Above World

Gr 5–8—Above World is a fish-out-of-water fantasy that could have been great, but ultimately barely stays afloat. There are a multitude of plot contrivances and too many well-intended life lessons. Readers might be able to root for the likable yet naive characters if they weren't so busy deflecting the skepticism surrounding all the happy resolutions to the protagonists' problems. Aluna, a 13-year-old who has yet to grow her mermaid tail, and her best guy pal, Hoku, swim off to save the Kampii. Conveniently armed with a box containing the secrets they'll need, they go ashore to find out why their breathing necklaces, without which the Kampii cannot exist underwater, are failing. Too coincidentally, except for the evil ruler behind the attempt to destroy the Kampii, all the other evil creatures they meet along the way turn out to be honorable and aid the friends as the twosome swells to four, plus a friendly robotic raccoon. There's even a romance between the battles. It's all just too neat and nice. The tale is cluttered as it simultaneously tries to address gender roles and environmental issues and show readers that ordinary people can achieve the impossible if they are honorable, strong, and true to themselves. This is a burden too heavy to allow the appealing characters and action-driven plot to prevail.—Cindy Wall, Southington Library & Museum, CT