Perfect for fans of middle-grade oceanic adventures like "Percy Jackson" and "The Girl Who Drank the Moon".

Alea Aquarius: The Colors of the Sea picks up right at the end of Book 1. Alea Aquarius has come to accept that she is a mermaid, and is more determined than ever to find out what happened to her parents and her people. Together with her newfound friends - Ben, Sammy, Tess, and Lennox - Alea follows a clue northward to the mysterious Loch Ness. Along the way, she discovers more about her past - and how she and Lennox are connected.

Emotions play a central role in this volume, as Alea struggles with her feelings for Lennox. Is he a merperson like her, or perhaps even her brother? Ashore and away from the rest of the Alpha Cru, their adventures become more and more impetuous. Will they find the answers they seek at the bottom of Loch Ness - or are they walking into a trap?

Having established the character's core motivations and traits in the first volume, Aleah Aquarius: The Colors of the Sea invites readers to explore the historical and cultural contours of Alea's undersea world alongside her. Alea's quest to learn the truth about her past and her people drives the narrative, as does her curiosity about Lennox. Pre-teen readers interested in their *potentially* romantic relationship will have plenty to chew on in this volume, but there are still plenty of shore-excursions, band performances, and silly Sammy jokes to keep Alea grounded with her shore-bound friends.