Waterwight by Laurel McHargue is a fantasy adventure tale that could be enjoyed by readers of all ages, but I believe it is intended mostly for younger readers. It reminded me of other classics like A Wrinkle in Time and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Those stories, like Waterwight, have a strong evil force that can only be defeated by the good and pure at heart, along with a little magic for good measure. The heroine in Waterwight is a teenage girl named Celeste. She lives in a world that has recently become a hard and desolate place, due to some unexplained event. The forces of good have chosen Celeste to confront the evil and, hopefully, rescue the few humans who are still alive. The story that follows is full of action and adventure. Along the way, Celeste is aided by a strong cast of magical creatures. Together, she and her new friends take on the evil forces in a tale that is very imaginative and fun.

I enjoyed reading Waterwight, mostly because author Laurel McHargue’s imagination seemed endless. The plot included many twists and turns that I never expected but found delightful. I also enjoyed Ms. McHargue’s ability to create such a strong cast of colorful characters. They each had a distinct personality as well as their own unique superpower. My only issue with Waterwight was that there were mysterious forces in the book that were never explained. This is a minor problem that did not affect my enjoyment of the book while I was reading it. It was only afterwards as I reflected back. However, this is a book that I would heartily recommend to young readers. It has a strong lesson about good versus evil, great characters, and a story that will keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat.

Waterwight by Laurel McHargue is Book 1 of the Waterwight Series and tells the story of Celeste, a girl who lost her family during an event that left many parts of the world in ruins and uninhabitable. Stinking, oozing water is spreading over the planet and nobody seems to know why. Celeste doesn't want to stay in the orphanage any longer and flees. She wants to find answers, but only runs into more and more questions. She learns that she has a special gift: she can talk to animals! That turns out to be a handy skill when she comes across some cats and dogs. But soon, she discovers that this is not her only new skill. She meets Orville, a flying - and, of course, talking - giant frog, and together they find their way to a small village which is ruled by an old woman, who basically gives her commands to a girl called Blanche. The people in the village live in fear, and when Celeste turns up, she needs to give them a reason to be allowed to stay. For some reason, answers to her questions might be found here, but of course, danger is close by and a shape-shifter who is after Celeste's life has not lost track of her.

While Waterwight by Laurel McHargue is aimed at teenagers and young adults, it can be enjoyed by all lovers of the fantasy genre, as fantasy usually doesn't have an age limit. The pages are full of interesting characters: from a flying frog to cute kittens and colorful tigers, from an old hag who has something to hide to a boy who can disappear at will, and a boy who can literally see under other people's skins. There are many characters, but you won't have any issues keeping them apart as they are all unique and well written. Celeste herself is a brave teenage girl who needs to rise to rather unusual challenges. A lot is happening, and it's nothing like problem A appears, then is solved, problem B appears, and is solved. Often Celeste has to deal with two or three problems at the same time, which can make it challenging for her to make the right decision. The story is not straightforward and, like people in real life, the heroine sometimes feels quite overwhelmed. She is someone people will be able to relate to. I definitely enjoyed reading about her adventures and hope that book 2 will be just as gripping!