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Water: Tales of Elemental Spirits Hardcover – June 10, 2002

by Robin McKinley (Author), Peter Dickinson (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 138 ratings
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Master storytellers Robin McKinley and Peter Dickinson share tales of mysterious merfolk and magical humans, all with close ties to the element of water. From Pitiable Nasmith's miserable existence in a seaside town whose inhabitants are more intertwined with the sea than most people know, to Tamia's surprising summons to be the apprentice to the Guardian who has the power to hold back the sea, each of the six stories illuminates a captivating world filled with adventure, romance, intrigue, and enchantment. Robin McKinley fans will recognize one of the worlds included-Damar, the setting of Newbery Medal winner The Hero and the Crown and Newbery Honor Book The Blue Sword.
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  1. Reading age
    10 - 12 years
  2. Print length
    272 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    4 - 6
  5. Dimensions
    6.22 x 1.08 x 9.3 inches
  6. Publisher
    Putnam Juvenile
  7. Publication date
    June 10, 2002
  8. ISBN-10
    0399237968
  9. ISBN-13
    978-0399237966
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Each highly respected authors in their own right, husband and wife Dickinson (The Ropemaker) and McKinley (Spindle's End) collaborate for the first time on a collection of enchanting tales linked by an aquatic theme. Infused with selkie legends and Greek and Roman underworld myths, the tales possess a consistently compelling, rhythmic tone, despite the fact that the authors alternate in the tellings. Dickinson's opening "Mermaid Song" sets the tone for a tenuous relationship between those who dwell on sand and in sea; only the landsman who has listened to the stories passed down through generations can accord the sea its proper respect. McKinley's "The Sea-King's Son" builds on the traditional tale of the Sea-King's daughter who falls in love with a musician, but with a satisfying twist. Taken together, the installments also raise some thought-provoking issues. In "Mermaid Song," for instance, Pitiable Nasmith must lie in order to escape her grandfather's abusive home, while Hetta in "A Pool in the Desert" struggles with what constitutes truth. The workings of the Guardians' magic in McKinley's "Water Horse" remains mysterious, and Dickinson never entirely explains the gender-divided mythology in "Sea Serpent" but fans of myths won't mind filling in the gaps. These creative interpretations brim with suspenseful, chilling and wonderfully supernatural scenes, from Iril's daring plan to kill the murderous sea serpent to Hetta's literal leap of faith. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6 Up-Two generally brilliant writers alternate first-rate tales in this six-story collection. McKinley allows hearts' desires to be achieved in all three of her contributions: one young woman braves a curse and falls in love with "The Sea-King's Son"; another discovers her own subtle kind of magic in defeating a giant, wildly destructive "Water Horse." A third dreams of Damar, the setting of McKinley's Blue Sword (1982) and Hero and the Crown (1984, both Greenwillow), then finds a way to travel there, escaping through space and time from a soul-deadening existence. In Dickinson's tales, which are darker in tone, a "Mermaid Song" helps an abused child escape her violent father; a lame ferryman, caught in a struggle between old gods and new, battles an immense "Sea Serpent"; and while helping to save human lovers from drowning, a mer-princess draws the attention of an immortal, coldly alien "Kraken" from the deeps. The masterfully written stories all feature distinct, richly detailed casts and settings, are free of the woodenly formal language that plagues so much fantasy, and focus as strongly on action as on character. There's plenty here to excite, enthrall, and move even the pickiest readers.
John Peters, New York Public Library
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Putnam Juvenile; First Ed edition (June 10, 2002)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0399237968
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0399237966
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 10 - 12 years
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 4 - 6
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.2 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.22 x 1.08 x 9.3 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 138 ratings

About the author

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Robin McKinley

Robin McKinley

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Robin McKinley has won various awards and citations for her writing, including the Newbery Medal for The Hero and the Crown and a Newbery Honor for The Blue Sword. Her other books include Sunshine; the New York Times bestseller Spindle's End; two novel-length retellings of the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Beauty and Rose Daughter; and a retelling of the Robin Hood legend, The Outlaws of Sherwood. She lives with her husband, the English writer Peter Dickinson.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
138 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Kate
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, excellent condition
Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2019
Verified Purchase
I have checked this book out from the library more times than I can count, so I finally decided to own it. The stories are lovely and interesting, the writing is captivating, and the subject matter is truly fantastical. The book came in great condition, and it was an absolute joy to read agin.
2 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome
Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2011
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I really enjoyed this book, it has great stories, some of them have stayed in my mind since I read them, so I have this book near my bed to come back to them.
It has seven stories:

1. Prologue: The Water Sprite
2. Mermaid Song
3. The Sea-King's son
4. Sea serpent
5. Water Horse
6. Kraken
7. A pool in the Desert

The stories are mesmerizing, so if you like mermaids and ocean tales, this is a MUST!
4 people found this helpful
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Susan Seymour
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent writing - great stories
Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2021
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Wonderful explorations of possible fantastic interfaces with water beings.
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Colleen
4.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as Fire, but still good
Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2014
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This six-story anthology focuses mainly on waterways, water creatures (such as mer-folk), and the people who interact with them. But the last story was different. Remember The Blue Sword? Did you dream of finding your own way to Damar, and having a hill pony and a wild life of formality and feudalism all your own? Well, in "A Pool in the Desert," Hetta starts dreaming her way out of the drudgery of her life, and finds out that maybe, with hard work and hard belief, she could win the dream as reality.

I picked up this book because I loved Fire. While Water does not have the same strength in its stories, they are still good, interesting, entertaining, and sometimes even haunting. I recommend it to people who enjoy McKinley's wandering words and spiral stories.
3 people found this helpful
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V. Adams
5.0 out of 5 stars Robin McKinley has been my favorite author, hand’s down, for 35 years.
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2020
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I savored this book by only allowing myself to read one story a night, so I’d fall asleep dreaming about mermaids and the ocean and all the mysteries that water has to offer. Loved every minute.
2 people found this helpful
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Laura Burgandy Ice
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2010
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I am not a short-story reader, but I am a long-time fan of Robin McKinley. I enjoyed how each story in this book was very interesting and complete in themselves. I felt the two authors blended their stories together well and added more perspective and interest. If I'd've known there were mermaids, I might have picked up this book sooner... and if I'd realized McKinley had thrown in a new one from Damar, well... now you know! I'm definitely getting Fire.
2 people found this helpful
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gia
5.0 out of 5 stars Robin Mckinely is always so great
Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2020
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These stories could be in any book of old fairy tales and fit right in. Beautiful, haunting and memorable. A pleasure to read.
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garenkay
5.0 out of 5 stars Robin McKinley is my favorite author!
Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2012
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This is a book of short stories by Robin McKinley and her husband Peter Dickinson. She submits four and he submits four. I like her contributions a bit more than his; his are a little darker, as short stories often are. They're still all worth reading. At any rate, I would buy this just to read the McKinley stories. Enjoy!
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