conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me a description for a story titled The Magic Mirror of the Mermaid Queen about York, I>Changeling</I, Neef with the genre: Children's Books, Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Grade 5&ndash;7&mdash;In this sequel to <I>Changeling</I> (Viking, 2006), Neef is sent to Miss Van Loon's School for Mortal Changelings. She had known there were other mortals in New York Between, a magical New York City filled with the Folk (elves, sprites, nymphs, ogres, and every other kind of otherworldly creature), but she hasn't met many. Suddenly she must go to school&mdash;and get along&mdash;with 200 of them, from all the rival Neighborhoods&mdash;snooty East Siders, hipster Village types, techie geeks from Columbia. If learning hundreds of new rules isn't bad enough, Neef must go on a quest to find the Magic Magnifying Mirror of the Mermaid Queen before its loss leads to inter-Neighborhood warfare that could destroy Central Park. Although the focus is on Neef's new mortal friends and enemies, the Folk of New York play a big part in her adventures. Whether benign or sinister, they are usually tricky and always fascinating; a guide in the back explains who and what they are. Plenty of humor, a brave and likable heroine, and a nice balance between lunchroom chat and wild adventure combine to make this that rare beast&mdash;a cheerful urban fantasy. Spiced with just enough background information, it works just fine on its own, but it will create immediate desire to read <I>Changeling</I> as well.&mdash;<I>Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library</I> <BR>Copyright &copy; Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me the first paragraph for this story.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: The Magic Mirror of the Mermaid Queen
  I dropped the white cloth on the kitchen floor. "The Pooka? You're putting out the good china for the Pooka?"
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me five more paragraphs.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Fortran cantered up and started talking before he even sat down. "You guys hear what happened to Fish-Face yesterday?"
  Stonewall lifted his eyebrows. He'd recently dyed them golden, to match his new hairdo. He looked like a gilded cherub at the Metropolitan Museum—if cherubs were into spiked hair and gray sweaters. "Airboy, too? Miss Van Loon's hasn't seen so much excitement since Tony of the West Side got thrown out for turning magical."
  If Fortran changed his mind once about what he was going to be, he changed his mind a million times. Each time, it was going to be the scariest costume ever and he'd win the costume competition for sure. Espresso announced she was going to be a flower child, which didn't sound very scary to me.
  Stonewall grinned. "Remember—no Tiffany, no challenge. No challenge, no being scared out of your mind. Now you can concentrate on the true meaning of Hallowe'en."
  The days went by. Still no quest pass. I didn't understand. I'd passed the test, I'd filled out the forms, I'd sorted feathers. I hadn't complained. The Schooljuffrouw had said it wasn't her decision. Couldn't she tell whoever's decision it was that I was in a hurry?
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Swap the first and the last sentence.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Couldn't she tell whoever's decision it was that I was in a hurry? "You guys hear what happened to Fish-Face yesterday?"
  Stonewall lifted his eyebrows. He'd recently dyed them golden, to match his new hairdo. He looked like a gilded cherub at the Metropolitan Museum—if cherubs were into spiked hair and gray sweaters. "Airboy, too? Miss Van Loon's hasn't seen so much excitement since Tony of the West Side got thrown out for turning magical."
  If Fortran changed his mind once about what he was going to be, he changed his mind a million times. Each time, it was going to be the scariest costume ever and he'd win the costume competition for sure. Espresso announced she was going to be a flower child, which didn't sound very scary to me.
  Stonewall grinned. "Remember—no Tiffany, no challenge. No challenge, no being scared out of your mind. Now you can concentrate on the true meaning of Hallowe'en."
  The days went by. Still no quest pass. I didn't understand. I'd passed the test, I'd filled out the forms, I'd sorted feathers. I hadn't complained. The Schooljuffrouw had said it wasn't her decision.Fortran cantered up and started talking before he even sat down.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me the last four paragraphs.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Eleanor and Leigh Hoagland, for once more opening their Maine home for a much-needed writing retreat, with fireflies.
  Christopher Schelling and Sharyn November, for being such a wonderful and supportive agent and editor team.
  Jon Keller, Frederick Schjang, and Dr. George Russell, for helping me keep my back supple and my mind clear.
  Her Web site at www.deliasherman.com has lots more information about New York Between and the Fairy Folk. Also cool pictures.