Girl at Sea by Maureen Johnson

Title: Girl at Sea
Author: Maureen Johnson
Pages: 336
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: May 20, 2008

Sometimes you have to get lost.

The Girl: Clio, seventeen, wants to spend the summer smooching her art-store crush, not stuck on a boat in the Mediterranean. At least she'll get a killer tan.

The Mission: Survive her father's annoying antics. Oh, also find some underwater treasure that could be the missing link to a long-lost civilization.

The Crew: Dad's absentminded best friend Martin, his scary girlfriend Julia, her voluptuous daughter Elsa . . . and then there's Aidan, Julia's incredibly attractive, incredibly arrogant research assistant.

What's going on behind Aidan's intellectual, intensely green eyes, anyway?

As Clio sails into uncharted territory she unveils secrets that have the power to change history. But her most surprising discovery is that there's something deeper and more mysterious than the sea—her own heart.

Girl at Sea starts off with Clio being forced to go with her father on vacation since her parents are divorced. Now, she's stuck with her dad, his best friend, his research partner, her assistant Aidan, and her daughter Elsa on a boat. Clio hates it because she's trapped on a boat in the middle of the Mediterranean when she could be working in an art store back home flirting with her co-worker Ollie. A lot of things happen in the boat...and a lot of secrets are revealed.

I found Girl at Sea okay. It did get a little boring because the setting was mostly on the boat but I still found the plot to be fun and definitely one-of-a-kind. I loved all the wacky events that happened to Clio; the jelly fish stings, thieves trying to steal the boat, and accusing Julia.

Another thing I noticed was that all the characters were very dynamic and realistic. I was able to relate to everyone of them and the situation each of them were in.

Elsa was on the rebound from her old boyfriend.
Clio was where she didn't want to be and she was around people she didn't like.
Adam wasn't really enjoying being Julia's assistant.
Julia was solely focused on her research.
And Clio's dad was still guilty about the boat that hit Clio when she was a kid. He's still trying to make her more amiable and more appreciative towards him.

As you can see, they are all very realistic. I was able to catch a glimpse of what their life was like through Clio's eyes.

Even though it was a little bumpy and a little choppy, I enjoyed reading it all the way to the end. There was just the right mix of adventure, romance, and mystery. It's a good read and it will leave you wanting more. B+ :-)