The Tail of the Sea Witch

^{Eleven-year-old Marina once knew a sea witch who lived in a large houseboat in a private lagoon. Their friendship brings
about imaginative happenings, leaving the reader uncertain how much truly happens and how much is the result of Marina's
vivid imaginings. Perhaps the lady Marina believes to a mermaid is simply an enigmatic woman recovering from tragedy. Or
perhaps she is truly a child of the sea.

Author Wendy Maree Peterson pens an entrancing young adult fantasy in The Tail of the Sea Witch. Peterson
maintains a dream like narrative quality that creates a mystical world where the impossible becomes quite logical. In this world
of opposites where dreams and reality merge as one, readers will find the beauty of legendary places and extraordinary
creatures. Peterson's rich narrative style, replete with magical imagery and extraordinary vision, brings this story vividly alive.
While the stated audience is young adults, readers of all ages will treasure this stunning tale. An extraordinary creation, of which
readers will hope for sequels.

The Tail of the Sea Witch earns the WordWeaving Award for Excellence.

Reviewed by head reviewer, Bob Spear, of Heartland Reviews

Editor of HEARTSTRINGS: a bi-monthly newsletter containing the best in book reviews

The Tail of the Sea Witch is a delightful middle grade fantasy about a young Australian girl who meets a reclusive woman whom her classmates had reported to be a sea witch. Marina, the young girl, stumbles across the witch’s beach and cave one day while rowing her dinghy. Then she stumbles across the witch, who is beautiful, kind, talented, and intelligent—all the things Marina would like to be when she grows up. Madame Witch, which is what she prefers to be called, insists she is a burned out actress who has come to Australia’s north coast to live with several animal friends and to paint while living on a salvaged ferry boat in the lagoon. All is not idyllic as people, storms, and sickness threaten; however, along the way the witch teaches Marina many important things, such as: stewardship for the planet, the importance of friends and soul mates, the healing qualities of light, and the joy of imaginative play. The witch even has a mermaid’s tail that she claims she sometimes wore on stage, yet when she puts it on; she swims as fast as a dolphin. A trip to wonderful Atlantis enters Marina’s sleeping dreams, but are they dreams at all?

The author paints word pictures as wonderfully as the artist she writes about. The story is delightful and makes you think many of the so-called supernatural aspects of the witch are simply products of a child’s overactive mind—that is, until the end, and then the reader wonders. This is a powerful story, beautifully crafted, with important themes presented in a loving manner. The setting descriptions are awesome and the characters, especially the animals, are well defined and perky.

We rated this book our highest level of five hearts.

Reviewed by Warren Thurston of Bogglebooks

Author of Gladiss And The Alien from Sunnyside Up Publishing

Inhouse Reviewer for Ebooksnbytes

Every now and again a book comes along that leaves the reader in awe at the beauty of its story. The Tail of The Sea Witch is such a book. The author has captured the essence of tropical North Queensland and put it down on paper.

The storyline is formed around the two main characters of the book, Marina and Madame Witche. Marina is a typical eleven-year-old girl, carefree, but at that stage in life where part of her wants to be grown up. Madame Witche takes the role of a teacher whose role is to guide Marina through this difficult period.

Marina discovers Madame Witche's home, an old ferry, in the lagoon near her home. She had been rowing her inflated dingy and made it to the beach inside the lagoon. This was where Madame Witche and her dog, Tongue-Tired, first met her.

A little frightened at first, Marina discovered that Madame Witche was not the sort of witch that captured and ate children. In fact, she was the complete opposite. The two soon become good friends and Marina spends each Saturday at the lagoon.
It was during these Saturday visits that Marina began to find out more of what Madame Witche used to do. She once was a successful actress playing the role of "The Little Mermaid", in children's pantomimes all over the world. Then she lost her nerve to perform and retreated to the lagoon.

Madame Witche had two other pets that Marina became very fond of. One was a cockatoo that answered to the name of Captain. The other a very friendly fox called Louis.

One day Marina came down with a fever. Her whole body felt like it was on fire as her temperature rose to 106 degrees Fahrenheit. The local doctor said she must be admitted to a hospital. Marina says she will not go to hospital; she wants to go to Madame Witche's houseboat.
After making a full recovery, Madame Witche tells Marina that they are soul mates. She declares that they each help one another in health and happiness. It is a bond that will last forever between them.
Marina feels that Madame Witche is not what she seems. She feels that she has magical qualities that are very strong indeed. Just how strong and what they are she is very curious indeed to find out.

