“He didn’t know what time we performed so he got here early. He’s only got his tail for another hour, so come on.” Shy grabbed Rachel’s arm. “Come on, Cora!” she shouted to me.
“I’ll be there in a minute. I have to find my family!” I called and waved them off.
Everyone around me was gone, and I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to enjoy the moment. The pace had been crazy over the last few days, but it had been worth it. Our performance was over, and we’d done really well.
When I opened my eyes, my mom was swimming toward me. She was alone, which truly never happened. “Where are the girls?” I asked.
She smiled. “Your sisters are with your father. He needs some practice handling all of them at once. He took some time off of work so I could come and see you.” She winked and floated to my side. “That was an amazing show!”
I put my head on her shoulder, enjoying having her all to myself. “Thanks, Mom. I wanted to make you proud. We didn’t win, but that’s okay. We have lots of heart, but other teams had more time to train. There are a lot of other competitions left.”
Mom put a finger under my chin and looked right in my eyes. “You stuck up for your friend. You made difficult choices, and you did the right thing. Like you always do. You make me prouder than you can even imagine!” She softly hummed the song we’d sung. “You’re the best daughter and the best big sister a family could have.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I said, giving her the biggest hug I could.
“I love you, Cora,” she said.
As we swam away, I couldn’t stop smiling.
Legend of Mermaids
These creatures of the sea have many secrets. Although people have believed in mermaids for centuries, nobody has ever proven their existence. People all over the world are attracted to the mysterious mermaids.
The earliest mermaid story dates back to around 1000 BC in an Assyrian legend. A goddess loved a human man but killed him accidentally. She fled to the water in shame. She tried to change into a fish, but the water would not let her hide her true nature. She lived the rest of her days as half-woman, half-fish.
Later, the ancient Greeks whispered tales of fishy women called sirens. These beautiful but deadly beings lured sailors to their graves. Many sailors feared or respected mermaids because of their association with doom.
Note: This text was taken from The Girl’s Guide to Mermaids: Everything Alluring about These Mythical Beauties by Sheri A. Johnson (Capstone Press, 2012). For more mermaid facts, be sure to check this book out!
Talk It Out
Cora had always dreamed about being on the Spirit Squad. However, it didn’t quite go how she thought it would. Talk about a time when your expectations had to change.
When Cora and Shyanna found out why Rachel didn’t make the Spirit Squad, they were rightfully mad. Do you think they did the right thing when they talked to the Queen? What would you have done in the same situation?
Rachel didn’t want her friends to find out how she really felt. Why is it important to talk about your feelings?
With three little sisters, Cora had a lot of extra responsibilities at home. Do you think it was fair that she had to help out so much? Defend your answer.
Write It Down
Pretend you are Cora. Make a pro and con list about leaving the Spirit Squad and starting a new one.
If Cora and Shyanna hadn’t left the Spirit Squad for Rachel, do you think the three girls would still be friends? Write a few paragraphs explaining your reasons.
In this story, Regina was the mean girl/bully. Why do you think Regina acted that way? Write a few paragraphs from Regina’s point of view. Be sure to include reasons for her actions, as they will help readers understand Regina better.
Write an alternate ending for the story. Maybe the two Spirit Squads from Neptunia tie and have to compete against each other. Maybe the two Spirit Squads form one big squad and compete together? It’s your ending, so finish the story any way you want.
About the Author
Janet Gurtler has written numerous well-received YA books. Mermaid Kingdom is her debut series for younger readers. She lives in Calgary, Alberta, near the Canadian Rockies, with her husband, son, and a chubby Chihuahua named Bruce. Gurtler does not live in an igloo or play hockey, but she does love maple syrup and says “eh” a lot.
About the Illustrator
Katie Wood fell in love with drawing when she was very small. Since graduating from Loughborough University School of Art and Design in 2004, she has been living her dream working as a freelance illustrator. From her studio in Leicester, England, she creates bright and lively illustrations for books and magazines all over the world.
Dive in and get swept away!
Mermaid Kingdom is published by Stone Arch Books
A Capstone Imprint
1710 Roe Crest Drive
North Mankato, Minnesota 56003
www.mycapstone.com
Copyright © 2015 Stone Arch Books
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data is available on the Library of Congress website.
ISBN: 978-1-4342-9695-5 (library binding)
ISBN: 978-1-4342-9699-3 (paperback)
ISBN: 978-1-4965-0189-9 (eBook PDF)
ISBN: 978-1-4965-3970-0 (eBook)
Summary: When Cora is selected to be part of the mermaids’ elusive Spirit Squad, she is beyond thrilled. But her happiness quickly fades when Rachel isn’t picked. And when Cora finds out the reason why Rachel wasn’t picked, her spirit is crushed. Cora has a big decision to make. A decision she never thought she’d have to make.
Designer: Alison Thiele
Artistic Elements: Shutterstock
Cora's Decision Page 4