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Book Cover for: The Selkie's Daughter, Linda Crotta Brennan

The Selkie's Daughter

Linda Crotta Brennan

A cozy, richly imagined fantasy where a young selkie girl must save her family from a vengeful king.

Brigit knows all the old fisherman songs and legends by heart: sea goddess, warriors, and people who are not quite human. But Brigit also knows the truth. It's evident in the webbing between her fingers-webbing that must be cut. She's the daughter of a selkie. A truth she must keep secret from everyone.

But there is another secret growing in the village. A terrible one that will invite the wrath of the Great Selkie, bringing storm, sickness, and death. To protect those she loves, Brigit must find a way to Sule Skerrie, the land of selkies, to confront the Great Selkie and bring the truth--all of it--into the light.

Like sitting by a warm fireplace, The Selkie's Daughter is an imaginative fantasy, steeped in Celtic mythology and set in Nova Scotia. Debut Linda Crotta Brennan has crafted a magical portrait of a brave girl coming into her own. Perfect for fans of mermaids and Studio Ghibli-esque stories.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Book Details

  • Publisher: Holiday House
  • Publish Date: Jun 3rd, 2025
  • Pages: 208
  • Language: English
  • Edition: undefined - undefined
  • Dimensions: 0.00in - 0.00in - 0.00in - 0.00lb
  • EAN: 9780823460649
  • Recommended age: 08-12
  • Categories: Legends, Myths, Fables - GeneralFantasy & MagicHistorical - Canada - Pre-Confederation (to 1867)

About the Author

Linda Crotta Brennan is the author of many picture books, including When Rivers Burned, named a Notable Social Studies Trade Book by the CBC and NCSS and an Outstanding Science Trade Book by the NSTA and CBC. She holds a master's degree in Early Childhood Education and has worked as an instructor for the Institute of Children's Literature. Linda is an active member of SCBWI. The Selkie's Daughter is her debut novel. She lives in New England.

Praise for this book

★ "Expertly told in ­poetic fashion, this book will hook its readers from sentence one. Highly recommended for all who love fantasy, tragedy, history, and folklore."--School Library Journal, Starred Review

"For those who enjoy emotionally driven history with a dash of magic . . . The Selkie's Daughter will be worth the read."--Shelf Awareness

"A story rich in Celtic lore."--Foreword Reviews

"A well-paced first-person narrative inspired by elements of Celtic folklore."--Booklist

"This fresh and evocative tale, rendered in Brigit's clear voice, is propelled by a resilient protagonist toward a satisfyingly complex resolution."--Publishers Weekly

"Readers just ready to dip their toes into selkie lore and Celtic legends à la Jane Yolen will find an easy introduction here."--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"The tale's strength lies in its writing: well-drawn characters, a strong sense of place, vivid images of the natural world, and evocative fantastical elements. . . . An immersive reading experience threaded through with Celtic lore." --Kirkus Reviews