Pearl slapped her gold tail on the shell floor and folded her arms across her chest. “This is ridiculous. What’s wrong with this place? Can’t they keep scary sharks from chasing people? Something should be done.”

“Yeah, but what can we do?” Wanda said. “We’re just third graders.”

Pearl twisted her necklace in her fingers. “I hate being scared, and I hate having a Shark Guard. My dad might not even let me go to Tail Flippers practice if things get worse!”

“No!” Wanda gasped. Tail Flippers was the school’s dance and gymnastics team.

Pearl sighed. “I don’t know what I’m going to do, but I’m going to do something. I refuse to let sharks ruin my life.”

“Uh-oh,” Wanda said, finally noticing the empty hall. “We’d better get to class, or Mrs. Karp will ruin our lives!”

Debbie Dadey is the author and coauthor of one hundred and fifty children’s books, including the series The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids. A former teacher and librarian, Debbie now lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, with her wonderful husband and children. They live about two hours from the ocean and love to go there to look for mermaids. If you see any, let her know at www.debbiedadey.com.

Also by

Debbie Dadey

MERMAID TALES, BOOK 1:

TROUBLE AT TRIDENT ACADEMY

MERMAID TALES, BOOK 2:

BATTLE OF THE BEST FRIENDS

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

ALADDIN

An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division

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www.SimonandSchuster.com

First Aladdin paperback edition August 2012

Text copyright © 2012 by Debbie Dadey

Illustrations copyright © 2012 by Tatevik Avakyan

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

ALADDIN is a trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc., and related logo is a registered trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Also available in an Aladdin hardcover edition.

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Designed by Karin Paprocki

The text of this book was set in Belucian Book.

Library of Congress Control Number 2012936946

ISBN 978-1-4424-5318-0 (hc)

ISBN 978-1-4424-2984-0 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-4424-2985-7 (eBook)