Seven Tears into the Sea

I was really looking forward to reading this book: the description was intriguing, and who doesn't like a good selkie-related tale? Well, I definitely won't be reading it again, and I'm very glad I stuck with reading a library copy rather than buying it.

Gwen Cooke has only recently gotten her driver's license, and has over-protective parents... who just deposited her at the beach to spend a whole summer living by herself in a cottage, nominally supervised by her slightly ditsy grandmother, who has a broken leg and manages a bed & breakfast a distance up the beach. The same beach where Gwen may or may not have been molested as a seven year-old.

Okay: so suspend reality there, and get ready to keep suspending it, because with all the show more rest of the plot holes, you're going to need some serious reality suspension to make it through to the end of the book.

The character development is basically non-existent, and many of the characters are stock, and poorly done, at that. Gwen's supposed best friends make few appearances, and are unappealing when they do. Her mother never enters the story at all. Gwen's love interest, Jesse, the selkie, is well-known to the townsfolk, but can only see Gwen for a few days every seven years. The psychologist whom Gwen is terrified of meeting again is never actually met, and the much pierced and made-up girl from the street fair never materializes into much of a threat, romantic or otherwise. Even obnoxious and ultimately shark-eaten Zack is a fairly cardboard bully whose supposed fascination with Gwen is doubtful.

Overall, this just wasn't my cup of tea, but as it has received several very positive ratings, I may be missing something. show less

This is the first time I ever hear of selkies. As per Wikipedia - Selkies (also known as silkies or selchies) are mythological creatures that are found in Faroese, Icelandic, Irish, and Scottish folklore. Selkies are able to become human by taking off their seal skins, and can return to seal form by putting it back on.

In Seven Tears Into the Sea, Ms. Farley tells the tale of a selkie boy and his lady love. What I most enjoyed about this story was the writing - it flows with a lyrical quality making the story sometimes feel sad and other worldly, yet there were times that were light and funny. Her characters are realistically portrayed although there is a paranormal element. The descriptions of the beach, the town, and the bed and show more breakfast where Gwen is helping out at during the summer, really give it a relaxed feel but at the same time there are so many moments where it feels whimsical - almost like a modern day fairytale.

The story is told through Gwen's perspective so you only get to see and feel what she does. I wish we would have learned a little bit more of Jesse - this would be my only complaint. But I was still pleased with the story as told through Gwen's eyes. The relationship that forms between them is sigh worthy and even tear inducing (on my part).

All in all, this was a lovely story. Ms. Farley masterfully uses the selkie myths and interweaves them into this story - making it a poignant yet mesmerizing read. I found it to be a very refreshing, unique and the perfect summer read. show less

If I wanted to read all about mundane things, like how to make tea and what it's like to have a grandmother who runs an inn, then I would have enjoyed this book. Instead, I was misled into thinking this book would have a plot. I chose this book because I thought it might have something to do with mermaids or have something interesting to add to mermaid lore. I was hoping for, at least, an interesting and dreamy description of life by the sea. I did not get this. Instead a got a poorly pieced together story, an under-developed legend, a half-baked romance, and one of the most lifeless protagonists I've ever read.

This was a sweet YA romance with mythology around Selkies. I enjoyed the story mostly because I got to learn about some of the lore around Selkies, which I previously had no knowledge of. The story itself was a little lack luster and tended to really show that it was a YA book in the writing and depth of characters. I would recommend to anyone that enjoys Mermaid or Selkie stories.

When Gwen Cooke was only ten years old, and when her family was still living next to Gram's place on the beach. Gwen woke up one night after sleepwalking onto the beach, and she woke up to a sight that would change her life seven years later. "Becken the Sea, I'll come to thee, shed seven tears, perchance seven years." said the strange man. After all of the rumors that floated around the village after the incident, and after Gwen and her family moves away to a different city, she decides to not come back until seven years later when her Grandmother needs her help at the bed and breakfast that she runs. Now, seven years later, the boy that she met on the beach when she was only ten years old returns to her and they begin to fall in love. show more However, when she finds out his true secret, what will Gwen decide to do?

I first started to become a fan of Terri Farley when I started reading and loving her "Phantom Stallion" series. Then I started reading her "Wile Horse Islands" series. Now, I have finally gotten the chance to read "Seven Tears Into The Sea" (Thanks Terri!) and absoluetly loved it! Terri did a great job incorporating the ancient Celtic stories with a modern girls live, in a believable, wonderful way. I thought that the story was pretty well paced. I really enjoyed "Seven Tears Into the Sea" and for sure suggest it! show less

Seven Tears into the sea is a modern romance story of Celtic tales of Selkies. The main character Gwen had an encounter with a mysterious man when she was little. Her family believes that she was molested and moves away. At 17, she is brought back to help her Grandma with her bed and breakfast. There is meets the same boy who actually saved her life many years ago. The practical Gwen falls head over heels with him and it takes her a while to figure out that he isn't all that he seems. There is a tragic ending (not death though) to their romance with keeps in line with the old tales of selkies. Terri Farley is better known for her Phantom Stallion series, but she continues the idea of the relationship between humans and animals with show more twist of romance. The book contains the common fantasy theme of magic, with the transformation between a sea lion and human. The book gives away the identity of the mystery man at the very beginning and can frustrate the reader when it takes Gwen so long to come to the realization. I found myself wanting to know what happened next after putting the book down. Farley does a good job at drawing the reader in and making them feel as if they are part of the book. The romance in this book, while is the most important theme in the book, doesn't cross the line that many teenage books cross. This books is good for 7th graders and up. show less

I must admit: I wasn't crazy about this book. First of all, it was kind of confusing. It didn't seem well--developed and Gwen was likeable, but Jessie wasn't my favorite. In my opinion, go more for "Sea Change" by Aimee Friedman.