to present past behaviours and attitudes with such a gentle manner without being geeky and cheeky. Mrs. Lasky does it exceptionally.
But there is more. "Daughters" are not about history as much as they are about self-discovery. And this is interwoven with presentation of times and people. Lasky does not merely describe the past. She shows its problems and challenges. Her heroines find courage to assess and confront their reality in order to find their true selves. So "Daughters" are educational not only in the sense of conveying knowledge but also values. The story teaches young readers to search their individuality and points out that education is of extreme importance as a tool to achieve this goal.
Naturally this comes with certain price. Characters are a little bit "outside" their time showing more intelligence and consciousness than one could expect from real persons of that age. Storytelling, being concentated on certain topics and heroines maturing sometimes avoids other topics. This makes protagonists looking artificial from time to time. Didactic character destines it to be directed to younger readers (though, I think elders can also benefit from it) Yet the story in general is of superb quality,especially with comparison with most of similar fantasy stories.
Fascinating!
Never thought that kid/young adult book can be so entartataining and also possesing educational value.
Set in 19th century "Daughters of the Sea" series concerns life o three teenage orphans differing only with the shade of their hair. Separated after the birth by the uknown accident, the girls, not knowing initially about one another, find themselves unfitting to the roles prescribed to them by fin de siecle society. Each of them finds that there is something unusual about them which drives them to inquiring about their origins and to discover each other.
First novel narrates the history of Hannah. We meet her when she is ready to leave an orphanage to live with foster parents in US interior. Soon, hovever it becomes obvious that she can not live far from sea due to strange medical condition. Therefore a job is arranged for her in home of a wealthy New York bourgeois. There Hannah matures performing duties as a lowly servant, meeting both sympathy and despise from various inhabitants of rich New York mansion. Among other things she meets a famous painter, entrusted with creating series of family portraits, who may possess a clue regarding her origins and true identity.......
What is so amazing in Mrs Lasky books is their formula. Mrs Lasky writes educational books for kids and teenagers usually trying to explain epochs and their people by means of historical narrative. This aproach is applied in "Daughters of the sea" as well,Hannah her thoughts and observations serve as a means of explaining fin de siecle customs and value to reader. What is so astonishing is the handling of that task. I have never imagined that it is possible to present past behaviours and attitudes with such a gentle manner without being geeky and cheeky. Mrs. Lasky does it exceptionally.
But there is more. "Daughters" are not about history as much as they are about self-discovery. And this is interwoven with presentation of times and people. Lasky does not merely describe the past. She shows its problems and challenges. Her heroines find courage to assess and confront their reality in order to find their true selves. So "Daughters" are educational not only in the sense of conveying knowledge but also values. The story teaches young readers to search their individuality and points out that education is of extreme importance as a tool to achieve this goal.
Naturally this comes with certain price. Characters are a little bit "outside" their time showing more intelligence and consciousness than one could expect from real persons of that age. Storytelling, being concentated on certain topics and heroines maturing sometimes avoids other topics. This makes protagonists looking artificial from time to time. Didactic character destines it to be directed to younger readers (though, I think elders can also benefit from it) Yet the story in general is of superb quality,especially with comparison with most of similar fantasy stories.
November 18, 2009
Hannah has lived in the Boston Home for Little Wanderers all her life. As the other orphan girls dream of being the long, lost daughter of a wealthy family whom they will eventually be reunited with and live happily ever after, Hannah has never had such dreams. Instead, all she dreams of is the sea... the salt water, the sea breeze, a cottage to live in with a view of the ocean. She has always been different from the other girls and they have definitely made her feel the outcast. As she reaches an age where she has to leave the safety of the orphanage and make her way in the world, she gets shipped off to dry, Kansas, to work as a farmer. But the further she gets from Boston and, more importantly, the ocean, the more she starts to realize exactly how different she is from other girls.
