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I’ve been a fan of The Little Mermaid since my early childhood days of demanding rewatches of our well-loved VHS cassette tape of Disney’s The Little Mermaid. The story has all the time snagged my curiosity. I really like Ariel’s character, a mermaid who struggles with navigating her household relationships whereas staying true to herself. Ariel’s fiery curiosity concerning the human world and thirst for adventures outdoors of the bubble she lives inside are so compelling and relatable. Plus, I’ve all the time been a sucker for a candy romance, particularly a fantasy romance involving curses to interrupt and swoony royals to satisfy. From the second I heard about Disney’s dwell motion remake of The Little Mermaid premiering this yr, I’ve been counting down the times till I can watch. Bulletins concerning the unbelievable forged for the film, together with Halle Bailey as Ariel, have additional ignited my pleasure.
To have fun the premiere of the brand new Little Mermaid film, I’ve gathered collectively a listing of center grade and YA books like The Little Mermaid. Amongst the titles, you’ll discover tales centering mermaids, selkies, sirens, and extra. Which one are you going to learn earlier than watching the film?
9 Books Like The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid: Towards the Tide by J. Elle
In case you’re somebody who has to learn the e-book earlier than seeing the film (that is me), I extremely advocate trying out J. Elle’s adaptation of The Little Mermaid impressed by the brand new film. This story guarantees a compelling Black feminine lead, poignant sibling dynamics, and intriguing character and plot improvement inside the world of The Little Mermaid. Timing-wise, the plot takes place earlier than the occasions of the film. Having turned 15, Ariel will quickly turn into a Protector of her personal ocean territory. Her sisters plan to return house for the ceremony, however every little thing adjustments when Ariel’s sister Mala will get kidnapped.
Pores and skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen
Followers of The Little Mermaid are positive to fall in love with this spellbinding Black mermaid story by Natasha Bowen. Simi is a mermaid who serves the gods by amassing the souls of people that die at sea and blessing their journeys homeward. Like Ariel, Simi makes a stir when she rescues a boy from a shipwreck. To guard her fellow mermaids, or Mami Wata, Simi will hunt down the Supreme Creator.
Midnight Pearls: A Retelling of The Little Mermaid by Debbie Viguié
Beginning in highschool, I went by a fairy story retellings part that I’ve not left since. Every e-book within the As soon as Upon a Time sequence retells a special fairy story, and I devoured all of them. In Debbie Viguié’s enchanting variation of The Little Mermaid, we meet a mysterious lady who has grown up on the land moderately than within the sea. Having been rescued by a fisherman as a toddler, Pearl has all the time felt like an outsider in her village. Whereas she finds consolation in her friendship with Prince James, secrets and techniques from her previous might put every little thing in danger.
The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen
This poignant and heartfelt graphic novel by Trung Le Nguyen options a few fairy tales, together with The Little Mermaid. As with The Little Mermaid, themes surrounding household dynamics, coming-of-age, and identification play a central position within the narrative as effectively. Tiến is the son of Vietnamese immigrants, and whereas he loves his household, he’s uncertain of how one can inform them he’s homosexual. Tiến and his mom bond over fairy tales, and these magical tales could also be simply what he wants to seek out the correct phrases.
Ponyo, Quantity 1 by Hayao Miyazaki
A Little Mermaid-inspired studying record can’t be full with out mentioning this beloved adaptation of the story by Hayao Miyazaki. This colourful manga brings Studio Ghibli’s Ponyo movie to web page and breathes new life into the candy story. Prepared to flee her stifling life at house underneath the ocean, somewhat fish named Ponyo swims away to shore the place she’s rescued from a glass jar by a boy named Sosuke. On land, Ponyo can rework right into a human, however when it causes a disturbance within the stability of nature, Ponyo and Sosuke will set off on an epic journey to set issues proper!
The Lady From the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag
Together with mermaid tales, selkie tales additionally promise related vibes to The Little Mermaid. In Molly Knox Ostertag’s touching and atmospheric graphic novel, readers journey to an island alongside the coast of Nova Scotia the place closeted teen lesbian Morgan yearns to flee. Nevertheless, Morgan’s complete world shifts the evening she’s rescued from drowning by a mysterious lady named Keltie.
The People Keeper by Franny Billingsley
Talking of selkies, this under-the-radar fantasy by Franny Billingsley is a long-time favourite of mine. This one is delightfully eerie because it entails chilling creatures generally known as the People. Corinna Stonewall is a People Keeper, gifted with uncommon skills that enable her to maintain the People at bay from individuals’s properties. When Lord Merton invitations her to his seaside property, Corinna will uncover secrets and techniques about her previous, like why her hair grows two inches each evening and why the ocean appears to name to her.
Sing Me to Sleep by Gabi Burton (Anticipated Publication: June 27, 2023)
Like selkies, sirens are one other sea creature harking back to mermaids and ideal for followers of The Little Mermaid. This new e-book by Gabi Burton weaves collectively a lot of tantalizing threads, together with a badass Black siren heroine, forbidden romance, grumpy/sunshine dynamics, and gripping homicide thriller subplots. Saoirse Sorkova navigates an online of lies as she retains her siren identification secret whereas coaching to turn into a soldier, moonlights as an murderer, and lies to her household concerning the degree of management she has over her siren powers. When her sister will get threatened by a blackmailer, Saoirse decides to turn into a bodyguard for the prince and begins digging for solutions.
Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim
Whereas this e-book by Elizabeth Lim retells one other one among my favourite fairy tales, The Six Swans, it entails components that really feel harking back to The Little Mermaid. Like Ariel, Shiori will get trapped in a curse that forces her to stay silent and never use her voice. Lim blends East Asian mythology with The Six Swans storyline to create a really unique and magical story. When Princess Shiori’s brothers are cursed into turning into six cranes, Shiori will go to any size obligatory to save lots of them.
Extra Books to Submerge In…
The Little Mermaid is such a charming story, and one can by no means have too many mermaid books on their cabinets. This summer time, I hope you take pleasure in submerging into the enchanting worlds of those books like The Little Mermaid! For extra epic reads, I’ve gathered collectively a number of mermaid e-book lists beneath.
In case you’re searching for books that align extra particularly along with your explicit studying niches, you may additionally wish to take a look at our Tailor-made Guide Suggestions (TBR) subscription service. One among our knowledgeable bibliologists can match you with improbable customized e-book suggestions. Plus, TBR makes an ideal present for the bookworms in your life. Joyful studying, merfolk!
