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SUPER READERS
Title:  Sirena
Author:  Donna Jo Napoli
Reviewed by : 
Reviewer:  Willa O. '10
I love the way that Donna Jo Nappoli tells her stories from the bad guy's point of view. In Sirena, she tells the story of the Trojan War, from a siren's point of view. Sirena's only wish is to become immortal, by singing, and making a man fall in love with her. But when she meets Philoctetes, this all changes. Philoctetes loves nature, and loves to laugh. Sirena is entranced by him, but she is afraid to show herself, because he might think that she is hideous, and try to hurt her.

I think that this is a very good book, but it isn't one of my favorite of Donna Jo Nappoli's. I would recommend it to girls, because the main character is a girl, and there are some parts that I just can't see a boy reading.

Winter 2002/2003

Reviewer:  Katie C. '08

This story is about a mermaid who must sing her song of love to mortal men to make one of them love her so that she can become immortal, but there is a catch. When the mermaids sing their song it usually makes men die. One time they see a ship come, they get excited and start singing their song. Of course, the men hear them and get shipwrecked. The men don’t come near the mermaids because they think that they are evil, and they tell the mermaids not to come near them or they will kill them. Things do not go right and the men kill a mermaid. The mermaid’s sister, Sirena decides to run, well, swim away. She goes to an island called Lemnos. She sees six ships come by one day, but she has promised herself that she will never sing again. The mermaid sees a seventh ship and it drops off a man on Lemnos and leaves. Sirena finds that he doesn’t move. She goes over to him and sees that he is unconscious. She brings him food and fresh water but she doesn’t let him see her. Will Sirena ever reveal herself? Will she meet him? Find out in this book.

I really liked this book, because I couldn’t put it down. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes romantic books.

Spring 2001

Reviewer:   Tory R. '08

Sirena is a mermaid. She wants to become immortal but the only way she can do that is by having a man fall in love with her. Sirena and her sisters have a little problem though, when they sing, it lures the men towards them but it also brings them to their deaths. Sirena finds an abandoned young soldier who is wounded. She hides because she is afraid he will die if he sees her. Eventually, he does see Sirena and becomes interested in her. She takes care of him but refuses to sing. One day, Sirena is confronted by a bear and her only to survive is to sing. She does, but her friend hears her and he instantly falls in love with her. The two get married and take care of each other. Sirena becomes immortal. Her husband builds a boat and sets off to go back to where he came from. Can Sirena convince him to stay? Read the book and find out.

Winter 2001


5th Grade Super Readers
Director:  Betty Grant - Lower School Reading Specialist
Web Site - Andrea Owens
Germantown Academy

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