With faltering health, she is returned to Boston where she secures a job as a scullery maid with the Hawley's, one of Boston's most elite families. While learning her duties, she meets the dashing, Stannish Whitman Wheeler, an artist who has been hired by the Hawley's to paint a portrait of the three, young Hawley daughters. But while Hannah catches the eye of Stannish, she also catches the attention of the eldest Hawley daughter ,Lila, who is quite creepy really. Lila and her equally evil cat Jade, dislike Hannah from the start and will do anything to wreak havov with poor Hannah's feelings.
The bulk of the story is mostly about Hannah's life as a servant at the turn of the century. And to be honest, I really liked this part of the book. I loved reading about the in's and out's of servant life - from the butler to the scullery girls. I loved the evilness of Lila and her sidekick cat and all the trouble that ensues. I almost felt as if the mermaid part was an oversight and just tacked on at the end. So there definitely wasn't as much mermaid action as I would have hoped.
Knowing this book is a trilogy explains why there were some things that just felt unfinished - although the story did end. I'm not sure how to really explain it, but in the end, I just felt like... that's it? Don't take me wrong, it's not a cliffhanger ending, but it was very anti-climactic and left much to be desired.
All in all, I can definitely recommend this to young teens as well as older teens. I think the pacing was a bit slow but in the end it did hold my interest throughout. Once again, my main complaint would be the ending, but hopefully the next two books in the series will redeem that. I will definitely be on the lookout for the next book in the series (although it seems a publication date has not yet been announced.)
With faltering health, she is returned to Boston where she secures a job as a scullery maid with the Hawley's, one of Boston's most elite families. While learning her duties, she meets the dashing, Stannish Whitman Wheeler, an artist who has been hired by the Hawley's to paint a portrait of the three, young Hawley daughters. But while Hannah catches the eye of Stannish, she also catches the attention of the eldest Hawley daughter ,Lila, who is quite creepy really. Lila and her equally evil cat Jade, dislike Hannah from the start and will do anything to wreak havov with poor Hannah's feelings.
The bulk of the story is mostly about Hannah's life as a servant at the turn of the century. And to be honest, I really liked this part of the book. I loved reading about the in's and out's of servant life - from the butler to the scullery girls. I loved the evilness of Lila and her sidekick cat and all the trouble that ensues. I almost felt as if the mermaid part was an oversight and just tacked on at the end. So there definitely wasn't as much mermaid action as I would have hoped.
Knowing this book is a trilogy explains why there were some things that just felt unfinished - although the story did end. I'm not sure how to really explain it, but in the end, I just felt like... that's it? Don't take me wrong, it's not a cliffhanger ending, but it was very anti-climactic and left much to be desired.
All in all, I can definitely recommend this to young teens as well as older teens. I think the pacing was a bit slow but in the end it did hold my interest throughout. Once again, my main complaint would be the ending, but hopefully the next two books in the series will redeem that. I will definitely be on the lookout for the next book in the series (although it seems a publication date has not yet been announced.)
August 28, 2009
Hannah has always felt like she doesn’t belong. Others sense it too and sometimes steer clear of her. But Hannah’s difference is not something she can control. She never wanted to become seriously ill when she was away from the ocean, and she has no idea why she seems to leave salt everywhere and has a faint trace of scales on her skin. But while these strange characteristics are intriguing, they’re also dangerous; should anyone else discover Hannah’s true nature, she would become a permanent outcast. So, Hannah tries to hide her differences, blending in as a dedicated and hardworking scullery maid for one of Boston’s most elite families. But not all is well in Hannah’s new home. The eldest daughter of the family and her pompous cat have a death wish for Hannah, and a visiting artist seems onto Hannah’s secret. It might be dangerous, but Hannah is ready to find out who—or what—she has become.
The first installment in what I believe will be a trilogy, Hannah is a surprisingly enthralling and magical read. This novel is not something I’d normally pick up, so I’m glad I did. The story is set at the turn of the twentieth century, and Lasky does a wonderful job of incorporating many of the societal laws of the day such as the rigid social structure as well as the daily duties or occupations of each class. As a fan of historical fiction, I greatly appreciated how believable the background of the story was, even with the addition of Hannah’s mystical secret. It’s so interesting to discover along with Hannah each new ability or characteristic she has. However, the believability of the story failed slightly with the characters. Protagonist Hannah was usually too quick to accept her new condition, and even though she’s always felt out of place, most people would have great difficulty believing they’re not entirely human. The other major characters were just hard to understand. Lasky’s attempt at romance was also unrealistic, as it seemed to appear out of thin air before the reader realizes there’s even the smallest attraction. I really hoped to learn more about Hannah’s new identity, but the story ended too soon; thankfully, there will likely be a sequel or companion for this sweet and mystical tale.
Hannah is sure to be enjoyed by fans of Sea Change by Aimee Friedman, A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson, and The Luxe by Anna Godbersen.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
The first installment in what I believe will be a trilogy, Hannah is a surprisingly enthralling and magical read. This novel is not something I’d normally pick up, so I’m glad I did. The story is set at the turn of the twentieth century, and Lasky does a wonderful job of incorporating many of the societal laws of the day such as the rigid social structure as well as the daily duties or occupations of each class. As a fan of historical fiction, I greatly appreciated how believable the background of the story was, even with the addition of Hannah’s mystical secret. It’s so interesting to discover along with Hannah each new ability or characteristic she has. However, the believability of the story failed slightly with the characters. Protagonist Hannah was usually too quick to accept her new condition, and even though she’s always felt out of place, most people would have great difficulty believing they’re not entirely human. The other major characters were just hard to understand. Lasky’s attempt at romance was also unrealistic, as it seemed to appear out of thin air before the reader realizes there’s even the smallest attraction. I really hoped to learn more about Hannah’s new identity, but the story ended too soon; thankfully, there will likely be a sequel or companion for this sweet and mystical tale.
Hannah is sure to be enjoyed by fans of Sea Change by Aimee Friedman, A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson, and The Luxe by Anna Godbersen.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
April 24, 2017
UPDATE: As of 4/24/2017 I read my review, got pissed again at this book, and am docking it down to 2 stars, because the glorification of animal cruelty still makes me sick. Also, I'm editing some of my grammar.
This book wasn't boring, but I didn't like it all that much. I would have given it three stars, but there was a certain scene (mentioned below in the paragraph marked with spoilers) that made me get very mad at the book.
Orphan/misfit girl has some kind of supernatural quality has been done a lot, but I still love them. However, this is pretty much one of the most basic plots possible. Hannah: Daughters of the Sea brings almost NOTHING new to the table. This is coming from a person who loves a) mermaid fiction, b) historical fiction and c) plots about people discovering they have special powers. I SHOULD have loved this book.
The only character I actually enjoyed reading about was Henrietta. But the other characters, like the plot, were so lackluster! I couldn't connect with any of them. And I actually did not mind that cat. I am a cat person. Which brings us to:
Plus, what the heck was that ending supposed to be? A cliffhanger? Because that is NOT how you do cliffhangers. There should be at least some sense of finality, not whatever that was supposed to be!
2.5 stars, because other than the 'cat scene' I had no strong feelingsa about this book, one way or another.
This review (and others) can be found on http://myfullbookshelfreviews.blogspo...
October 31, 2009
For starters, this is definitely a middle grade book. I didn't know that when I received it but it was pretty obvious once I started reading it. It wasn't that a young adult wouldn't like it, it was more that it was just a really easy book for me to read and didn't have anything really explicit in it, unlike most YA books these days. =]
Hannah was a likable enough character and she definitely gained my sympathy from her situation. The only problem was that she was super quiet and I felt that she might have been a better character if she had been a bit more outspoken. I know she was a servant so that kind of makes things different but she never even really talked to the other servants. She just kept everything to herself and I would have liked it if she maybe made friends with the other servants. I didn't really get a feel for her personality and I felt she was undeveloped as a main character.
