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The Tail of Emily Windsnap

Book 1
Series: Emily Windsnap
3.93 goodreads logo

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( 28,904 ratings, 2,587 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler tells the enchanting story of a young girl named Emily who discovers she is half-mermaid. As she navigates her dual identity, Emily embarks on a magical adventure under the sea, uncovering secrets about her past and making new friends. The book is a delightful mix of friendship, mystery, and self-discovery designed to captivate young readers.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This enchanting tale may captivate you if you love stories about discovery and adventure, with a touch of magic. It's perfect for young readers who dream of exploring underwater worlds and unravelling family secrets. The blend of friendship, mystery, and fantasy offers a delightful escape into a whimsical oceanic journey.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

The girl next door has a secret . . . This is the first adventure in the NEW YORK TIMES bestselling series, packed with magic and friendship, now in a new edition with a gorgeous cover look.

The girl next door has a secret ... This is the first adventure in the NEW YORK TIMES bestselling series, packed with magic and friendship, now in a new edition with a gorgeous cover look.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
Emily Windsnap lives on a boat, but her mother has always been oddly anxious to keep her out of the water. It is only when Emily has her first school swimming lesson that she discovers why: as soon as she gets into the water, she grows a tail!

Soon Emily discovers a glorious underwater world of fishes, coral, shipwrecks and mermaids, and, best of all, she finds a best friend! With mermaid Shona Silkfin by her side, Emily uncovers a surprising family secret and embarks on a quest to reunite her mum and dad.

This enchanting fantasy deals with universal themes of family, friendship, love and justice - all handled with the lightness of touch for which Liz Kessler is so well known.

Series: Emily Windsnap

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  • Emily Windsnap and the Pirate Prince
    Feisty girls take to the helm of a pirate ship in this new Emily Windsnap adventure! Ordinary girl on land, magical mermaid in water... Bubbling with magic, fun, friendship and oceans of adventure. A must-read for girls aged 8+. When Emily Windsnap's boyfriend Aaron is captured by pirates, there's only one option: join a rival pirate crew and persuade them...
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • Emily Windsnap and the Ship of Lost Souls
    Welcome back to the world of Emily Windsnap! A school trip to a beautiful island plunges Emily and her friends into a new adventure. What is the secret of the mysterious ship that sometimes appears on the horizon, and does the answer lie in the lost city of Atlantis? Emily's adventures have been captivating fans for more than ten years,...
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • Emily Windsnap and the Monster from the Deep
    Emily Windsnap and the Monster from the Deep tells the exciting story of Emily Windsnap, who is thrilled to arrive at her new home—a secret island near the Bermuda Triangle where humans and merfolk live together. In this magical place, being a girl who grows a tail as soon as she enters the water isn’t a problem. However, being Emily,...
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • Emily Windsnap and the Tides of Time
    The brand new ninth book in the five-million-copy-selling Emily Windsnap series by Liz Kessler. Bubbling with magic, fun, friendship, and oceans of adventure. Emily Windsnap has returned home to Brightport, but she can't help but miss the fantastical adventures she's been having on pirates ships and tropical islands. And Brightport isn't exactly welcoming her home either—in fact, her best friend...
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • The Tail of Emily Windsnap
    Emily Windsnap lives on a boat, but her mother has always been oddly anxious to keep her out of the water. It is only when Emily has her first school swimming lesson that she discovers why: as soon as she gets into the water, she grows a tail! Soon Emily discovers a glorious underwater world of fishes, coral, shipwrecks and...
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • Emily Windsnap and the Castle in the Mist
    The magic ring that Emily Windsnap — half mermaid, half ordinary girl — finds buried in the sand belongs to Neptune, and he wants it back. But the ring, once on, won't come off, and an angry Neptune sends Emily's boat spinning away across the sea. When it comes to rest, she and her best friend, Shona, can see a...
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • Emily Windsnap and the Falls of Forgotten Island
    Meet Emily Windsnap! Ordinary girl on land, magical mermaid in water... Bubbling with magic, fun, friendship and new heights of adventure, a must-read for girls aged 8-12. Emily Windsnap and the Falls of Forgotten Island features Emily Windsnap, an ordinary girl on land and a magical mermaid in water. She is overdue a break from excitement, as her exhausted best...
    Paperback
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  • Emily Windsnap and the Land of the Midnight Sun
    Emily Windsnap and the Land of the Midnight Sun follows Emily and Aaron as they are sent on a top secret mission by King Neptune. The king has been plagued by nightmares he doesn't understand, and he is aware only that Emily and Aaron must travel to the Land of the Midnight Sun to prevent disaster. Upon their arrival in...
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • Emily Windsnap and the Siren's Secret
    Emily Windsnap and the Siren's Secret follows Emily as she revels in her family's return to Brightport. However, their efforts to adhere to Neptune's orders by uniting humans and merfolk seem destined for failure. Expelled from mermaid school and ridiculed by her old adversary, Mandy Rushton, Emily embarks on a quest to find the lost sirens who were exiled by...
    Paperback
    Sold Out

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler receives praise for its charm and originality. Reviewers highlight its enchanting and enjoyable fantasy elements, with The Guardian calling it a delightful portrayal of a modern mermaid character, while The Times appreciates it as a refreshing and captivating addition to mermaid folklore.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781444015096

Publisher: Hachette Children's Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 August 2015

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Orion Children's Books

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Sarah Gibb

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 28.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 208.0mm

Weight: 210g

Pages: 240

About the Author

Liz Kessler studied English at Loughborough University, has worked as a teacher and a journalist and has an MA in Creative Writing from Manchester Metropolitan University. Liz lives in Cornwall.

