The Sea in You by Jessi Sheron

Abstract

Reviewed by: The Sea in You by Jessi Sheron April Spisak Sheron, Jessi The Sea in You; written and illus. by Jessi Sheron. Iron Circus, 2023 [224p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781638991113 $15.00 Reviewed from digital galleys R* Gr. 7-9 Corinth is being crushed under the abuse of her toxic boyfriend when she meets Skylla, a mermaid. They have trouble communicating at first, but a combination of ASL, English, and just a touch of Skylla’s own language all come together to allow them to connect. Soon, Corinth is going to the beach daily to be with Skylla, and they both dread going their own ways each night. As this graphic novel is a retelling of The Little Mermaid, one can imagine what comes next, although it is a lovely, gentle touch that the relationship between Corinth and Skylla is never formally identified as a romance because pinning it down is less relevant than the facts that they each help the other grow, they want to spend time together, and they are fierce allies. The mermaids are remarkable: competitive, strong, and equipped with startling fangs. Their world is carefully developed, with different gender expectations, concepts of power, and social structures, making them more than just a mirror to humanity. The stars here, however, are the remarkable illustrations, particularly those that represent the mermaid world, with jewel tones, intricate line work, and creative use of completely filled space all serving to emphasize the rich and full [End Page 200] world happening in the depths of the sea. The artwork carries the story alone in many places, making this no story to flip through and forget: the visual details will likely command full attention and perhaps even repeat reads to soak it all in. Copyright © 2022 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois