After the slightly better writing from book 6 I was hoping for more, but shouldn't have held my breath. Book 7 is a return to the same formula that Kessler seems to love: Emily, who is old enough for a boyfriend but not a survival instinct, dives headfirst into another adventure! Sorry Emily, but recklessness is not cute, especially when it endangers your friends. And even more problematic: the author should not make said friends look like the bad guys when they don't approve of risking their lives every time they hang out!

Unfortunately, because of the first-person POV, the audience only hears Emily's side of the story and is therefore pressured to be against Shona simply because she's sick of Emily's BS. Girl, I was too! Even if Emily discovered an entire group of people in need of saving (a poor segue into a plotline, I might add), it doesn't change the fact that she's got some serious personality issues that make her a terrible friend. Friends are supposed to watch out for each other and not almost get each other killed, right? Or is the definition of friendship different in Windsnap-verse? I wonder if I'd have gotten the wrong message from this rather manipulative storyline if I had read this book as a kid.

Finally, the cheapest ending of all - Shona did a 180 and passionately apologized for not accepting Emily for who she was. (But did anyone emphasize the reverse?) So I guess common sense was the real enemy here and was roundly defeated by Emily's "bravery." PSA: Saving the world isn't for everyone and that should be okay - if everyone's running off on dangerous missions who's left to ensure life hasn't fallen apart by the time they come back? Shona has every right to be the voice of reason, and every right not to be dragged into danger if she doesn't want it. But I guess, in Kessler's fictional world, everyone has to bow down to the spoiled, stupid MC or else. ( )

In this seventh outing with Emily Windsnap, Emily's family, her best friend Shona and her boyfriend Aaron are headed to a tropical island for a relaxing vacation. Emily promises Shona, there will be absolutely no adventure, just plenty of fun and relaxation. It doesn't take long for Emily to go off on a sidetrip with Aaron leaving Shona left out. Shona can't resist catching up with the boat taking the others to Forgotten Island and when Emily sees her, she ends up in the water and they get caught up in a terrible current. This takes a lot out of them both, but adventure always seems to find Emily, and before she knows it, she ends up on the other side of a powerful waterfall on a forgotten island no one else can get to. There is a situation that Emily has to help with that upsets both Shona and Aaron. This book has so much angst wrapped up in a short story. There are tested friendships, danger, young love, fantasy, adventure, and mystery. The way these three friends handle all this shows that they are just kids, but sometimes need to step up to make the right decision. This is another great adventure in this series to interest middle grades readers. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley. ( )

Emily promises her friend Shona that they can have a relaxing vacation without any mystery or adventure. Then, they go to the Forgotten Island and Emily sees something that she just has to investigate. Will she loose her best friend trying to save the Forgotten Island?
This is the seventh book in the Emily Windsnap series. The author combines fantasy, friendship, mythology and helping others to create an engaging story that any want a be mermaid will love. The story fast paced and character driven. The setting becomes a character in the story. This book is recommended for readers in the fourth through sixth grades. ( )