{"id":98034,"date":"2023-06-21T05:00:07","date_gmt":"2023-06-21T09:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.readbrightly.com\/?p=98034"},"modified":"2025-04-22T13:43:03","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T17:43:03","slug":"young-adult-mermaid-books","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.readbrightly.com\/young-adult-mermaid-books\/","title":{"rendered":"11 Mermaid Books To Enchant Young Adult Readers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mermaids have been an object of fascination long before Disney\u2019s Ariel became the most famous of their representatives. The first known appearance of a mermaid in literature was in 1000 B.C. in Assyria. The ancient Greeks and Romans often included the mysterious creatures in their myths. Pirates also claimed to see mermaids at sea, and the half-fish, half-woman beings are part of many countries\u2019 lore. Mermaids are magical, charming, and dangerous, so it\u2019s no surprise that teens love reading books about them. Here are several YA mermaid books to reel in teen readers. <\/p>\n

yes no YA Books 9780593120972 Skin of the Sea <\/i> by Natasha Bowen <\/p>\n

As a mermaid responsible for collecting the souls of those who die at sea, Simi knows her role and how not to upset the gods. But when a human boy falls overboard, she saves his life rather than letting him perish, setting herself up for punishment. To avoid that fate, she has to make a plea to the Supreme Creator on a journey threaded with peril. This fresh take on The Little Mermaid weaves in West African history and lore, earning it multiple starred reviews. <\/p>\n

9780593120989 Soul of the Deep <\/i> by Natasha Bowen <\/p>\n

This sequel to Bowen\u2019s Skin of the Sea<\/i> finds Simi now reigning \u2014 in a way \u2014 over the Land of the Dead. It\u2019s her fate after sacrificing everything to save the people she loves. Simi works with a trickster god in a last-ditch effort to prevent demons from overtaking the human world. As with Bowen\u2019s first entry in the series, this book weaves fairy tales with West African lore. Reviewers praised it for building on the characters in the first book and introducing new adversaries for Simi. <\/p>\n

9781368077224 The Little Mermaid: Against the Tide <\/i> by J. Elle <\/p>\n

J. Elle, author of the Wings of Ebony duology and the highly anticipated fall 2023 release House of Marionne<\/a><\/i>, pens this young adult story set in the world of the new Disney adaptation of The Little Mermaid<\/i>. Somewhat distant from one another since the death of their mother, Ariel\u2019s sisters come together for her fifteenth birthday celebration. But Mala \u2014 one of Triton\u2019s most formidable daughters \u2014 gets kidnapped, leaving behind a cryptic note about their mother\u2019s mysterious death. Ariel and her sisters set out to save their sister and find the truth about their mother. It\u2019s a must-read for fans of the new film and mermaid lore in general. <\/p>\n

9781536209594 Mermaid Moon <\/i> by Susann Cokal <\/p>\n

From Michael L. Printz Honor winner Cokal, this 2020 fantasy novel centers on a mermaid who is only half seavish (her mother is landish). Because of her mixed background, Sanna has trouble finding acceptance in mermaid society. She goes to work for a witch who can help her grow legs and take to land to search for her mother. The quest is fraught with danger, and readers will be drawn in by Sanna\u2019s bravery in the face of peril and her determination to understand herself and her world. <\/p>\n

9781536215892 The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea <\/i> by Maggie Tokuda-Hall <\/p>\n

A pirate, Florian (born Flora), and an upper-class young woman, Lady Evelyn, find themselves together on the ship Dove. When the crew for whom Florian works takes over the boat, and Evelyn becomes a captive, the two young women fall in love and cast off their respective societal rules. Tokuda-Hall\u2019s work, which spans the sea and the mermaids, witches, and secret agents, is a nautical fantasy and a thoughtful commentary on imperialism. <\/p>\n

9780147510655 Atlantia <\/i> by Ally Condie <\/p>\n

While Condie\u2019s novel technically features sirens, not mermaids, the underwater world they inhabit will entrance ocean lovers. In a dystopian world where land (called Above) and sea (called Below) are separate societies, Rio dwells in Below but dreams of a life on land. When her twin sister abandons her to go Above, Rio must fend for herself. In possession of a powerful siren voice and questions about her mother\u2019s death, Rio faces difficult choices, never sure who she can trust. Fans praise Condie\u2019s excellent world-building, and the mysterious land of Below will keep the pages turning. <\/p>\n

