Plain Jane and the Mermaid

Starred review from February 12, 2024
Brosgol (Be Prepared) upends “The Little Mermaid” and sets it against a Dickensian backdrop in this tongue-in-cheek fantasy graphic novel. Most people—including her own parents—only give Jane Brown the time of day when making cutting remarks about her freckles, pale skin, and weight. When her parents are killed in a runaway fish cart accident, orphaned Jane’s only hope for stability is to secure her dowry through marriage. But her proposal to blond-haired, blue-eyed fisherman Peter is disrupted when a mermaid kidnaps him. Aided by a cranky selkie she rescues from captivity, a mysterious elderly woman, and a lobster pod, Jane ventures to the ocean floor, where she narrowly escapes death from poisoning, a water demon, and a
mermaid’s murderous rage. In her efforts
to save Peter, Jane uncovers untapped confidence, realizing that she is more than her looks and that she can decide her own future, especially when she finds her long-lost brother Jamie living among the selkies and restores him to the family’s estate with wildly satisfying results. This rollicking tale of an insecure girl finding her strength and breaking from tradition is another triumph for Brosgol. Ages 10–14.

May 1, 2024
A funny and fast-paced feminist adventure masterfully told through the comics medium. This alternate-Victorian-era fantasy opens after Jane's parents' death. Since women can't own property, the family estate and fortune will pass to Jane's odious male cousin -- who gives her a week to pack her bags and leave. Unless she can secure a dowry via marriage, she will be penniless as well as homeless. Jane, along with everyone in her seaside village, buys into the dominant and oppressive standards of beauty; she's realistic about the fact that her appearance leaves her with few marriage prospects. While she may be considered plain, Jane is exceedingly clever: she proposes marriage to Peter, a gorgeous fisherman forced into the trade by his toxic father. "We both have problems, and this would solve them." But those plans are thwarted after Peter is kidnapped by a man-eating mermaid, and Jane embarks on an epic undersea journey to rescue him. Along the way, she meets folkloric creatures (selkies, crones, a water demon, etc.) and gains knowledge and the confidence to challenge societal norms. Brosgol's (Be Prepared, rev. 5/18; Anya's Ghost, rev. 7/11) magical story is full of quirky and indelible characters; smart surprises and plot twists; and laugh-out-loud dialogue. Stellar world-building and cinematic cartooning effectively pace the narrative, building suspense and emphasizing moments of horror. Textured colorwork adds further depth to plot and setting, and an author's note invites readers to interrogate the worlds (both real and fictional) with which they come into contact. Elisa Gall

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from May 1, 2024

Gr 4-8-Questions like what beauty, heroism, and friendship are swim around this fairy-tale-like graphic novel by award-winning writer and artist Brogsol. When Jane is orphaned, the law states that she cannot inherit her family's home or fortune without being married. Determined not to wed her repulsive cousin, Jane sets out to write her own destiny. She proposes to the prettiest local young man she can find, who after accepting her proposal, is kidnapped by a mermaid. Jane courageously goes to rescue him and is swept up in an undersea adventure. The artwork's bold colors demand attention and sparse text allows the detailed panels to do the heavy lifting with providing depth to the story. While this feels like a leisurely read, it's a surprisingly quick one. VERDICT Complex characters, twists and turns, and beautiful artwork blend harmoniously for a perfect read that will jump-start the imagination.-Esther Keller

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2024
A funny and fast-paced feminist adventure masterfully told through the comics medium. This alternate-Victorian-era fantasy opens after Jane's parents' death. Since women can't own property, the family estate and fortune will pass to Jane's odious male cousin -- who gives her a week to pack her bags and leave. Unless she can secure a dowry via marriage, she will be penniless as well as homeless. Jane, along with everyone in her seaside village, buys into the dominant and oppressive standards of beauty; she's realistic about the fact that her appearance leaves her with few marriage prospects. While she may be considered plain, Jane is exceedingly clever: she proposes marriage to Peter, a gorgeous fisherman forced into the trade by his toxic father. "We both have problems, and this would solve them." But those plans are thwarted after Peter is kidnapped by a man-eating mermaid, and Jane embarks on an epic undersea journey to rescue him. Along the way, she meets folkloric creatures (selkies, crones, a water demon, etc.) and gains knowledge and the confidence to challenge societal norms. Brosgol's (Be Prepared, rev. 5/18; Anya's Ghost, rev. 7/11) magical story is full of quirky and indelible characters; smart surprises and plot twists; and laugh-out-loud dialogue. Stellar world-building and cinematic cartooning effectively pace the narrative, building suspense and emphasizing moments of horror. Textured colorwork adds further depth to plot and setting, and an author's note invites readers to interrogate the worlds (both real and fictional) with which they come into contact.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)