The Mermaid's Mirror by L. K. Madigan

Lena has always been drawn to the ocean; living in Diamond Bay, a small town on the San Francisco Bay, the water is practically in her backyard. She desperately wants to surf with her friends, and, as her sixteenth birthday approaches, Lena decides that it may be time to learn. Her father, who nearly died while surfing before Lena was born, has never allowed her to take lessons, but Lena doesn't want to watch from the shoreline any longer. Her life starts to change in other ways as well, particularly when she discovers a hidden trunk containing her mother's things; she decides it's finally time to know more about her mother's suicide while she was young. As Lena searches for the answers to her questions, she will begin to learn more about her family -- and about herself.

This was an interesting story, though parts of it were fairly predictable and occasionally a little slow. Lena's character has to deal with many changes and difficult choices, which make the story more realistic. I would recommend this to fantasy fans who enjoy stories about mermaids and heroines finding themselves.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Lost Voices, Half-Human, Trylle trilogy, or Water Steps

Water Steps by A. LaFaye

When Kyna was three years old, she nearly died in the storm that killed the rest of her family when it capsized their boat. Since then, she has been terrified of water, even drinking water and baths. Her adoptive parents, an Irish couple that saved her from the ocean, force her to take "water steps" and learn how to handle small amounts of water a little bit at a time. They tell her stories about fairies in Ireland that steal babies, shape-shifting silkies, and other sorts of magic. But when they tell Kyna that they're all going on summer vacation and living at a house on Lake Champlain, she will be forced to reconsider everything that she knows and face her biggest fears.

This book is fairly short, but it's written with beautiful, lyrical language that makes it difficult to put down once you start it. Even though parts of the story are a bit predictable, the characters are believable and it was interesting to see how all of the pieces would come together. Although there isn't as much "magic" in this story as in many other fantasy books, I would absolutely recommend this to fantasy fans who enjoy a little bit of Irish myth.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Once Upon a Time series, Half-Human, Me, My Elf, and I, or Wings