Also, her relationship with the painter was so weird, at least to me. It never really amounted to anything even though I really wanted it to. He seemed like he was maybe her friend, possibly more, but I just couldn't tell. He just kind of seemed to flirt with Hannah and then disappear. Oh and the book gave some hints about his past but nothing really concrete and nothing that was ever elaborated on.
The plot of the book was pretty much non-existent or if there was a plot, I didn't get it. The book just bored me and there were so many things I didn't understand.
Overall, I didn't really like the book but I think it might appeal to some. It would be better for younger kids because I don't think they would question it nearly as much as I did. Also, this is the first in the trilogy so maybe some things will be explained later. Well I am hoping they will be explained later!
Hannah was a likable enough character and she definitely gained my sympathy from her situation. The only problem was that she was super quiet and I felt that she might have been a better character if she had been a bit more outspoken. I know she was a servant so that kind of makes things different but she never even really talked to the other servants. She just kept everything to herself and I would have liked it if she maybe made friends with the other servants. I didn't really get a feel for her personality and I felt she was undeveloped as a main character.
Also, her relationship with the painter was so weird, at least to me. It never really amounted to anything even though I really wanted it to. He seemed like he was maybe her friend, possibly more, but I just couldn't tell. He just kind of seemed to flirt with Hannah and then disappear. Oh and the book gave some hints about his past but nothing really concrete and nothing that was ever elaborated on.
The plot of the book was pretty much non-existent or if there was a plot, I didn't get it. The book just bored me and there were so many things I didn't understand.
Overall, I didn't really like the book but I think it might appeal to some. It would be better for younger kids because I don't think they would question it nearly as much as I did. Also, this is the first in the trilogy so maybe some things will be explained later. Well I am hoping they will be explained later!
January 26, 2016
This book was pretty 'meh' and a bit of a let down after the really interesting (but predictable- I can't decide if the big reveal of what Hannah is was supposed to be a surprise or not, since it was pretty obvious) back cover. It was an interesting idea with some pretty great description of the sea setting, but not that great of a book. The pacing is all over with this book- first it starts off going too quick, the middle drags out (hey, remember the magic stuff?), and then the end rushes again with no actual build up (not to mention is awkward and contrived). It was a rather awkward and
stupid ending, actually.
There's no background information provided for like anything. Even when someone who knows something comes in, they describe NOTHING, not even their own freaking story/explanation beyond 'hey, me too' angst. He doesn't provide any actual information to either the reader or Hannah, so he's pointless. That only leaves to the terrible, out of place romance. Without it the story would have been SO much better (it honestly only felt like it was there because 'drat, this is YA. It needs a romance!). It was forced and poorly written, and when it turns into 'I did everything for you!' it's unbelievable and stupid. There's no build up to support that.
Hannah's reactions are also so stupid. She's doing/discovering all these crazy things, and yet she doesn't emote past 'huh, how odd' and a shrug. She doesn't actually wonder 'why?' at any point. Where is this girl's sense of curiosity?
Then there's the plot. Most of it was more about living as a servant in a wealthy household more than supernatural mystery. I actually wouldn't have minded that plot (and found it interesting) if that's what I was reading this for. I went in this wanting magic, and I barely got it. It was disappointing.
stupid ending, actually.
There's no background information provided for like anything. Even when someone who knows something comes in, they describe NOTHING, not even their own freaking story/explanation beyond 'hey, me too' angst. He doesn't provide any actual information to either the reader or Hannah, so he's pointless. That only leaves to the terrible, out of place romance. Without it the story would have been SO much better (it honestly only felt like it was there because 'drat, this is YA. It needs a romance!). It was forced and poorly written, and when it turns into 'I did everything for you!' it's unbelievable and stupid. There's no build up to support that.
Hannah's reactions are also so stupid. She's doing/discovering all these crazy things, and yet she doesn't emote past 'huh, how odd' and a shrug. She doesn't actually wonder 'why?' at any point. Where is this girl's sense of curiosity?
