Review by Booklist Review
Jane Brown has problems. Shunned for her plain appearance, she has no one to turn to when her parents die and a contemptuous cousin, the only male heir, plans to kick her out of her family home. No sooner do things take a turn for the better (the gorgeous Peter agrees to marry her for the wealth he'll inherit) than they take a turn for the worse: gorgeous Peter is kidnapped by a gorgeous mermaid. Embarking on a quest to save her prospective husband and thus ensure her future, Jane plunges into the depths of not only the ocean but also a confrontation with her own demons and her own family history. Flowing with the power of Brosgol's expressive, animated art, which is at turns fierce, poignant, eerie, and hilarious, Jane's story serves as both a captivating tale of personal growth and an authentic, sometimes very angry reckoning with the cultural idea of beauty. Here, that beauty can lure, trick, and betray even those who possess it, and the only hope is a deep, hard look into the mirror and asking what makes someone the fairest of them all. In a story bolstered by a wonderful cast, an otherworldly setting, and poignantly accessible feelings, Brosgol once again captures magic, menace, and humanity.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
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)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
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
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Review by Horn Book Review
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 GallMay/June 2024 p.133 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
After her parents' sudden death, brown-haired, pale-skinned Jane is threatened with eviction from her family home. Despite her low self-image, based on years of shallow, fatphobic taunts from her parents, Jane suggests a deal to discontented fisherman Peter, who's thin and has blond hair and blue eyes (as well as being vapid and arrogant). They'll marry, and then she can inherit her fortune, and he can enjoy the luxurious lifestyle he craves. It seems like a great plan, until Peter is taken captive and imprisoned underwater by a mermaid. The determined Jane seeks magical assistance and heads to the mermaid village at the bottom of the sea to retrieve Peter. Brosgol's illustrations provide much of Jane's characterization through her delightfully expressive face, which shines with pleasure and grimaces in disgust; her round eyes are alert to all the charms of the sea. Fortunately, she's rescued by an acerbic, grumpily appealing seal, who educates her about the sea's perils. This story is an explicit response to society's valuing of beauty and contempt for its absence, especially when it comes to girls and women. Pitted against a slender, cruelly vain mermaid who weaponizes her looks, Jane emerges as a thoughtful, tenacious hero who's learning to appreciate her own value. Brosgol redeems the occasional preachiness with her portrayal of Jane as an individual--funny, flawed, and triumphant. A pride-filled treatise and a charming riff on fairy tales. (author's note, beat boards, coloring process) (Graphic fantasy. 10-14) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
