LOUISE COOPER

Lizzy Baxter is thrilled when her family moves to Cornwall - she's always loved the beach. Lizzy doesn't realise, but she has a special connection with the sea - and the mysterical mermaids and silver dolphins who swim there. But there's much more to the beautiful blue-green world than magic. The evil sea queen is plotting to steal something precious - something that belongs to Lizzy. The Mermaid Curse quartet is a perfect blend of fantasy and reality for readers aged 8-10.

Taran, the evil mermaid Queen, is determined to get her hands on the silver pearl that will make her more powerful than ever. Only LIzzy, Kes and their friends from the undersea world can stop her. But when Taran takes a very special hostage, Lizzy and Kes are faced with a terrible choice. Must they give up the precious pearl? Or do they have the courage to challenge Taran, and defeat her?

Since her family moved to Cornwall, Lizzy's world has been turned upside down by the discovery that she has a long-lost brother, Kes, and even more amazingly that their mother is a mermaid. Now Lizzy and her new family must bravely battle the evil sea queen and her terrfying servant, for Lizzy has a powerful treasure and the sea queen will stop at nothing to get it. Exciting and full of dark mystery and suspense, ideal for girls of 8-10 who love stories with an edge.