Then there's the plot. Most of it was more about living as a servant in a wealthy household more than supernatural mystery. I actually wouldn't have minded that plot (and found it interesting) if that's what I was reading this for. I went in this wanting magic, and I barely got it. It was disappointing.
July 27, 2011
This review was completed by Camille Morales, staff reviewer with the YA Fantasy Guide.
This Book is about a girl named Hannah, who is an orphan. She spent all of her life in an orphanage up until she turns 14—or 15, I think. Anyway, she starts working as a scullery maid in the house of this really rich family. There are things happening to Hannah, things that have to do with the sea. She’s inexplicably drawn to it, and some things happen that end up making her discover who she really is. And then she’s told that soon she’ll have to make a choice—to stay in land or to stay in sea.
I thought this book was cute. It was a fast read, kind of cute and all. But I didn’t love it. I didn’t dislike it, either. I just…enjoyed it. I read it quickly. But sometimes I felt the story went on too slowly, and there was really no plot. This, in my opinion, is more of a middle grade book. Also, if you’re very young and new to YA, you might enjoy (enjoy, not LOVE) this book. It was set in 1899, and that may be why I didn’t like it as much. The way she thinks sometimes…I didn’t like it. I DID like, however, some of the characters. And none of the characters I really liked where Hannah. They were Ettie, the youngest kid in the family, and Daze, one of the servants. I liked the whole staff. I didn’t really like the painter. I didn’t like Lila or Hannah all that much, but Hannah was okay. I absolutely HATED Lila (the older kid). Um, yeah. I liked most of the characters, and the setting was cool, and the storyline was sort of good. In a way. It was just…it could get boring at times. There wasn’t enough dialogue at times. But it was a short (the letters are big) and cute read. I give it a 3/5 stars, and I recommend it to younger readers and any other YA and MG readers who want to give it a try.
This Book is about a girl named Hannah, who is an orphan. She spent all of her life in an orphanage up until she turns 14—or 15, I think. Anyway, she starts working as a scullery maid in the house of this really rich family. There are things happening to Hannah, things that have to do with the sea. She’s inexplicably drawn to it, and some things happen that end up making her discover who she really is. And then she’s told that soon she’ll have to make a choice—to stay in land or to stay in sea.
I thought this book was cute. It was a fast read, kind of cute and all. But I didn’t love it. I didn’t dislike it, either. I just…enjoyed it. I read it quickly. But sometimes I felt the story went on too slowly, and there was really no plot. This, in my opinion, is more of a middle grade book. Also, if you’re very young and new to YA, you might enjoy (enjoy, not LOVE) this book. It was set in 1899, and that may be why I didn’t like it as much. The way she thinks sometimes…I didn’t like it. I DID like, however, some of the characters. And none of the characters I really liked where Hannah. They were Ettie, the youngest kid in the family, and Daze, one of the servants. I liked the whole staff. I didn’t really like the painter. I didn’t like Lila or Hannah all that much, but Hannah was okay. I absolutely HATED Lila (the older kid). Um, yeah. I liked most of the characters, and the setting was cool, and the storyline was sort of good. In a way. It was just…it could get boring at times. There wasn’t enough dialogue at times. But it was a short (the letters are big) and cute read. I give it a 3/5 stars, and I recommend it to younger readers and any other YA and MG readers who want to give it a try.
October 12, 2015
personal response:
I think the book Hannah is a good book. The part I enjoyed the most was that Hannah found her place. This book was not what I was looking for in the first place, but I enjoyed this story. I liked reading about the story of Hannah finding who she is.
Plot:
The girls at the orphanage who wear 14 years old, hadto learn will where they will be sent. All the other girls dreamed of there placement, Hannah did not think much of it. Hannah was being put on orphan train, and was not getting placed. She wanted to be near the sea, she felt better by the sea. All the other girls on the train seemed excited to find out were they are going, but still Hannah did not care. Hannah was sent back to Boston. She was found a placement as a servant. Hannah was doing so great at her job, that she was brought along when the Holly's went on a trip. She was able to learn more about the salt crystals. Hannah was born in the sea and had been separated from her family. She had to make a choice, if she will go to the sea, or stay on land. Hannah went to the eye of the hurricane during the storm. Hannah had chosen to return to the sea.
