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THE GIRL WITH THE MERMAID HAIR by Delia Ephron

THE GIRL WITH THE MERMAID HAIR

by Delia Ephron

Pub Date: Jan. 1st, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-06-154260-2
Publisher: HarperTeen

Ephron pokes fun at the notion that the rich and handsome lead perfect, happy lives. Beautiful 15-year-old Sukie (Susannah Danielle Jamieson) is in love with her image. She constantly admires herself in any reflective surface, and when nothing is available, she snaps a “selfie” with her cell phone. The possibility that she might be unoriginal and uncreative nags at her. When Sukie is given her grandmother’s full-length mirror, she spends more time in front of it fantasizing about life than experiencing it. Sukie’s family is so dysfunctional they seek advice from their dog. The author adeptly creates atmosphere without scrimping on plot and humorously explores the effects of narcissism and parental infidelity on families and a teen’s self-esteem. Fans of Frannie in Pieces (2007) will enjoy the inclusion of characters Frannie and Jenna, who save Sukie from despair. Utilizing Frannie’s artistic flair, the trio takes the now cracked mirror and uses it to create art. Having begun deliberately, the story moves quickly to its satisfying conclusion. (Fiction. 12 & up)