11 Mermaid Books To Enchant Young Adult Readers
by Iva-Marie Palmer
Mermaids have been an object of fascination long before Disney’s Ariel became the most famous of their representatives. The first known appearance of a mermaid in literature was in 1000 B.C. in Assyria. The ancient Greeks and Romans often included the mysterious creatures in their myths. Pirates also claimed to see mermaids at sea, and the half-fish, half-woman beings are part of many countries’ lore. Mermaids are magical, charming, and dangerous, so it’s no surprise that teens love reading books about them. Here are several YA mermaid books to reel in teen readers.
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YA Books
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Skin of the Sea
Available from:As a mermaid responsible for collecting the souls of those who die at sea, Simi knows her role and how not to upset the gods. But when a human boy falls overboard, she saves his life rather than letting him perish, setting herself up for punishment. To avoid that fate, she has to make a plea to the Supreme Creator on a journey threaded with peril. This fresh take on The Little Mermaid weaves in West African history and lore, earning it multiple starred reviews.
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Soul of the Deep
Available from:This sequel to Bowen’s Skin of the Sea finds Simi now reigning — in a way — over the Land of the Dead. It’s her fate after sacrificing everything to save the people she loves. Simi works with a trickster god in a last-ditch effort to prevent demons from overtaking the human world. As with Bowen’s first entry in the series, this book weaves fairy tales with West African lore. Reviewers praised it for building on the characters in the first book and introducing new adversaries for Simi.
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The Little Mermaid: Against the Tide
Available from:J. Elle, author of the Wings of Ebony duology and the highly anticipated fall 2023 release House of Marionne, pens this young adult story set in the world of the new Disney adaptation of The Little Mermaid. Somewhat distant from one another since the death of their mother, Ariel’s sisters come together for her fifteenth birthday celebration. But Mala — one of Triton’s most formidable daughters — gets kidnapped, leaving behind a cryptic note about their mother’s mysterious death. Ariel and her sisters set out to save their sister and find the truth about their mother. It’s a must-read for fans of the new film and mermaid lore in general.
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Mermaid Moon
Available from:From Michael L. Printz Honor winner Cokal, this 2020 fantasy novel centers on a mermaid who is only half seavish (her mother is landish). Because of her mixed background, Sanna has trouble finding acceptance in mermaid society. She goes to work for a witch who can help her grow legs and take to land to search for her mother. The quest is fraught with danger, and readers will be drawn in by Sanna’s bravery in the face of peril and her determination to understand herself and her world.
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The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea
Available from:A pirate, Florian (born Flora), and an upper-class young woman, Lady Evelyn, find themselves together on the ship Dove. When the crew for whom Florian works takes over the boat, and Evelyn becomes a captive, the two young women fall in love and cast off their respective societal rules. Tokuda-Hall’s work, which spans the sea and the mermaids, witches, and secret agents, is a nautical fantasy and a thoughtful commentary on imperialism.
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Atlantia
Available from:While Condie’s novel technically features sirens, not mermaids, the underwater world they inhabit will entrance ocean lovers. In a dystopian world where land (called Above) and sea (called Below) are separate societies, Rio dwells in Below but dreams of a life on land. When her twin sister abandons her to go Above, Rio must fend for herself. In possession of a powerful siren voice and questions about her mother’s death, Rio faces difficult choices, never sure who she can trust. Fans praise Condie’s excellent world-building, and the mysterious land of Below will keep the pages turning.
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Part of Your World
Available from:This twist on the Disney classic poses the question: What if Ariel hadn’t bested the sea witch Ursula? The answer is that Ariel — still without her voice — rules Atlantica while Ursula controls Prince Eric’s kingdom. When Ariel learns her father might still be alive, she revisits her life on land and reunites with the prince she once loved. This twisted tale is ideal for teens seeking a darker take on the sweet Disney story.
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Mera: Tidebreaker
Available from:Princess Mera, one of the more under-the-radar characters in the DC Comics universe, gets a starring role in this graphic novel. Next in line to rule Xebel – a penal colony under the rule of Atlantis – Mera is betrothed to that kingdom’s prince, Arthur Curry. But the Xebellian military wants to overthrow oppressive Atlantis, and Mera wants to be part of it – by assassinating Arthur herself. Until she falls for him. Reviewers and readers alike attest that this graphic novel doesn’t require background knowledge about the DC universe – tough, cool Princess Mera and a fascinating story will pull readers in, whether they’re comic book fans or not.
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The Waterfire Saga
This audiobook series kicks off on mermaid Seraphina’s wedding day. Instead of fretting about her marriage, she’s distracted by the strange and unsettling dreams she’s been having of an ancient evil. When an assassin’s arrow strikes her mother, Sera ventures out from the Mediterranean to bring together the Mer people. Subsequent stories span the six realms of the sea, uniting Sera with other mermaids who are ancestors of the Six Who Ruled. Author Jennifer Donnelly, known for her historical fiction, expertly glides into this underwater fantasy, the perfect saga to keep readers hooked until the very end.
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Adult Books
The following novels are intended for and marketed as fiction for adults. However, these mermaid-centric stories may be appropriate for young adult readers 14 and up.
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The Mermaid
Available from:If anyone understands the draw of a real-life mermaid, it’s the world’s greatest showman, circus pioneer P. T. Barnum. Bestselling author Henry hypothesizes on the meeting of a mermaid and the man who loved to amaze people — so long as they had the money to pay. But when the mermaid in question, Amelia, longs to return to the sea, Barnum doesn’t want to part with his star attraction. Henry’s book, with its mix of historical fiction and fantasy, is ideal for older teens.
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Mermaid
Available from:A dark retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid, this one is for readers who like gothic tales. Princess Margrethe, hidden from the kingdom while war rages, believes she witnesses a miracle when she spies a mermaid rescuing a man from the sea. Margrethe nurses him back to health but doesn’t know that the mermaid, a princess named Lenia, makes a dangerous bargain to be with the human man. Turgeon’s gorgeous writing and propulsive love triangle will keep readers wondering until the end.
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