Melany Holton’s novel, The Secret World of Farallon, is a story of a very unusual friendship between two young boys coming from two different worlds. What starts as a relatively normal day for Eric Doyle turns into an unforgettable experience when he hears the mysterious enchanted whisper of Farallon, an ocean boy who gets hold of a magic shell. Farallon is an ocean child with emerald eyes, scaly green skin, and long silver hair in small braids that sparkle in the sun. Eric is a normal twelve-year-old boy who is left in the care of his aunt, together with his younger brother T.J., when their parents go on a vacation. Unwittingly helping Farallon escape his grandfather's fishing line, Eric catches the interest of the mischievous Farallon. What follows is a series of extraordinary adventures, both on land and underwater, for the two boys as they learn the best and the worst in both worlds.

Melany Holton’s story, The Secret World of Farallon, is not only a tale of thrilling adventures, but it is also informative because there is a lot to be learned from the boys' exploits both underwater and on land. Fast paced and full of twists and turns, this narrative is thoroughly entertaining for both young and older readers alike. The boys’ adventures are narrated alternately and one has to transfer from one world to the other, which results in a mood of anticipation. This makes one continue reading until the very end. This is a book that is full of moral lessons and,at the same time, it is loads of fun!

The Secret World of Farallon by Melany Holton takes you into the fascinating underwater world of the ocean and shows the reader that there might be more down there than he/she suspects. It all starts when young Eric starts to believe he's going crazy - the world stops moving around him and he hears a voice calling for him to come and play down the river. It takes a while until he ends up where the voice wants him and then he enters a world very different from his own. Farallon, a merboy, creates a twin of Eric. The twin will take on Eric's everyday life (but has no clue about human life) and Eric turns into a merboy himself to visit Farallon's world. Of course, this is a recipe for disaster. The twin Eric gets into all sorts of trouble and when Farallon's sister finds out that her brother has brought a human into their secret colony, she is not very amused.

The Secret World of Farallon by Melany Holton was a fun read and it did not take me long at all to get through the book. It is a really good story, suitable for children, teenagers and also young adults - there is hardly any violence, no over-the-top romance, and the vocabulary used will raise nobody's eyebrows. This shows that a good story does not need all sex and violence - a good story-teller can catch a reader's attention in any way he or she wants. Melany Holton does it in her own way: by telling a very imaginative story that keeps you turning the pages. The further you get, the more you want to know how the characters will get out of all that trouble!

The Secret World of Farallon by Melany Holton is a children's fiction-fantasy story about a boy whose life is transformed so he is able to be in two place at the same time. Twelve-year-old Eric starts on the adventure of his life when he is invited by Farallon to visit his home in the ocean. The two boys create a twin in Eric's image to take his place so people will not notice he is missing. The twin, however, has no idea how things work in the human world so he enlists the help of Eric's best friend to show him the way. Meanwhile, Eric is changed into a merchild so he can fit into the world of the ocean people. The two Erics enjoy their stay in the new worlds, causing chaos, avoiding danger, and becoming heroes along the way.

The Secret World of Farallon is an underwater story about a merboy and a human boy filled with drama and adventure. It is about the life and adventures of a twelve-year-old boy, but with a big twist. Melany Holton's descriptions of the secret ocean world and the different creatures that live there are so beautiful that, as I followed the boys on their fun-filled adventures, I could not help but have a vivid vision of that world. The story is written with such finesse that it had me turning page after page, eager to discover what the next event would be in the young boys' adventures. I loved reading it and did not want to put it down until I reached the last page.

The Secret World of Farallon by Melany Holton is about the underwater adventures of twelve-year-old Eric Doyle. While he goes on these adventures, a copy of him is left to fill his place on land so no one knows he is gone. He meets Farallon, who guides him on his journey underwater. Farallon also controls the mind of Eric's replacement on land. The 'land' Eric tries to stay dry and he faces the daunting task of not getting transformed into an ocean child in front of the people there. The 'land' Eric faces his own challenges such as a teenage bully and a bad dentist.

The book is fast paced and stimulates the thinking of both adults and children in a creative way. The underwater adventures expose them to the mysteries that lurk in the ocean. The author's writing skills bring the characters and the scenes alive in front of you while reading. The whimsical character of Farallon is exciting.

It is a wonderful story. Fantasy and adventure stories always excite readers. These books have the unique power of transporting them to another realm where they can dream and imagine. Apart from that, the book speaks about the values of friendship and trust. It is also educational in the fact that it speaks about underwater life and tells readers more about life under the sea.