Mermaids by Patty Dann

A teenager follows along as her mother moves from town to town—and man to man—in this coming-of-age novel: “Both hilarious and tragic . . . a radiant debut.” —The New York Times Book Review.

The inspiration for the cult-classic film starring Winona Ryder, Christina Ricci, and Cher, this novel is narrated by Charlotte Flax, a fourteen-year-old helplessly dragged by her mother from place to place, brief affair to brief affair. When they settle into a quiet New England town in 1963, the teenager yearns to stay put for once. With a convent just steps away from their home, this could be Charlotte’s chance to fulfill her dream of becoming a martyred Catholic saint—despite the fact that she’s Jewish. At the same time, the young caretaker at the convent is inspiring some unsaintly thoughts . . .

“Patty Dann gives us a magnificent voice in the young Charlotte . . . Compelling and tender, touching and alive in her search to find some order in the chaos of her life.” —The New York Times Book Review

“This is a really funny book about people trying to find something to hang onto in a world that keeps shifting under their feet. Patty Dann guides us through the guerilla war between mother and daughter, through the minefields that lie between being a child and being an adult, in a voice not like any we’ve heard before.” —John Sayles, director and novelist

“Moments of pure gold . . . An energetic talent.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Both of [the sisters’] characters are sharply etched and recognizable.” —Publishers Weekly

“Poignant . . . a quirky charm.” —Booklist