Characterization:
Hannah is a quite girl who did not think about much of what will happen to her. Once she got her work placement she started to care what will happen to her. She was doing great at her job, so then she could become an upstairs maid. She learned that she was a mermaid, a daughter of the sea. She is happy and at peace now in the sea. Hannah now feels like she belongs.
Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to girls in high school or middle school, who like books that are fantasy. This book would be good also if they are into mermaid stories. I also think this book will give girls a message to not give up on finding who they are. I think they would truly enjoy this book
I think the book Hannah is a good book. The part I enjoyed the most was that Hannah found her place. This book was not what I was looking for in the first place, but I enjoyed this story. I liked reading about the story of Hannah finding who she is.
Plot:
The girls at the orphanage who wear 14 years old, hadto learn will where they will be sent. All the other girls dreamed of there placement, Hannah did not think much of it. Hannah was being put on orphan train, and was not getting placed. She wanted to be near the sea, she felt better by the sea. All the other girls on the train seemed excited to find out were they are going, but still Hannah did not care. Hannah was sent back to Boston. She was found a placement as a servant. Hannah was doing so great at her job, that she was brought along when the Holly's went on a trip. She was able to learn more about the salt crystals. Hannah was born in the sea and had been separated from her family. She had to make a choice, if she will go to the sea, or stay on land. Hannah went to the eye of the hurricane during the storm. Hannah had chosen to return to the sea.
Characterization:
Hannah is a quite girl who did not think about much of what will happen to her. Once she got her work placement she started to care what will happen to her. She was doing great at her job, so then she could become an upstairs maid. She learned that she was a mermaid, a daughter of the sea. She is happy and at peace now in the sea. Hannah now feels like she belongs.
Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to girls in high school or middle school, who like books that are fantasy. This book would be good also if they are into mermaid stories. I also think this book will give girls a message to not give up on finding who they are. I think they would truly enjoy this book
March 29, 2010
Hannah is very clearly the first book of a series, and is about an orphan girl turned scullery maid who discovers that she has a secret connection to the sea. The premise sounded cute and full of some intriguing possibilities, and the author is known for some really interesting historical fiction and non-fiction both, so I was excited to read this book. And parts of the book met my expectations -- the setting seemed alive, the historical details were vividly sprinkled in without seeming pedantic, and several of the characters seemed well-developed and compelling.
And while it's a fun read, it felt like the book tried to be too many things at once, and so didn't quite succeed at any of them. The cover copy lists the book as being aimed at 9-12 year-olds, which makes sense -- it's a good age group for the topic, and the largish font certainly seems aimed at elementary school readers. But at its core, the book is a romance -- with secret trysts, stolen kisses, and Hannah making big life decisions based on her relationship with a 19 year-old. The book feels almost as if it was originally written as a YA novel, and then edited after the fact to change it into a book for girls a few years younger. As you are reading, you can feel where chunks have suddenly been skipped or condensed -- and the romantic thread so sharply so that it is almost confusing -- there are all of a handful of scenes that include Hannah and her love interest, and so it very disjointedly jumps from glancing at each other, to kissing, to Hannah's life revolving around him, without much conversation in between.
Myself, I probably wouldn't give this book to a 9 or 10 year-old. On the other hand, I could see giving it to a 13 year-old or so who was looking for a light, relaxing read.
