Read With Conina

Sheron, Jessi. The Sea in You. Iron Circus Comics, 2022. Gr. 9-12.

Corinth is an outcast, and her boyfriend Seth is her only friend, though his constant yelling at her is getting tiring. One day while collecting trash at the beach, an enchanting song calls Corinth to the water. A beautiful blue mermaid appears, looking determined to eat her. Right as Corinth accepts her impending fate, the mermaid snatches the silver ankh pendant from Corinth’s neck and disappears. Confused, Corinth later returns to the beach in hopes of understanding what happened. The mermaid, Skylla, returns and opens up to Corinth, and the two girls begin meeting daily; Corinth teaches Skylla ASL and how to read, while Skylla brings Corinth the comfort of a real friendship. “What if I have found someone who treats me sweetly and gently?… She makes me stronger. I want to be stronger for her (p. 104).” When Seth’s verbal abuse turns physical, Skylla turns to her mermaid ancestors and is bestowed a powerful gift. Now the girls must decide together what is most important to them and if their friendship is worth losing everything else. “I’m not letting you go right when I’ve finally figured things out! (p. 196).”
This graphic novel is filled with vibrant colors that set the mood for each scene. The character designs are diverse and expressive. With art popping out of panels, the pages direct the eyes where to go. This book shows an accurate portrayal of abusive relationships, and it teaches that breaking out of isolation can weaken an abuser’s power. Corinth is able to grow as a character once she realizes she doesn’t deserve the abuse she is dealt. Full of charm and sentimentality, a fun blend of reality and fantasy, and a lovely female friendship that teeters on romantic, this graphic novel brings a unique approach to The Little Mermaid fairytale.