Plain Jane and the Mermaid

by Vera Brosgol

Overview

From Anya's Ghost and Be Prepared author Vera Brosgol comes an instant classic graphic novel that flips every fairy-tale you know on its head, and shows one girl's crusade for the only thing that matters—her own independence.

Jane is incredibly plain. Everyone says so: her parents, the villagers, and her horrible cousin who kicks her out of her own house. Determined to get some semblance of independence, Jane prepares to propose to the princely Peter, who might just say yes to get away from his father. It’s a good plan!

Or it would’ve been, if he wasn’t kidnapped by a mermaid.

With her last shot at happiness lost in the deep blue sea, Jane must venture to the world underwater to rescue her maybe-fiancé. But the depths of the ocean hold beautiful mysteries and dangerous creatures. What good can a plain Jane do?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250379931
Publisher:	First Second
Publication date:	05/07/2024
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	368
Sales rank:	736,417
File size:	493 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Vera Brosgol was born in Moscow, Russia, in 1984 and moved to the United States when she was five. Her first two graphic novels, Anya’s Ghost and Be Prepared, were published by First Second, and her debut picture book Leave Me Alone! was a 2017 Caldecott Honor Book. She’s also worked on storyboards for several animated films, including Coraline and Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio. She lives in Portland, Oregon, with her dog Omar, a mere two hours from the sea.

Vera Brosgol was born in Moscow, Russia, in 1984 and moved to the United States when she was five. Her two graphic novels, Anya's Ghost and Be Prepared, were published by First Second, and her debut picture book Leave Me Alone! was a 2017 Caldecott Honor book. She’s also worked in story on several animated films, including Coraline and Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio.
She lives in Portland, Oregon with her dog Omar, a mere two hours from the sea.

Editorial Reviews

"This rollicking tale of an insecure girl finding her strength and breaking from tradition is another triumph for Brosgol." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"In a story bolstered by a wonderful cast, an otherworldly setting, and poignantly accessible feelings, Brosgol once again captures magic, menace, and humanity." –Booklist, starred review

"Complex characters, twists and turns, and beautiful artwork blend harmoniously for a perfect read that will jump-start the ­imagination." –School Library Journal, starred review

"A funny and fast-paced feminist adventure masterfully told through the comics medium." –Horn Book Magazine, starred review

"Few writers can communicate the teenage mind as astutely or with such wit as Vera. This book captures themes of beauty, love, and finding oneself, and exposes the lies we tell ourselves and the truths we won’t admit. Nothing plain about it." —LeUyen Pham

"A pride-filled treatise and a charming riff on fairy tales." —Kirkus

"Jane’s open, expressive face easily carries the story through wordless sections, and her sharp honesty is immediately endearing." –BCCB

From the Publisher

★ 05/01/2024

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

School Library Journal

2024-02-17
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)

Kirkus Reviews