Showing posts with label Helene Boudreau. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Helene Boudreau. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

[Review] Real Mermaids Don't Need High Heels by Helene Boudreau


Title: Real Mermaids Don't Wear High Heels
Series: Real Mermaids (Book 3)
Author: Helene Boudreau
Genre: YA, MG, mermaids, romance
Format: E-book, 240 pages
Publication Date: February 1, 2013
Published By: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Source: Received from publisher for review and tour.

 Synopsis from Publisher
In Real Mermaids Don’t Need High Heels, Jade can finally begin to get back to her normal life—that is until the ocean reels her back into a battle of mermaids. The Sadie Hawkins dance is coming up fast and Jade worries about asking Luke, but she’s got bigger fish to fry: the mer-world is on the brink of a civil war and Jade’s caught in the middle. This girl has gumption, but can she do it all? Can she find the most glamorous dress of her dreams, dive into a political battle of the sea, and finally figure out if she and Luke are officially dating? Whoever said high school was easy never had to hide a tail whilst winning over her dream boy.

About Helene Boudreau
Hélène Boudreau never spotted a real mermaid while growing up on an island surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, but she believesmermaids are just as plausible as giant squids, flying fish, or electric eels. She now writes fiction and nonfiction for kids from her landlocked home in Ontario, Canada. Her first book of this series, Real Mermaids Don’t Wear Toe Rings, was a 2011 SCBWI Crystal Kite Award finalist. Learn more about Helene at www.heleneboudreau.com.
My Thoughts:
I already knew going into this series I was going to love it, but I am biased, because I love mermaids, but Helene did an amazing job on this series. One of my main parts of this series is the main character, Jade. She is not your typical young heroine. She is shy, but sweet. She is self conscious due to being overweight (which is not typical in a main character) and this adds greatly to the stories when it comes to her struggles with shopping for bathing suits and prom dresses and not being able to talk to that cute boy in school. It mixes real life issues with exciting fantastical issues, all woven together to create one really well written and enjoyable series for middle grades and higher.

The Pros:
  • A mermaid who really isn't fond of water.
  • A main character who is a mermaid, who is overweight, who is clumsy. I love her!
  • An absolutely amazing world both above the water, and below.
  • A twisted and slighlty complicated (but not overdone) plot throughout the series.
  • Young love.
  • Well developed main, and supporting characters.
  • A great ending to the whole series.

The Cons:
  • Nothing significant, just not enough oomph to be a top pick.

Want a chance to win a full set of the Real Mermaids series? Check out the Rafflecopter entry below. Thanks to Soucebooks for this awesome prize pack!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, December 14, 2012

[Guest Post] Real Mermaids Don't Need High Heels by Helene Boudreau



Title: Real Mermaids Don't Need High Heels
Series: Real Mermaids (Book 3)
Author: Helene Boudreau
Genre: YA, fantasy, mermaids
Format: E-book, 240 pages
Publication Date: February 1, 2013
Published By: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Source: Received from publisher for tour
 Synopsis from Publisher
Everyone’s favorite mer-girl Jade will be back to make a big splash as she enters high school in the hilarious third installment of the Real Mermaids series, Real Mermaids Don’t Need High Heels coming in February 2013. But before she does, she wants to share her favorite holiday treats and gift ideas, to help you have a mermaid-tastic holiday season!

About Helene Boudreau
Hélène Boudreau grew up on an island surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean but now writes fiction and non-fiction for kids from her land-locked home in Ontario, Canada.
She has never time-travelled or saved an endangered bird, nor has she ever spotted a mermaid in the wild, but she believes mermaids are just as plausible as sea horses, flying fish, or electric eels.
My Thoughts
I have been following this series since the first book (Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings) appeared on a list of books available for review from my contact at Sourcebooks. Although I am not usually a fan of the tamer middle grade books, I have however always been a fan for pretty much anything mermaid related.

Yes, I was THAT GIRL who watched Disney's The Little Mermaid as many times a day as I good fit in, memorizing every line and every lyric, and swam in the Lake Erie and Lake Nipissing in the summer months pretending that I was indeed a mermaid...and yes...I did also know the original (much sadder) version of the little mermaid tale...

These short novels are hilarious, yet emotional, as a young mer-human has to deal with the loss of her mother, the discovery of her heritage, body image, friendship, and love. It's an extremely entertaining serious and I am so glad I had the opportunity to read them all so far.

I'm not sure if I am supposed to put a review up yet, but I will hold of for now until closer to publication, but know that I do recommend these books. I am absolutely in love with Jade, and I think everyone needs to meet her!

Real Mermaids Festive Treats

Hi everyone! Jade here from Real Mermaids.

One of my favourite things about the upcoming holidays is the great treats we get to make and share. I love food so much, in fact, that I included a recipe for some of my favourite snacks in each of the Real Mermaids books.

My friend Cori and I thought we’d experiment a bit and ‘holiday-ize’ each recipe for you!

In my upcoming book, Real Mermaids Don’t Need High Heels (out Feb 1st, 2013), my cutie friend Luke came up with a genius campfire treat he called Peanut Butter Cup S’mores. Here’s a cookie version my friend Rachel shared with me, which I think would be PERFECT around a crackling fireplace (indoors!).

Peanut Butter S’more Bites

Beat together:
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 egg

Then add:
- 1 1/3 cup flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt

Drop into mini muffin tins and bake for 8 minutes at 350F. Remove from oven, place 3 mini marshmallows on top and return to oven for 1 minute. Cool. Drizzle with melted chocolate and try not to lick your fingers...

Happy treats and have a great holiday, everyone!

Love,

Jade