The Summer of Chasing Mermaids

by Sarah Ockler

  Jessi Kirby, the most dedicated literary soul mate ever. Jessi, every time I feared the worst, you were there with the good chocolate, saying, “You got this, Ockler!” I’m pretty sure our ability to “Be Amazing” together is matched only by our ability to fill up the recycle bin together, but I look forward to re-testing that theory for many years to come (by the sea, of course).

  Zoe Strickland. Thanks for being in my corner, HT! Your texts and letters are always like a much-needed hug.

  Leo Quinn, who gave the Black Pearl its name.

  Anna Hutchinson, the original feminist killjoy. I’m honored to make the list.

  My parents, my parents-in-law, and the family and friends who continue to read my stories no matter how many I write.

  Librarians, booksellers, bloggers, and teachers, whose passion for reading keeps me coming back to the page with new ideas.

  And most of all, my husband, Alex, my pet monster and bestie. Thank you for bringing me to the sea, and for giving me the most amazing adventures every day. As long as you’re with me, I’m home, and I’m okay.

  Finally, dear readers, there’s one more thing I’d like to say, specifically to the teens and young adults reading this book.

  As Elyse discovers, there are so many ways to lose one’s voice. Elyse’s initial loss is literal, but she comes to know and care for people who’ve experienced all kinds of silencing, both subtle and forceful, both accidental and purposeful.

  The intentions and methods by which people silence one another may be wildly different, but the outcome is always the same: Someone’s voice goes unheard.

  So, for anyone who has ever been hushed, shushed, shut down, shut up, shut out, shut off, cut off, flamed, shamed, silenced, suppressed, oppressed, dismissed, disempowered, discouraged, disrespected, rejected, ignored, intimidated, talked over, talked at, denied, cast aside, outshouted, outvoted, overlooked, unnoticed, unheard, or unacknowledged in any way: this is your acknowledgement, whenever you need it. I wrote this story for and because of you. Know that you’re not invisible. Know that you matter. Know that your voice matters. And know that there are people out there who want and need to hear that beautiful voice of yours, whenever you’re ready, however you’re able to express it.

  Believe in you. I do.

  With respect and admiration,

  Sarah

  #NOTEVENCLOSE

  If a picture is worth a thousand words, a picture tagged on Miss Demeanor’s Scandal of the Month page is worth about a million. Especially when the story all those words tell is an absolute lie.

  Well, mostly a lie.

  The part about falling asleep in his arms is sort of true. I don’t remember the details about the horse, or how it got into the living room exactly, but judging from the smell that morning, that part’s true too. And yes, the Harvard-bound debate team captain definitely cannonballed into the pond wearing only tuxedo socks and silver fairy wings. Everyone got shots of that.

  But there’s no way the other stuff happened.

  Not like the pictures are saying it did.

  A SPECIAL MESSAGE TO LAVENDER OAKS SWORDFISH ON THE OCCASION OF PROM

  MISS DEMEANOR

  2,002 likes

  92 talking about this

  Friday, April 25

  It’s prom weekend, fishes, and you know what that means: Sex! Scandal! And . . . glitter?

  Yes, glitter, as you’d expect from Lavender Oaks’s first-ever Mythical Creatures Promenade. I’m not sure what that even means, but everything’s better with sparkle, so let’s raise a glass to the planning committee for spreading a dash of pixie dust on an otherwise pedestrian tradition. Cheers!

  For those of you who haven’t planned the ruination of your innocence at one of the many after-parties, may I suggest popping by the east field for the school-sponsored medieval joust and mutton roast? Principal Zeff assures me that while the lances are made of foam, the horses and meat (mutually exclusive, despite recent legislation) are the real deal.

  Chain mail not your thing? Rumor has it the (e)lectronic Vanities Intervention League is hosting a postprom reenactment of the fake moon landing on the grassy knoll, but they don’t believe in Facebook; we can neither confirm nor deny reports. Still, if anyone spots any (e)VIL club members at the dance, snap a few pics. I’d love to see those girls rock an updo with their tinfoil hats.

