The Little Mermaid/La Sirenita by Francesc CapdevilaMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
While geared towards a younger audience, this bilingual picture book adaptation of the original tale stands out in a collection with its simple yet striking illustrations. The story is presented in both English and Spanish on one page, with illustrations on the facing page. The writing style is is easy to read and understand, making this a good introduction to the story for English and Spanish speakers of many ages.
This selection has the look of a picture book, with its square shape, but is written and presented in graphic novel format, with speech bubbles, intuitive panels, and intricate illustrations. The language used is suited to readers in middle school and up, and neither the narration nor the illustrations shy away from the story’s darker themes. This could appeal to both newcomers to Andersen’s traditional tale and more established fans, as well as visual readers.
Mermaid by Carolyn TurgeonMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
This romantic retelling includes the perspective of the (human) princess Margrethe who sees the (mermaid) princess Lenia rescue the prince they both later fall in love with. A few liberties are taken to expand on the original story and the ending isn’t quite as tragic (unfortunately - that's what draws me to the story), but many details remain. Narration alternates between the two princesses as the reader learns their motivations for falling in love.
Split into two timelines (19th century and present day Plymouth, Massachusetts), this retelling is fairy tale, mystery, and ghost story all in one. Syrenka, the mermaid, falls for Ezra in the 1800s while present day Hester wants to learn her family's oldest secrets. Fans of monsters will appreciate this novel's vicious mermaids and creepy ghosts, while mystery readers will enjoy the slow reveal.
Napoli combines mermaid romance with Greek mythology in this adaptation. Love from a human grants a mermaid immortality, and Sirena herself must decide what she values - a life without death, or a life without love. Other characters from Greek mythology show up, making this retelling apt for fans of gods and warriors and/or mermaid lore. It's a short book, and makes for a bittersweet read.
This retelling of stays true to the structure and general plot of the original story: a young woman saves a young man, and then falls in love with him despite their inability to be together. In this Caribbean version, Desiree cannot be with Daniel because of their race and class differences - he comes from an upper class family, while she is a mere peasant girl, with dark hair and skin, and his family will not accept their affection. Like the original, this story is heartbreaking and tender, but with more relevancy to our world.
This title has been adapted into a successful musical that was recently revived on Broadway.
This title has been adapted into a successful musical that was recently revived on Broadway.
And this is just too good not to share:
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