Song of the Deep

by Brian Hastings

Overview

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Twelve-year-old Merryn lives with her fisherman father in a little cottage by the sea. Each day, her father braves the tumultuous waves and returns home in time for dinner. One stormy evening, he doesn’t come back. Merryn has a vision that he’s been dragged underwater by a terrifying sea creature, and he needs her help. Determined to rescue him, Merryn builds a tiny submarine and embarks on a journey through the undersea worlds she’s only heard about in her father’s lullabies. As she faces the dangers and wonders of the world below the waves, she realizes that her father’s stories were all real. Readers can also experience Merryn’s daring journey first hand in the new Song of the Deep video game from acclaimed developer Insomniac Games.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781454920960
Publisher:	Sterling Children's Books
Publication date:	07/12/2016
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.80(h) x 0.90(d)
Lexile:	780L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Brian Hastings has been creating video games with Insomniac Games for 21 years. He helped develop the stories and worlds for Spyro the Dragon, Ratchet and Clank, and now, Song of the Deep. As a child, Brian dreamed of being an author, and this is his first book. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two children. You can learn more about his work and Song of the Deep at insomniacgames.com and on Twitter @songofthedeep.

Editorial Reviews

6/16/2016
Part of the fun of playing a video game is immersing yourself in its world—from getting to know the characters, to exploring the setting, to learning more about the backstory. That’s why Insomniac Games’ new video game Song of the Deep is so exciting—not only can fans dive into creator Brian Hasting’s underwater world by playing the game version, available July 12, but they can also lose themselves in this epic adventure by reading the thrilling Song of the Deep novel, in stores the same day. Read More

B&N Reads

“Based on the video game he helped create, Song of the Deep is a fantasy-adventure with a strong female protagonist that will appeal to readers with vivid imaginations. Grayscale illustrations precede each chapter and lend a fitting visual element to the tale. Familiarity with the game isn’t necessary, but new fans may emerge from this story’s watery depths. —Booklist

From the Publisher

06/01/2016
Gr 4–6—Twelve-year-old Merryn journeys to an underwater city of gold to rescue her father from the tentacles of a Rimorosa. While Fergus the pelican watches, she constructs a submarine made from bicycle parts and beach treasures. She's resourceful and brave, just like her fisherman father and her mom, who died trying to save her long ago. There are fun moments in the story where Merryn befriends a fantastical sea creature. But Merryn faces many uncertainties exploring an abandoned merrow village that is being destroyed by underwater robots that shoot torpedoes. As she encounters sights she's only heard about in stories told by her dad, she reminisces about her family and their possible connection to this watery world. Based on the video game of the same name, the story contains battles, evasions, friendships, and interesting spaces to explore like a lighthouse, a sea garden, and the Forbidden City. One or two full-page black-and-white illustrations appear in each of the 10 short chapters (they resemble the style of art in the video game), as do soothing lyrics. VERDICT For readers who appreciate stories about family and fantastical marine adventure.—Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada

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