Jane has recently lost her parents, and since she is a woman and cannot inherit her home, she comes up with a plan to propose marriage to a boy in town who could use an escape of his own. And when that boy is dragged into the ocean by a mermaid, Jane has no other option but to go in after him. Over the course of three days, Jane has the adventure of a lifetime.

I adored this graphic novel. I was constantly being surprised by new bits of information. No matter what happened I was always rooting for Jane on her adventure; Jane has quite the journey literally as well as figuratively. Jane goes into the ocean with a lack of confidence and no options, but while she's underwater she learns quite a bit about herself and becomes an inspiration for any reader. With themes of family and self, this beautifully designed graphic novel can be enjoyed by anyone.

A great exploration through the both the undersea world and the grasps of vanity and body image on young girls. I thoroughly enjoyed the art style and messages of this book, and I know that young girls who read it will find it both engaging and relatable.

However, I found myself aching for more character development on behalf of Jane and Peter. Though Jane learns to accept her looks and take stock in her achievements, these changes were slight. She remained determined and headstrong throughout the story, and remained virtually the same character in essence from beginning to end. Peter also remains the same and only relies on Jane due to a vital threat to his life.

The commentary about the uselessness and societal pressures of beauty as simply an accepted convention were poignant, but underdeveloped. I imagine this story would be a lovely gateway into the world of self-acceptance for a young person reading it, but not a challenging read for further education on the subject.

Vera Brosgol's work is almost always my favorite of each year. This middle grade book will without a doubt be in the hands of many of my library's tweens. The unique and fun art, the way that folklore is embraced, and the way that Jane's personal journey underscores the finale are all integral to why this story was such a delight.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and Vera Brosgol for the advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest opinion. I hope everyone enjoys this as much as I did.

Jane must learn that she is more than others have told her she is and that she should believe and stand up for herself. I am such a fan of Brosgol’s illustrations and this story has such a folklore feel–just a wonderful read.

Absolutely charming and hilarious! An age-appropriate rom-com with a heroine who feels very real and hopefully will help the reader understand something about themself.

I really loved this! I thought it was such a great twist on classic folklore and it really challenged the ideas of beauty and love. It was an adventure and a lesson all at once and it was really great.

Vera Brosgol's comics are always so good, and this was no exception. I loved the new folktale she has created using mermaid, selkie, and Dickensian stories to create a hero's journey for Plain Jane. Much like in Frozen, Jane learns that her prince does not have a heart of gold, and that she has the power within to brave the elements. The back story of the mermaids and the conclusion of her selkie friend and missing brother were so satisfying and made for a wonderful story I want everyone to read!

I highly recommend this for all schools and libraries.

For her whole life, Jane has been told that she’s plain. Her parents, her neighbors, no one seems to have anything good to say. After her parents die, her cousin is set to inherit the house instead of Jane because she’s not married. So, she sets out to propose to Peter, who she has been admiring from afar.

However, the proposal goes wrong when Peter is dragged down into the ocean by a mermaid. Desperate, Jane runs to the village for help and is met with sneers and laughs. Does Jane have the courage to find Peter herself?

Thanks to First Second and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Plain Jane and the Mermaid by Vera Brosgol to review! If you’re into reimagined fairy tales, this will definitely be the graphic novel for you. Especially if the outcome you’re looking for is confidence and independence!

Right from the start, I always know I’m going to love Vera Brosgol’s art style. It’s so engaging, and works so well for this fairy tale format. Especially for all of the underwater scenes. A lot of the mermaid elements will be familiar to readers, and the reveal of their true intentions won’t be a shock to those who know mermaid mythology. The story is still engaging despite that, though!

The other thing I loved about this was Jane’s entire story arc. She goes from someone who was constantly told that she wasn’t enough to having the confidence to live the life she wants to. She also realizes that she doesn’t need the acceptance of other people in order to have that confidence. Such a great storyline for middle grade readers!

If you love mermaids, fairy tales, and just overall great stories, definitely check out this graphic novel when it comes out in May!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book before publication.

Wow. Just…wow. I loved this book fiercely. Why is May not here yet? Yes, I read it, but I want a physical copy.

What is REALLY working it in this book: message of loving yourself and seeing the beauty that might be hiding, folklore (nope, I’m not revealing this book’s secrets. I loved the surprises, so you’ll need to read it), the art, fairytale, love, loss, and more. It’s so hard to name everything because I don’t want to give anything away.

I loved the art and color themes used (and the info about those things at the end of the book). Each character and sea creature had their own unique looks and colors, and they all felt so real. I can believe the author has been doing story boarding for a while, because I felt like I was experiencing a movie with each panel,

I can’t wait to check out more from these creators!

I loved this graphic novel. A tale of resilience and self-discovery, following the journey of Jane, an character that readers will definitely connect to, who overcomes societal judgment and embarks on an extraordinary underwater adventure. Jane's pursuit of love and self-acceptance, intertwined with the best looking boy in town, Peter and a cast of characters like mermaids and selkies, makes for an engaging plot. The illustrations are a visual treat, bringing this heartwarming narrative to life. From the depths of the ocean to the exploration of inner strength, this graphic novel is now one of my favorite reads, offering not only a fantastic story but also a celebration of embracing one's true self. MS readers will flock to this book when it arrives in May 2024!

Brosgol is a creative graphic novelist for middle grade readers. I will ALWAYS drop what I'm doing to read a new graphic novel by her. This one is no different. Plus, she adds a peek behind the curtain of creating her graphic novel from creating the color schemes to creating a beat board "which are colored illustrations used to help pitch the story."

In this story, Jane has always been told she's not pretty enough to find a husband and it has been made more complicated by the fact that her possessions will pass to an annoying male cousin, so she seeks out a boy that she has always spied from afar- a good looking boy who seems to be unhappy with his fisherman position so she approaches him to make a deal where they'll be married- he can escape the drudgery of his work and she will have a husband so she can inherit the property.

But a whole new adventure unravels in which a mermaid brings Peter below water- kidnapping him for her own gain which is revealed by the end. The story has strong characters, an intricate underwater setting, humor and adventure, and simply put, a fantastic arc in general that allows middle grade readers to think about how important looks are in addition to following your heart and standing up for what you believe in. There's a wonderfully sweet side story with a selkie.

I loved rooting for Jane at every underwater (and aboveground) turn!

This fun graphic novel takes a lot of traditional folktale elements like selkies and wicked mermaids and mixes them in a unique yet somewhat predictable way. But that's part of the appeal of fairy tales - there's at least a hint of a happy ever after ending, in this case one where "Plain Jane" comes to appreciate her many strengths that aren't dependent on how people judge her looks. I think 10-12 year old readers will enjoy this undersea tale.

Although this graphic novel is over 300 pages, it never feels dense or slow. The action is riveting, the story is the perfect blend of being simple and heartfelt while still weaving through some more complex themes. This will fly off the shelves

"Plain Jane and the Mermaid" is a delightful graphic novel about self-discovery, interwoven with ocean folklore and mythology, and illustrated with beautiful artwork. A great pick for advanced 4th-5th grade readers and middle grades.

Follow Jane as she navigates a world so different but similar to ours. After her parents unexpected death, Jane must find someone to marry quickly in order to keep her home. But with her plain looks, it's a near impossible task. As she travels far beneath the sea to rescue her prince charming, she finds her worth along the way.

Beautifully illustrated, and a very sweet, charming, and beautiful book on how being apart from the beauty norm doesn't make you less worthy. I loved every second of it.

A really engaging story of self-discovery from Vera Brosgol, with fantastic folktale elements woven throughout. The rich darkness of the art perfectly captures the underwater atmosphere.

Interesting mash up of a lot of oceanic folklore; selkies, evil mermaids, shipwrecks, and more. There's also several strong social messages, made even more pronounced by the Victorian setting. I can see readers who enjoyed Ostow's The Girl From the Sea liking this one. Pick this one up if you like Brosgol's style.

Plain Jane and the Mermaid is about an orphaned noble young woman named Jane, who has to either marry someone or be kicked out of her house once a relative takes control of the estate. Jane, considered weird and ugly by the local village, tries to work up her courage and ask her crush to marry her. Then everything goes a bit crazy. Jane, much like many amazing folklore heroines, must go on a journey to gain her happy ending. Jane's happy ending, isn't quite the one she originally envisioned.

Vera Brosgol once more stuns with her charming and beautiful artwork. I will read anything she publishes! More than that though, was her twisting of the traditional values of this type of folktale to make it more. The empowerment, self-love, and joyful ending were really what I needed this winter.

"Plain Jane" stands out among 2024 graphic novels for its narrative fluidity, its character development, and its sheer uniqueness. It reminds me of 2023's "The Ojja-Wojja," also for an older audience; and, peculiarly, of "Things in the Basement" - which was for younger readers but featured a similarly atmospheric otherworld that might only be found deep below the surface of the realms with which we are familiar.

The main character is a delightful heroine who thinks on her feet but shares the same struggles as so many female readers (adolescent and adult alike); the villains are alarmingly well-developed; the self-righteous Gastonian would-be love interest is, somehow, deeply likable in his own right; and the twist at the end is ... I mean, the twist at the end!

I'm excited about this book and am glad others will soon have the opportunity to read it for themselves!

Jane is a member of the family that owns most of her town. She is also, as everyone repeatedly makes clear, plain. Peter is a fisherman's son who dreams of more than fishing. When Jane's parents die, she must marry or lose everything. She proposes to Peter, who turns her down but is then snatched by a mermaid. Jane embarks on a quest to get him back. Along the way, she encounters various mythical creatures and is forced to reconsider deeply held beliefs.

This is such a fun book for all ages. The rich, vibrant illustrations match Jane's spirit. All the characters are well developed, even antagonists.