A review by grimpantaloon
Plain Jane and the Mermaid by Vera Brosgol

adventurous dark funny hopeful mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Let’s just say I might be biased about this one. Vera Brosgol is one of my favorite authors ever. This is ultraspecific to the kinds of stories that I like, but I don’t think Vera can create a story that wouldn’t appeal to me and tug on my heartstrings.

I really loved Plain Jane and the Mermaid. It’s a cool multilayered middle-grade story. I loved the characters, the mystical setting, the signature Brosgol dark twists and dry humor! Great adventure story with an important message about society and beauty. I also enjoyed this book as an illustrator - the cinematic panels, character design, expressive close-ups and visual narrative are delicious, I can pore over them for hours.
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