Plain Jane and the Mermaid

(Paperback)

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Description

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-fianc. But the depths of the ocean hold beautiful mysteries and dangerous creatures. What good can a plain Jane do

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

"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

Author Bio

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.