Mermaids Never Drown

August 15, 2023
A seaworthy anthology featuring stories as original as they are enchanting by a range of beloved YA authors. This inclusive anthology welcomes readers into worlds where mermaids long for acceptance, fall in love, and ignite social change. In Adriana Herrera's "Sea Wolf in Prince's Clothing," a siren living in an archipelago of seven kingdoms where her people are forced to breed is determined to avenge her sister, who died at the hands of an evil prince. Katherine Locke's "Nor'Easter" tells the story of a Polish immigrant family's survival during the Great Nor'Easter of 1962, aided by Lem, a mer who feels trapped by a deadname in a "body that feels foreign." "The Deepwater Vandal," by Darcie Little Badger, follows Cassia as she enlists the help of a dangerous sea-born criminal and tries to find her father, who was transformed into a leviathan. Julian Winters' "We'll Always Have June" is a story of romance and growth in which Cyrus, a merboy with deep brown skin and dark locs, rescues Kai from drowning. These entries are particular standouts, but each one offers a take on mermaids that expands the literature portraying these well-loved cryptids. Themes of self-discovery and bonds with nature recur throughout this anthology that features effortless and extensive queer representation. Readers will find favorite tales of mermaid lore in this collection, brimming with myth and magic. (contributor biographies) (Anthology. 14-18)

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