“Dyer's sparkling debut, a droll tale set at a British seaside hotel, may put readers in mind of Hilary McKay's beach books (Dog Friday; The Amber Cat). Toby was discovered in an empty room of The Grand as a baby. When Mr. Harris, the cranky manager, finally notices the lad, he makes Toby perform endless chores. The good-natured boy's life brightens when he encounters a young mermaid who lives with her parents in a cave behind a wall of seaweed. Toby fears that the Flots' residence will be discovered, so he concocts a plot to disguise the finned family as hotel guests. Dyer weaves the details surrounding this ruse, the downfall of the comically villainous Mr. Harris and the revelation of Toby's true identity into an enchanting story; Bailey's pen-and-inks make the most of the comic moments.”

Publishers Weekly