Reviewed by Sarah Bean the Green Bean Teen Queen for TeensReadToo.com

Kyna hates water. Ever since a boating accident left her orphaned, her fear of water has taken over. She is afraid of walking on the beach. There's no way she could swim. Even the idea of taking a bath is enough to send Kyna into a panic attack.

So when Kyna's adopted parents announce they've rented a lake house for the summer in hopes that Kyna will take more water steps, tasks to get her closer to the water, she is less than pleased.

How can she stay in a house surrounded by a body of water? She'd much rather spend time taking photos on dry land.

Kyna's summer starts to look a little brighter when she befriends Tylo. Tylo claims to have seen silkies in the lake and wants Kyna to help him find the truth with her camera. Kyna isn't thrilled about getting close to the water, but she doesn't want to lose her new friend.

Can she finally push herself to the biggest water step of all?

WATER STEPS is more than a story about a girl trying to overcome her fear. There are fairy tales woven into Kyna's story. A. LaFaye writes a beautiful tale of risks and growth and adds Irish folklore into the mix.

A magical tale for readers of all ages, WATER STEPS is the perfect read for anyone who believes in the impossible. ( )

I picked this up at a Library Show for my daughter, but decided to do a quick read through before passing it on to make sure it was "age appropriate" (she's 10 with a higher reading level).

Happily, I can pass this on to her without fear. It's a quick read with a relatively simple writing style - simple enough that the "twist" which hits at the end is a complete surprise.

Kyna's family drowned during a storm at sea when she was 3 years old. Since then, she has been afraid of water - any water. Glasses of water, bathtubs, "bobbing for apples" barrels, rain storms and lakes. So when her adopted parents rent a summer house on Lake Champlain, Kyna is not pleased.

Mem and Pep encourage "water steps" (think "baby steps") to address her fears, and the reader becomes engrossed in her progress - both positive and negative. ( )