Sofia has a theory that every person was once a mermaid and that she continues to be one herself. When her mother sends her to live with her abuela, she thinks she's in for a tough time, and for a while, her only solace is talking to the sea. Obón's skill as a poet is evident in the metaphor-rich text, which characterizes just about every character in one way or another as a kind of creature of the sea, such as a sea dragon, electric eel, sardine, or flying fish. The poetic lilt is nicely pitched to a middle-grade audience and helps soften some of the more difficult topics of the story, such as family relationships, discovering secrets, the threat of domestic violence, and grief. One particular tragedy is the catalyst for gratifying healing. Delving a small bit into some Caribbean history and the evolution of many animals of the land and sea, this book will leave readers with the sounds of the sea playing in their ears.

A 10-year-old girl who believes she's a mermaid reluctantly moves in with her grandmother in a small town by the sea in this work from Mexico translated from the original Spanish.Sofía makes sense of her world by relating everyone and everything in it to the ocean. Even her internal monologue is an ongoing conversation with the sea. She thinks of her mother, who works nights in the city at a mysterious night-shift job that involves wearing a sparkling swimsuit (and perhaps even swinging on a trapeze), as a flying fish. Her mother's abusive boyfriend, José, is a barracuda. After Sofía repeatedly runs away from creepy José, she's sent to live with Tita, her sea dragon grandmother, in Bahía. Things start to look up when lonely Sofía befriends classmate Luisa, who has vitiligo. Luisa is ignored by the other kids, too, and shares Sofía's intense connection to the sea. The girls go to the beach together and bond over their complicated family lives, and Luisa gives Sofía her very special seashell that seems to have a life of its own. After tragedy strikes, lush, magical prose weaves fantasy together with practical explanations for the strange events that suddenly beset Sofía and others, reflecting the characters' pain. Readers will be left both intrigued and sometimes wondering what really happened but still emotionally blown away. Eventually, Sofía discovers that forgiveness, communication, and hope can help her navigate stormy waters.Poignant and beautifully written. (Magical realism. 8-12)

Though she has never seen the ocean in real life, 10-year-old Sofía has always loved the sea. This fondness is “the only thing keeping her afloat” as her mother, a sex worker, drives her to the coastal town of Bahía, where Sofía will live with her abuela, whom she’s never met. Even though Sofía and her mother don’t see eye-to-eye, Sofía knows they’ll miss each other; she won’t, however, miss José, her mother’s boorish boyfriend. Despite her apprehension about being in a new place with new people, Sofía can’t wait to finally meet the sea. In Bahía, Sofía befriends local tween Louisa, who shares her love of the ocean. But when tragedy strikes in the form of a hurricane, Sofía must reckon with the destruction she hadn’t known that her beloved waters could wreak. Evocative, fantastical descriptions of the natural world and oceanic phenomena, such as a seashell’s changing color, organically reflect Sofía’s emotions. Throughout this profound and insightful tour de force, Palacio Obon employs humor, lighthearted observations, and elements of magical realism alongside Sofía’s astute third-person narration to tackle challenging topics surrounding death, domestic violence, parental abandonment, and sex work. Ages 8–11. (Oct.)