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Review: Plain Jane and the Mermaid

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By Vera Brosgol
New York: First Second, 2024. Comics. 368 pages.

Jane Brown is used to people not giving her the time of day. In her small fishing village, the townspeople make fun of her plain appearance, her freckles, and her weight. Even her own parents taunt her for her appearance and rarely give her the time of day. After her parents' sudden death, Jane faces eviction from her family home unless she can marry and then inherit her dowry. She proposes marriage to the beautiful, but shallow fisherman Peter, who is promptly kidnapped by a mermaid. Desperate to save Peter, Jane journeys to the bottom of the ocean where she encounters dangers and trials around every turn. Rescued from death (again and again) by a delightfully cranky seal, Jane is determined to continue on in her quest to save Peter even when her own future seems uncertain.

This reimaging of 'The Little Mermaid' is a delightfully tongue-in-cheek graphic novel for upper middle grade readers. Jane is a protagonist that readers will cheer for, especially as she gains confidence in herself and becomes a capable hero. Filled with underwater monsters both terrifying and hilarious, the fantasy world of this book is sound and is brought to life by Brosgol's excellent panel work.

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