9781368068185 Part of Your World <\/i> by Stephanie Kate Strohm <\/p>\n

This twist on the Disney classic poses the question: What if Ariel hadn\u2019t bested the sea witch Ursula? The answer is that Ariel \u2014 still without her voice \u2014 rules Atlantica while Ursula controls Prince Eric\u2019s kingdom. When Ariel learns her father might still be alive, she revisits her life on land and reunites with the prince she once loved. This twisted tale is ideal for teens seeking a darker take on the sweet Disney story. <\/p>\n

9781401283391 Mera: Tidebreaker<\/i> by Danielle Paige <\/p>\n

Princess Mera, one of the more under-the-radar characters in the DC Comics universe, gets a starring role in this graphic novel. Next in line to rule Xebel \u2013 a penal colony under the rule of Atlantis \u2013 Mera is betrothed to that kingdom\u2019s prince, Arthur Curry. But the Xebellian military wants to overthrow oppressive Atlantis, and Mera wants to be part of it \u2013 by assassinating Arthur herself. Until she falls for him. Reviewers and readers alike attest that this graphic novel doesn\u2019t require background knowledge about the DC universe \u2013 tough, cool Princess Mera and a fascinating story will pull readers in, whether they\u2019re comic book fans or not. <\/p>\n

9780804168564 The Waterfire Saga<\/i> by Jennifer Donnelly <\/p>\n

This audiobook series kicks off on mermaid Seraphina\u2019s wedding day. Instead of fretting about her marriage, she\u2019s distracted by the strange and unsettling dreams she\u2019s been having of an ancient evil. When an assassin\u2019s arrow strikes her mother, Sera ventures out from the Mediterranean to bring together the Mer people. Subsequent stories span the six realms of the sea, uniting Sera with other mermaids who are ancestors of the Six Who Ruled. Author Jennifer Donnelly, known for her historical fiction, expertly glides into this underwater fantasy, the perfect saga to keep readers hooked until the very end. <\/p>\n

yes no Adult Books <\/p>\n

The following novels are intended for and marketed as fiction for adults. However, these mermaid-centric stories may be appropriate for young adult readers 14 and up.<\/p>\n

9780399584046 The Mermaid <\/i> by Christina Henry <\/p>\n

If anyone understands the draw of a real-life mermaid, it\u2019s the world\u2019s greatest showman, circus pioneer P. T. Barnum. Bestselling author Henry hypothesizes on the meeting of a mermaid and the man who loved to amaze people \u2014 so long as they had the money to pay. But when the mermaid in question, Amelia, longs to return to the sea, Barnum doesn\u2019t want to part with his star attraction. Henry\u2019s book, with its mix of historical fiction and fantasy, is ideal for older teens.<\/p>\n

9780307589972 Mermaid<\/i> by Carolyn Turgeon <\/p>\n

A dark retelling of Hans Christian Andersen\u2019s The Little Mermaid<\/i>, this one is for readers who like gothic tales. Princess Margrethe, hidden from the kingdom while war rages, believes she witnesses a miracle when she spies a mermaid rescuing a man from the sea. Margrethe nurses him back to health but doesn\u2019t know that the mermaid, a princess named Lenia, makes a dangerous bargain to be with the human man. Turgeon\u2019s gorgeous writing and propulsive love triangle will keep readers wondering until the end. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Stories about magical, mystical mermaids are perfect reads for teens to dive into at the beach or poolside. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":98078,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[75,826],"coauthors":[14],"class_list":["post-98034","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-fantasy","tag-summer","ages_stages-teen"],"yoast_head":"\nYA Mermaid Books Making a Splash With Teen Readers | Brightly<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"These magical, mystical YA mermaid books are perfect reads for teens to dive into at the beach or poolside.\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.readbrightly.com\/young-adult-mermaid-books\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" 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