And while it's a fun read, it felt like the book tried to be too many things at once, and so didn't quite succeed at any of them. The cover copy lists the book as being aimed at 9-12 year-olds, which makes sense -- it's a good age group for the topic, and the largish font certainly seems aimed at elementary school readers. But at its core, the book is a romance -- with secret trysts, stolen kisses, and Hannah making big life decisions based on her relationship with a 19 year-old. The book feels almost as if it was originally written as a YA novel, and then edited after the fact to change it into a book for girls a few years younger. As you are reading, you can feel where chunks have suddenly been skipped or condensed -- and the romantic thread so sharply so that it is almost confusing -- there are all of a handful of scenes that include Hannah and her love interest, and so it very disjointedly jumps from glancing at each other, to kissing, to Hannah's life revolving around him, without much conversation in between.
Myself, I probably wouldn't give this book to a 9 or 10 year-old. On the other hand, I could see giving it to a 13 year-old or so who was looking for a light, relaxing read.
November 21, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. It was a very simple read that didn't make me think much. It was kind of refreshing to read a YA that isn't complicated! Hannah is an orphan girl who is now too old for the orphanage, but is told that she really wouldn't be good at anything either. She is sent to another place for orphans in the middle of the country. When she gets there, she realizes that she must have some connection to the sea because she just isn't the same. She goes back and finds a job as a scullery maid. While there, she discovers her true identity and knows she will have to decide if she wants to stay on land or in the sea.
Hannah is quite a bit more brave than I would be in her situation. I would definitely know my place, and it seems as though she does too. However, it is as if something comes over her and she finds herself wandering in places she shouldn't be and doing things she shouldn't be doing. I often felt that she was too comfortable with the family she worked for, but the family never yelled at her about anything. I think this book could have used a little romance. Even if there was a boy in the family or something, it would add a little bit to this plot, which was otherwise good.
I really enjoy reading about this time period. I love learning more about the way things were back then. And I especially love fiction books that can add those little facts in! This book was not that way. The plot was there, but I feel like the details weren't. I like the little details, although too much detail can get boring. I would have liked to have learned more about this time period. That will not deter me from reading the next book though....eventually!
Hannah is quite a bit more brave than I would be in her situation. I would definitely know my place, and it seems as though she does too. However, it is as if something comes over her and she finds herself wandering in places she shouldn't be and doing things she shouldn't be doing. I often felt that she was too comfortable with the family she worked for, but the family never yelled at her about anything. I think this book could have used a little romance. Even if there was a boy in the family or something, it would add a little bit to this plot, which was otherwise good.
I really enjoy reading about this time period. I love learning more about the way things were back then. And I especially love fiction books that can add those little facts in! This book was not that way. The plot was there, but I feel like the details weren't. I like the little details, although too much detail can get boring. I would have liked to have learned more about this time period. That will not deter me from reading the next book though....eventually!
November 15, 2012
Reviewed by LadyJay for TeensReadToo.com
Hannah is different from the other orphans. She feels an inexplicable pull towards the sea. She can't explain it and discusses it with no one.
Because Hannah is deemed unfit for service, she is turned out of the Boston Home for Little Wanderers. She is sent west on the orphan train. Hannah becomes deathly ill the further away she gets from the ocean. Thankfully, Hannah is sent back to Boston, and finds placement with a prominent family.
The Hawleys are extremely wealthy and live in a grand house. Hannah works tirelessly as the Hawleys scullery maid. She feels more alive living this close to the ocean, but does not understand the fascination she has with it.
Hannah begins to notice fish scales on her feet and legs, and she leaves a ring of salt behind every time she bathes. A mysterious painter seems to know her secret, but Hannah is still in the dark. Will she discover the truth, and if she does, will it be too late?
HANNAH is the first novel in the DAUGHTERS OF THE SEA trilogy. The novels follow the lives of three sisters who are separated at birth. Their identities are shrouded in mystery, and they all must struggle to unearth their true parentage.
This novel, like all of Lasky's, is very easy to read. The story moves quickly, and the characters are colorful and diverse. Hopefully, Lasky will not make us wait too long to discover what happens to Hannah and her sisters!
Hannah is different from the other orphans. She feels an inexplicable pull towards the sea. She can't explain it and discusses it with no one.
