Book excerpt: Tales of the Mer Family Onyx is an "all in the family" book about Neptune, his wife, Glendora, and their pair of Mer twins: the teenagers Emerald and Sapphire, the tweens Rainbow and Bowrain, baby Ruby and Neptune's daughter of the race of mini- mermaids, Pinky. The book begins with Glendora's introduction of her family and Neptune's challenge to his children. In the process, the Mer Children escape their father's shadow and make themselves proud. Can be read to younger children and enjoyed by those 8 to 11.