Brosgol, Vera. Plain Jane and the Mermaid. Vera Brosgol, Illus. First Second, 05/2024. 368pp. Graphic. Trade $22.99. 978-1-250-31486-4. Paper $14.99. 978-1250314857. GRADES 4–8. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
What women need, in plain Jane’s male-dominated world, is beauty; it can get you anything you want. With no attractive options for her future, Jane takes a stab at controlling her destiny, proposing to the prettiest boy she’s ever seen. When he’s snatched by a mermaid, she embarks on a rescue mission under the sea, deep into a world where a terrible beauty rules. Cool greens, browns, and indigo dominate the color palette, with Jane’s red shawl and warm brown hair a dramatic counterpoint. Clean, san-serif text and excellent variation in panel size contribute to this thoroughly enjoyable, page-turning feminist adventure that answers the question “who is valuable?” Jane, most humans, and the mermaids are white. Selkies have brown skin and black hair.
Melissa McAvoy—Retired