A definite keeper

The story starts off a little slowly, but patient readers will be rewarded for sticking with Keeper by Kathi Appelt.  Keeper is ten years old, and she's really excited about all sorts of special things that are going to happen the night of the next blue moon. But after accidentally ruining everything, Keeper thinks she'll feel better if she can talk to her mom, who swam away seven years ago, and who Keeper believes is a mermaid.  As Keeper sets out in a rowboat with BD (Best Dog) and Captain (a seagull), the story flashes back to significant events in her life; as the weather and water get worse, the truth of Keeper's history slowly dawns on her.  Sweet, haunting, hopeful, with a touch of magical realism...a beautiful story.