Stifled by her loving but repressive parents, a teen endeavors to take charge of her own life.Seventeen-year-old Verónica Rentería's parents forbid many things, especially promiscuity-which includes any romantic gesture, however innocent, leading Vero to feel ashamed of her own desires. But above all, she and her younger sister, Dani, must never attract attention; her family immigrated to Florida from Peru when Vero was small, and her parents caution that their permanent resident status is tenuous. Vero feels constant pressure to make their sacrifices worthwhile, but she can't help standing out: Numerous surgeries for her hip dysplasia have left her with scars. And ever since her parents caught her making out with a boy, they've treated her like she's "impossible to scrub clean." Even her body is out of her control since her parents handle all of her medical decisions. Swimming is her only freedom, and Vero idolizes the aquatic performers at Mermaid Cove, a popular tourist attraction. So when Mermaid Cove advertises auditions, she wonders: Could becoming a mermaid enable her to finally tell her own story? Sylvester, who has hip dysplasia herself, poignantly braids multiple issues into Vero's angry, vulnerable, and lyrical narration, including disability, sexism, and biculturalism. Vero's messy but supportive relationship with Dani compassionately acknowledges the friction that can arise between disabled and nondisabled siblings, and her romance with Mexican American Alex, who deals with depression, gently explores trust and self-discovery.Intricate, nuanced, and empowering. (author's note) (Fiction. 14-18)

Having been diagnosed with hip dysplasia, 17-year-old Verónica Rentería has undergone multiple surgeries, leaving her with an asymmetrical gait and scarring, making it nearly impossible to "blend in" like her Peruvian immigrant parents wish. Adding to her stress are her overly involved parents, particularly her dad and his incessant insinuations that Vero is promiscuous after catching her kissing a boy. The only thing keeping her afloat is her best friend, Leslie, and the water, where she finds peace in her body's fluidity. After her parents keep a major progression of Verónica's condition from her, she contemplates trying out to be a mermaid at a popular Florida attraction, despite their disapproval. Sylvester (Running, 2020) uses her experience of having hip dysplasia to paint an authentic portrait of a character who wants to be seen for who she is and not the limitations placed on her. But Vero's story is about so much more. From managing dual identities, sexism, and career expectations from her immigrant parents, Vero's warranted anger and sometimes impossible life is one worth rooting for.

Stifled by her loving but repressive parents, a teen endeavors to take charge of her own life.Seventeen-year-old Verónica Rentería's parents forbid many things, especially promiscuity-which includes any romantic gesture, however innocent, leading Vero to feel ashamed of her own desires. But above all, she and her younger sister, Dani, must never attract attention; her family immigrated to Florida from Peru when Vero was small, and her parents caution that their permanent resident status is tenuous. Vero feels constant pressure to make their sacrifices worthwhile, but she can't help standing out: Numerous surgeries for her hip dysplasia have left her with scars. And ever since her parents caught her making out with a boy, they've treated her like she's "impossible to scrub clean." Even her body is out of her control since her parents handle all of her medical decisions. Swimming is her only freedom, and Vero idolizes the aquatic performers at Mermaid Cove, a popular tourist attraction. So when Mermaid Cove advertises auditions, she wonders: Could becoming a mermaid enable her to finally tell her own story? Sylvester, who has hip dysplasia herself, poignantly braids multiple issues into Vero's angry, vulnerable, and lyrical narration, including disability, sexism, and biculturalism. Vero's messy but supportive relationship with Dani compassionately acknowledges the friction that can arise between disabled and nondisabled siblings, and her romance with Mexican American Alex, who deals with depression, gently explores trust and self-discovery.Intricate, nuanced, and empowering. (author's note) (Fiction. 14-18)