Fangirls Unleashed: YA Books Featuring Mermaids & Sirens

Welcome to another Fangirls Unleashed blog!

This month I have created a booklist of young adult books featuring mermaids or sirens.

These mythical beings are my absolute favorite topics to read, especially in the summer. 

Ready to dive into these books?

Read on!

Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen

Transformed by the goddess Yemoja into a Mami Wati, an African mermaid charged with collecting the souls of those who die at sea, Simi goes against the gods to save a living boy, Kola, from drowning.

Emerge by Tobie Easton

Lia Nautilus may be a Mermaid, but she’s never lived in the ocean. Ever since the infamous Little Mermaid unleashed a curse that stripped Mer of their immortality, war has ravaged the Seven Seas.

So Lia has grown up in a secret community of land-dwelling Mer hidden among Malibu’s seaside mansions. Her biggest problems are surviving P.E. and keeping her feelings for Clay Ericson in check. Sure, he’s gorgeous in that cocky, leather jacket sort of way and makes her feel like there’s a school of fish swimming in her stomach, but getting involved with a human could put Lia's entire community at risk. So it’s for the best that he’s dating that new girl, right?

That is, until Lia finds out she isn't the only one at school keeping a potentially deadly secret. And this new girl? Her eyes are dead set on Clay, who doesn't realize the danger he's in. If Lia hopes to save him, she’ll have to get closer to Clay than ever. Lia’s parents would totally flip if they found out she was falling for a human boy, but the more time she spends with Clay, the harder it is for Lia to deny her feelings. After making a horrible mistake, Lia will risk everything to stop Clay from falling in love with the wrong girl.

Part of Your World by Liz Braswell

Five years after the (twisted) events of the film, Ariel is now the queen of Atlantica, and Ursula is running Eric's kingdom on land. But when the sea witch threatens Atlantica once more, Ariel finds herself returning to a world (and a prince) she thought she'd left behind forever.

Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly

Uncovering an ancient evil, Serafina, a mermaid of the Mediterranean Sea, searches for five other mermaid heroines who are scattered across the six seas, to save their hidden world.

A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow

In a society determined to keep her under lock and key, Tavia must hide her siren powers. Meanwhile, Effie is fighting her own family struggles, pitted against literal demons from her past. Together, these best friends must navigate through the perils of high school's junior year. But, everything changes in the aftermath of a siren murder trial that rocks the nation, and Tavia accidentally lets out her magical voice at the worst possible moment. Soon, nothing in Portland, Oregon, seems safe. To save themselves from drowning, it's only Tavia and Effie's unbreakable sisterhood that proves to be the strongest magic of all.

Thank you for joining me on this aquatic book ride.

Which one of these books will you read? Comment below, I would love to hear your thoughts.

Join me next month, where we'll be exploring gargoyles.

Until next time, happy readings bookworms.

FUN FACT

Ready to save money and start your college journey with College Promise? College Promise is an amazing program for high school graduates to help pay for community college. There are 6 community colleges in the Bay Area who have partnered with this program. I was extremely proud to see the community colleges I had attended in the past, Evergreen Valley College and Foothill College, on this list. Great schools that I highly recommend you check out.

Who am I?

Fangirls Unleashed mission is to show our patrons what's trending in the young adult world and how to explore those interests through the San José Public Library. Alyssa has presented on the Graphic Novel Making Contest at the California Library Association Conference, presenting on SJ Engage at the Young Adult Library Services Association Conference, and as a Guest Cosplayer at the Santa Clara City Library Comic Con. When she's not blogging you can find her sipping on an iced coffee as she studies at SJSU for her MLIS. She was recently featured on NBC11's Bay Area Proud segment with her family for their work in libraries over the past decade.

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