  Team Tinfoil Hat pics aside, don’t forget to upload and share your juiciest weekend shots here on the Miss Demeanor page, tagged #scandal to enter my Scandal of the Month contest. This is it, kids—the very last #scandal before graduation. Make it count! Winners will be immortalized with a blinking gold star and, of course, eternal humiliation. Can’t put a price on that!

  Speaking of fame and glory, today we crossed the magic number: 2,000 fans! But it’s no time to rest on our überpopular laurels. Millions of Americans have yet to profess their loyalty. I’m saying! So do your part and tell a friend, tell an ex, tell a nana to hit that thumbs-up button!

  On a serious note, a message from Students Against Substance Abuse: Driving dry is hella fly. The SASA president will personally monitor the punch bowl for suspicious activity, and the VP has the smoking lounge on lockdown in case you have any nontobacco smoking plans. With all that glitter and gossamer, something tells me you won’t need hallucinogenics to have a funky trip, anyway.

  While you’re out bustin’ a move in your satin and sequins tomorrow, I’ll be home reclining in my zebra-print Snuggie, knuckles-deep in a box of Fiddle Faddle. Not very mythical, perhaps, but I’ve got a date with Danger’s Little Darling, and after last week’s killer episode, I can’t wait to see what Angelica Darling has in store. God, I love me some Jayla Heart. That saucy starlet’s the hottest thing to ever come out of Lav-Oaks. Don’t believe me? Check out her fan page, the Jayla Heartthrobs. 200K fans? There’s a girl who knows how to bust a move.

  In closing, a Facebook message even Team Tinfoil Hat can’t protest: Have fun this weekend, fishies. Be safe. And don’t forget to smile for the spy satellites!

  xo ~ Ciao! ~ xo

  Miss Demeanor

  About the Author

  Sarah Ockler is the bestselling author of #scandal, The Book of Broken Hearts, Bittersweet, Twenty Boy Summer, and Fixing Delilah. Her books have received numerous accolades, including ALA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults, Girls’ Life Top 100 Must Reads, Indie Next List, and nominations for YALSA Teens’ Top Ten, and NPR’s Top 100 Teen Books. When she’s not writing or reading at home in Washington, Sarah enjoys hugging trees and road-tripping through the country with her husband, Alex. Visit her at SarahOckler.com, and find her on Twitter, Tumblr, and Facebook.

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  Also by Sarah Ockler

  #scandal

  The Book of Broken Hearts

  Bittersweet

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  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  SIMON PULSE

  An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division

  1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020

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  First Simon Pulse
hardcover edition June 2015

  Text copyright © 2015 by Sarah Ockler

  Jacket photograph copyright © 2015 by Michael Frost

  Author photo by R. Alex Morabito

  All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

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  Jacket designed by Regina Flath

  Interior designed by Tom Daly

  The text of this book was set in Chaparral Pro.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Ockler, Sarah.

  The summer of chasing mermaids / by Sarah Ockler.—p. cm

  Summary: After a boating accident takes her beautiful singing and speaking voice from her, Elyse d’Abreau, the youngest of six sisters, leaves her home in Tobago to stay in an Oregon seaside town where Christian Kane, a notorious playboy, challenges her to to overcome her fear of the sea.

  ISBN 978-1-4814-0127-2 (hc)

  [1. Mute persons—Fiction. 2. Communication—Fiction. 3. Loss (Psychology)—Fiction. 4. Dating (Social customs)—Fiction. 5. Community life—Oregon—Fiction. 6. West Indians—United States—Fiction. 7. Oregon—Fiction. 8. West Indies—Fiction.] I. Title.

  PZ7.O168Sum 2015

  [Fic]—dc23

  2014034875

  ISBN 978-1-4814-0129-6 (eBook)