Corinth is a 15-year-old goth aesthetic high schooler with a “bad boy” boyfriend and supportive parents. She likes to spend her free time cleaning up the beach. One day while collecting trash, she’s lured into the water by a hungry mermaid. Luckily, the mermaid (later named Skylla) saw something in Corinth that made them release her and develop a relationship. As Corinth and Skylla learn about each other, the reader learns more about Corinth’s relationship with her toxic boyfriend. His jealousy drives Corinth to spend more and more time with Skylla even as she doubts herself and her decisions. Skylla learns about human cultures, speech, sign language, and food. They also feel deeply about Corinth and works with the mermaid elders to trade their magic for legs to join Corinth on land, surprising her as a transfer student. But the price of the magic is more than Skylla is willing to pay, which leads to complications and a difficult choice for the couple to make together.
Iron Circus Comics is known for championing its LGBTQ+ creators and stories, and The Sea in You is no exception with a retelling of the little mermaid featuring a nonbinary mermaid and a plus size female lead. Neither of these attributes is a focus for the plot; however, I appreciated these details as it makes it stand out as a retelling with a diverse cast of characters. Another factor that makes this a standout retelling is the twist at the end and the inclusion of heavier emotional issues like toxic relationships and shame.
I absolutely loved the art in this book. The color palette of blues and blacks matches the darker tone of the story, and all the curvy lines fit the characters’ personalities. This is a great addition to any graphic novel collection that is accessible to teens and adults, especially if you’re looking for a title that portrays diverse characters. Some mature younger readers might also enjoy this retelling; however, the heavier emotional themes and discussions might draw attention from parents.
The Sea in You
By Jessi Sheron
Iron Circus, 2023
ISBN: 9781638991113
Publisher Age Rating: Grade 7-9
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18), Teen (13-16)
Creator Representation: Bisexual
Character Representation: Pansexual, Nonbinary