Because Hannah is deemed unfit for service, she is turned out of the Boston Home for Little Wanderers. She is sent west on the orphan train. Hannah becomes deathly ill the further away she gets from the ocean. Thankfully, Hannah is sent back to Boston, and finds placement with a prominent family.
The Hawleys are extremely wealthy and live in a grand house. Hannah works tirelessly as the Hawleys scullery maid. She feels more alive living this close to the ocean, but does not understand the fascination she has with it.
Hannah begins to notice fish scales on her feet and legs, and she leaves a ring of salt behind every time she bathes. A mysterious painter seems to know her secret, but Hannah is still in the dark. Will she discover the truth, and if she does, will it be too late?
HANNAH is the first novel in the DAUGHTERS OF THE SEA trilogy. The novels follow the lives of three sisters who are separated at birth. Their identities are shrouded in mystery, and they all must struggle to unearth their true parentage.
This novel, like all of Lasky's, is very easy to read. The story moves quickly, and the characters are colorful and diverse. Hopefully, Lasky will not make us wait too long to discover what happens to Hannah and her sisters!
March 1, 2010
Young-adult middle grade read, very tame romance elements.
The first in a new series that will definitely get some buzz as it seems to play into the public's fascination with mystical and fantasy creatures. Set in the 1920's, a young orphan girl finds herself working for a wealthy family in Boston. The family has three daughters and decide to hire a talented young painter to capture their portrait. Sarah, the orphan girl, feels a mysterious connection to the painter - and inexplicably to the sea.
The ending definitely sets up a book Two, and from what I understand, there are to be at least three books in this series. One little niggle: the girl pictured on the cover looks a little too contemporary to be Hannah, and her hair isn't as red as the book describes. (I'd say she almost looks like one of the Olsen twins!)
Check out the painting by John Singer Sargent to see the author's inspiration for the storyline:
The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit
The first in a new series that will definitely get some buzz as it seems to play into the public's fascination with mystical and fantasy creatures. Set in the 1920's, a young orphan girl finds herself working for a wealthy family in Boston. The family has three daughters and decide to hire a talented young painter to capture their portrait. Sarah, the orphan girl, feels a mysterious connection to the painter - and inexplicably to the sea.
The ending definitely sets up a book Two, and from what I understand, there are to be at least three books in this series. One little niggle: the girl pictured on the cover looks a little too contemporary to be Hannah, and her hair isn't as red as the book describes. (I'd say she almost looks like one of the Olsen twins!)
Check out the painting by John Singer Sargent to see the author's inspiration for the storyline:
The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit
February 24, 2015
This book kept me interested in the course of the plot throughout the entire story. Lasky did a good job at revealing new information not only to the reader, but also to the main character. By doing this, I think it made the reader see the story through Hannah's eyes. She was also able to build suspense in this matter by not revealing everything, such as the fact that Hannah's a mermaid, but rather hinting at this with different clues, such as the title and how Hannah sheds "scales" in salt water.
Another twist in the book was adding in the part about how Stannish Whitman Wheeler seems to know what is happening to her, and is attracted to her. After Hannah was told that she had to make a choice between the land where her love is or the sea where she feels most at home it makes you wonder what kind of decision you would make. I want them to make an exception before since I feel she was cheated out of living in the water her whole life up until this point, but I don't think that is going to happen. However, after reading this I couldn't wait to read the next book because there were so many questions left unanswered, like where are her sisters, are they still alive, what will Hannah ultimately decide, and what happened in her past?
Another twist in the book was adding in the part about how Stannish Whitman Wheeler seems to know what is happening to her, and is attracted to her. After Hannah was told that she had to make a choice between the land where her love is or the sea where she feels most at home it makes you wonder what kind of decision you would make. I want them to make an exception before since I feel she was cheated out of living in the water her whole life up until this point, but I don't think that is going to happen. However, after reading this I couldn't wait to read the next book because there were so many questions left unanswered, like where are her sisters, are they still alive, what will Hannah ultimately decide, and what happened in her past?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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