Shorelines

In a dark and disquieting verse novel, Irish poet Ennis melds elements of Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid” with warnings about human cruelty, ocean exploitation, and anti-fat bias. Soon after her twin sister is found dead, trapped in a fishing net, grieving mermaid Muireann, youngest of the sea king’s five daughters, makes her coming-of-age journey to the water’s surface without her twin. Always fascinated by the lure of life beyond the sea, Muireann is initially enchanted by her observations of humans, and even rescues a drowning prince. Convinced she can reason with him about the escalating overfishing that is destroying the merfolk’s food supply, she returns underwater to request a potion from her aunt, the sea witch Réaltín, that will give her a human body when on land. Once ashore, Muireann is shocked to find that the “colossal” body she has always been fiercely proud of is seen as repulsive to humans. Shortly thereafter, she is imprisoned in the prince’s dungeon, released daily only to serve as entertainment for and endure abuse from the prince and his court. Lyrical language (“shimmering scales/ that capture an/ imaginary light”) helps mitigate horrific events, while occasional shape poems add visual interest. Softly rendered b&w spot sketches from O’Hara (One Last Thing) depicting sea life are sprinkled throughout a bleak, if beautifully told, tale. Ages 12–up. (June)