Where did I get it? A friend on Facebook shared it because their friend wrote it, and I liked the sound of it so bought it when I had a voucher on Amazon.
What's it about? Alpha Lux was the first of the Wrecklings. She was discovered abandoned in a soap flakes box by Cap'n, an ex boat captain who has made his home on a peninsula somewhere in the north east of England. One by one others arrived. They're all disabled in one way or another. Alpha was burned in a fire and lost one eye and one ear. Her best friend Badger is blind and uses clicks to orient herself. Cap'n has agoraphobia. Everyone lives in the lighthouse, Old Ben, or one of the cottages nearby, and every Sunday the wrecklings have to wreck a ship to bring their supplies in.
Oh, and there's mermaids. Alpha's adoptive mother - whose name I forget, I'm writing this a few days after I read the book, and I'm sorry - is a mermaid who uses her magic to let Alpha into the depths to visit her and the other mermaids. Mermaids can also go on land, and they also sing a magical song to bring the ships in. This song also keeps Outsiders out.
But Alpha's mother is keeping something from her, and then Alpha sees something glinting up on the cliff top, and begins to feel the community is being watched. She and Badger make plans to go looking, before anything can threaten their community.
What age range is it for? 11 plus
Are any main characters LGBTQ+? Yeah, there's two women who are getting married in the book, which I liked. I also for the longest time couldn't work out if Alpha was a boy or girl - no one uses any pronouns about her for ages. I get big non binary vibes from her. I do reckon there'll be a sequel so maybe I'll be right!
Are any main characters people of colour? Yes, I think so, but can't remember specifics
Are any main characters disabled either mentally or physically? Yes, as I said, the whole community has either physical or mental disabilities. I loved the way these were described, in such a good way as to explain them to a kid. One of the women, Laura, has what sounded very much like ME, and it was described brilliantly. The whole lighthouse and surrounding area have been modified to be accessible to everyone.
Is there any talk of death? Yes, and it is somewhat graphic, but age appropriate I thought
Are there swear words? No, but there's loads of inventive ways for Alpha and her friends to NOT swear, which I found really funny and fun.
What criticisms do I have? Almost none, I really liked it
Would I recommend the book? Yes, especially for a middle grade reader
Why did I choose to read it at this point in life? I just wanted to get to it soon! I really hope there's more in the series - the ending has Alpha and Badger setting off on a journey and I hope we see it
How many stars? Four out of five
Where is the book going now? I think I'll send it to my friend Lucinda who might like it!
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