Publishers Weekly
Realistic fiction takes an unexpected turn into fantasy in LaFaye's (Worth) lyrical exploration of a girl coping with her fear of water. Eleven-year-old Kyna's first memory is of drowning; a boat accident took the lives of her family when she was three. She was rescued by Mem and Pep, a water-loving Irish couple who adopted her. They have worked with her on slowly overcoming her fear by taking "water steps" over the years-the latest step is renting a house on Lake Champlain for the summer. Kyna's passion for photography sustains her as she struggles to make peace with the water that surrounds her. Thanks to the gentle prodding of her adoptive parents and a new friend's interest in seeking out the mythical silkies (shape-shifting seals that come to the aid of people in trouble in the water) that he believes live in the lake, she makes tremendous strides over the summer. The final, magical revelation about Mem and Pep's identity will come as much of a surprise to readers as it does to Kyna. Ages 8-13. (Apr.)
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School Library Journal
Gr 4–7—Eleven-year-old Kyna must go to Lake Champlain with her adoptive parents, Mem and Pep, for summer vacation. But she is terrified of water because she witnessed the drowning of her family when she was a young child. Mem and Pep, who saved her, have helped her take "water steps" over the years to overcome her fear. This summer, they want her to take her final step. At the same time, they have a secret to reveal. Upset at the thought of spending the summer near water, Kyna sets out to make the best of it. She befriends Tylo, a fellow vacationer. He tells her he has seen silkies in the lake and wants to get a photograph of them to prove it to others. Kyna tells him there is no such thing, though Mem and Pep believe in them. As the story progresses, Kyna puts together clues about her parents to figure out their secret, though she doesn't want to believe it. Told from Kyna's point of view, the story ends with a neat resolution, and the engaging writing style flows smoothly and is well paced. The language is almost poetic with its use of sensory detail, alliteration, and precise word choices. A satisfying story of overcoming one's fears and discovering secrets.—Jennifer D. Montgomery, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green
Kirkus Reviews
Eleven-year-old Kyna is terrified of all kinds of water; even a barrel of water for apple-bobbing can cause a panic attack. As a young girl, she watched her family perish in the sea and she has never gotten over her fear. Her adoptive Irish parents, full of stories of "silkies" (oddly enough not rendered as "selkies") and leprechauns, love everything about water and hope to get her to take "water steps" to overcome her fear. Against her wishes, they rent a house on Lake Champlain for the summer. It is during this summer when Kyna learns that the Irish tales hold clues to her parents' mysterious history. It's doubtful that child readers will be surprised by Kyna's discoveries, as the narrative telegraphs the ending from the very beginning. How seals and "silkies" are supposed to be living in a freshwater lake that has no history of seals is not explained, nor is any mention made of the Champ, the mythological creature purported to live in Champlain. LaFaye's intentions are noble-overcoming fears is something that middle graders must do-but the execution is predictable and muddled. (Fantasy. 9-12)
From the Publisher
"LaFaye shapes a wonderful novel that I couldn’t put down. With descriptive language, LaFaye pulled me into the book to the point that Kyna became my newest best friend. On an inspirational journey, she faces her fears and makes new friends along the way. LaFaye uses her literary genius to bring us, the readers, along for the ride."
—Teen Voices
"Kyna’s struggles to take “water” (baby) steps and move through her fear will resonate with many kids who are wrestling overwhelming fears of their own. Kyna’s story is a satisfying journey to hope and understanding. Pair this with the film The Secret of Roan Inish for a supernatural “book-and-a-movie” night."
— Booklist
"A. LaFaye's WATER STEPS is wonderful, in the most literal sense of the word:
which is to say it is a book full of wonder, and wonders. It pulses with a love of nature and the natural world, a world too often lost to modern children. Rich with love and loss, longing and renewal, a bit of mystery and a touch of fantasy, it is a joy to read."
—Bruce Coville
OCTOBER 2010 - AudioFile
Despite its short length, this is a wonderfully rich tale of a girl who learns to overcome both her deepest fear and her long unaddressed grief. As narrator, Alexandria LaFaye seems to move effortlessly from character to character: the young, uncertain Kyna; the impulsive, riotous Tylo; and the lyrical-sounding adoptive grandparents, Mem and Pep. They must hide their own deepest secret when Tylo decides to investigate local rumors of a selkie, a creature that is half-seal, half-human. Though Kyna occasionally comes across as older than 11, her emotional journey is convincingly portrayed, and the entire tale is enhanced by snippets of Celtic folk music. J.M. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine
