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

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)