Wendy Peterson has done what most of us would like to do but never seem to have the time. She has taken an idea from her childhood and expressed it powerfully in a children's tale. It is an idea that pits the realm of the real world against a world of fantasy.

This very well-written book will also contain illustrations and sea music. It is one of the best Young Adult novels I have reviewed. If you are looking for quality literature for children look no further than - The Tail of The Sea Witch.

Reviewed by Denise M. Clark- May 2002
Author/Book Reviewer at:

http://www.denisemclark.com
Rarely does one come across a book so rich in language and visual images that it immediately entrances and captures a sense of magic within its pages. The Tail of the Sea Witch is just such a story, one whose delightful prose and atmosphere come alive with color, texture and vision.

Eleven-year-old Marina meets an older, beautiful yet very different woman who lives in an old, abandoned ferryboat with her animals; a bird, a dog and a fox. With ‘Madame’, Marina experiences joys and emotions she’s never felt before, and in turn, Madame seems to blossom under Marina’s attentiveness.

A tale of friendship and the glory of personal uniqueness develop under the talented pen of Wendy Maree Petersen, who tells the tale with a rare depth of sensitivity and insight. Though written primarily for young adults, The Tail of the Sea Witch is a story with the potential to reach a vastly wider market - and with good reason.

This one is a keeper.

Reviewed By Renee Faucher of Fiction Forum

*Awarded Four Stars*

In the "Tail of the Sea Witch" by Wendy Maree Peterson,
Marina is an eleven-year-old girl who lives on the north coast
of Australia. She is a very whimsical pre-teen who names her bicycle
"Sir Rustalot" and dreams of mermaids..."The Tail
of the Sea Witch" begins as Marina narrates the story of
her close friendship with a sea witch, who had green eyes and
roseamberine hair, named Madame Witche.

Madame Witche is a reclusive woman who lives alone on a houseboat
in a private lagoon. The people in the area know of her and gossip
about whether she is a witch or simply a hermit. Marina decides
to find out and ventures in a small rubber dinghy to spy on the
woman and determine if she is a real witch. Soon after Marina
lands on the beach, of what seems to be a magical lagoon, she
is greeted by Madame and Tongue-tied, the dog. From that moment,
Marina is irrevocably drawn to this woman as a positive influence
in her life.

Marina acts like a detective who is simply looking for evidence
to support a theory: the theory that Madame is a sea witch or
mermaid. She finds many clues: "The Sea Witche" is the
name of the houseboat; the woman's name is Madame Witche; she
lives with special animals like a black Labrador, named Tongue-tied,
a Fennec Fox, named Louis, and a cockatoo, named Captain. These
animals are her family and the dog, in particular, seems very
special. Tongue-tied appears to understand English like a person.

On her houseboat, Madama has many costumes and a mermaid tail.
Madame claims to be an artist and an actor who played in children's
pantomime productions of The Little Mermaid "all around the
world" (11). However, Marina does not believe her and is
certain that Madame is really a mermaid.

Marina visits Madame every Saturday and a mentor-bond develops
between the woman and girl. Madame teaches Marina about respect
for all living creatures since "plants are people too"
and she says, "Don't you think all creatures should live
together as friends, sharing their uniqueness and their wisdom?"
(35). Madame also adds, "If only people realised how fragile
the creatures of the world are. . .If the creatures of the land
and the sea are driven to extinction, all the magic they bring
to people will be lost forever" (36).

Madame also shows Marina that she is beautiful-something that
Marina never conceived before. In exchange, the girl helps Madame
recapture her happiness and zest for life.

Peterson succeeds to entertain even the adult reader. The book
seems perfect for the age group that matches that of the main
character: eleven. However, more character development and depth
of plot would be necessary for today's "young adult"
reader. Most young adults beyond the age of fourteen would probably
want a more complex plot.

Overall, "Tail of the Sea Witch" is a touching story
that depicts the age before we all lose our sense of wonder and
appreciation for magic in the natural world. This is a coming
of age story in certain ways...not a coming of age of in regards
to sexuality and adulthood, but of learning through child-like
wonder to accept all others and, most importantly, the self. Together
the lessons of self-acceptance, appreciation for all living things,
and a positive outlook are valuable lessons found in the fantasy
text of "Tail of the Sea Witch."}