Find out more at http://www.lizkessler.co.uk, follow her on Twitter @lizkesslerbooks and like her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/lizkesslerchildrensauthor.

Also by Liz Kessler

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  • Code Name Kingfisher
    From million-copy bestselling author Liz Kessler comes the powerful new landmark World War II novel for fans of Michael Morpurgo and Phil Earle. When Liv finds a secret box from her grandmother’s childhood, she uncovers an extraordinary wartime story of bravery, betrayal, and daring defiance—a story that will change Liv and her family forever… Holland, 1942. The world is at...
    Paperback
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  • The World of Emily Windsnap: Dolphin Rescue
    Swim with the dolphins and cheer for the protection of sea mammals in this early-reader adventure inspired by the New York Times best-selling Emily Windsnap series.Best mer-friends Emily, Shona, and Aaron are wandering the ocean in search of something to do when they see a boat advertising “attractions” at a place called Sea Park. Finally, a great way to spend...
    Paperback
    $1499
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  • The World of Emily Windsnap: Emily’s Big Discovery
    Introducing an exciting new line of readers that brings half-mermaid Emily Windsnap—star of the New York Times best-selling series—to a younger audience.Even though she lives in a houseboat, Emily Windsnap doesn’t know how to swim. Her mother has always cautioned her to stay out of the water. But it’s hard to make friends at the beach when everyone else is...
    Paperback
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  • The World of Emily Windsnap: Shona Finds Her Voice
    With her best friend’s help, can mermaid Shona get up the nerve to share her singing talents at school? A new reader for younger fans based on the New York Times best-selling Emily Windsnap novels. Emily Windsnap’s best friend, Shona Silkfin, is a mermaid who loves to sing . . . but only when she is by herself. So when...
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  • The World of Emily Windsnap: Four Mermaid Adventures
    Life is more enchanting under the waves—and with the first four adventures of half-mermaid, half-human Emily Windsnap gathered into one dazzling, seaworthy collection. Emily Windsnap’s life utterly changes when she dives into water for the first time and undergoes a surprising and magical transformation. Now, aspiring merchildren can dive into her tale—and those of her friends—with this boxed set of...
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  • The World of Emily Windsnap: Shona Finds Her Voice
    With her best friend’s help, can mermaid Shona get up the nerve to share her singing talents at school? A new reader for younger fans based on the New York Times best-selling Emily Windsnap novels.Emily Windsnap’s best friend, Shona Silkfin, is a mermaid who loves to sing . . . but only when she is by herself. So when Shiprock...
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  • The World of Emily Windsnap: The Truth About Aaron
    After his pendant goes missing, semi-mer Aaron and his friends discover a family secret in this early reader based on the New York Times best-selling Emily Windsnap novels. Aaron wishes he were special like his best friends, Emily Windsnap and Shona Silkfin, but nothing exciting ever happens at his castle in the middle of the ocean. That is, until a...
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  • When The World Was Ours
    ONE MOMENT CAN CHANGE A LIFE FOREVER. "An exceptional read" — The Sunday Times "Vital glimmers of hope enlighten this profoundly poignant book" — The Guardian A powerful and heart-breaking novel about three childhood friends living during the Second World War whose fates are closely intertwined, even when their lives take very different courses. Inspired by a true story, this...
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  • Valley of the Vikings
    Electrifying and magical... you know you’re in the hands of a master storyteller A. F. Steadman, author of Skandar A rip-roaring adventure story of magic, myth and mermaids, featuring Liz Kessler's popular character Emily Windsnap. Neptune and Thor battle for power, and their fight upsets the balance of the world. Lightning strikes, curses fly and towering waves swallow a Viking...
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  • The World of Emily Windsnap: Emily's Great Idea
    Pre-order
    The World of Emily Windsnap: Emily's Great Idea
    When a faulty pier is scheduled for demolition, can semi-mer Emily and her friends in both worlds work together to save their homes? This is another exciting mermaid adventure for young readers based on the New York Times best-selling series by Liz Kessler. Semi-mer Emily and her friend Mandy can’t wait for a fun day at the theme park on...
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    Out 1 Sep 2026
  • Emily Windsnap and the Ship of Lost Souls
    Welcome back to the world of Emily Windsnap! A school trip to a beautiful island plunges Emily and her friends into a new adventure. What is the secret of the mysterious ship that sometimes appears on the horizon, and does the answer lie in the lost city of Atlantis? Emily's adventures have been captivating fans for more than ten years,...
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • Emily Windsnap and the Monster from the Deep
    Emily Windsnap and the Monster from the Deep tells the exciting story of Emily Windsnap, who is thrilled to arrive at her new home—a secret island near the Bermuda Triangle where humans and merfolk live together. In this magical place, being a girl who grows a tail as soon as she enters the water isn’t a problem. However, being Emily,...
    Paperback
    Sold Out

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