The Secret of Baiting Hollow — Patricia Clark Smith

Through imagination, wonder, and love of family and friends, this comtemporary myth about twelve-year-old Brigit, a 4th generation descendant of Irish-American potato farmers on Long Island, unfolds. During her 2 week summer vacation with her family, Brigit's questions about her identity lead to storytelling adventures with her beach friend, Kevin, and her sister, Barbara. The stories are about mermaids, encounters with family ghosts, and the protection of angels. Baiting Hollow, a small beach nestled among tall cliffs on the north shore of Long Island, the Twoney farmhouse and farm, and the underwater world of Merpeople are the settings for this story. The Secret of Baiting Hollow confirms for young readers the importance of family and friends and that mermaids do live among us. Throughout the story, readers will wonder where personal memoir leaves off and fantasy begins. . .