Booklists

CCBC Review:

Veró’s immigrant family came to the United States from Peru years ago seeking opportunities for Veró and her younger sister and better treatment options for Veró’s hip dysplasia. Now 17, Veró hates the way her immigrant parents are sometimes treated. She also sometimes hates the way they treat her, especially when it comes to sexist standards regarding her behavior. They are also overprotective, shielding Veró from medical information she wants to know. Excited to get a job at her town’s tourist attraction, Mermaid Cove—she’s dreamed of being a mermaid since she was a child—Veró doesn’t tell her parents, sure her father in particular wouldn’t approve, but can only keep her new job a secret for so long. Wonderfully developed characters and relationships propel this story culminating in a performance inspired by the Peruvian stories of Huacachina, reshaped by Veró to speak her own truth and advocate for others. Veró is confident of her capabilities, yet sometimes self-conscious about her disability; she’s an almost-adult longing for respect, even as she doesn’t always afford the same to her younger sister. This lively exploration of the complexities, and sometimes the contradictions, of Veró and her life touches on struggles of those around her as well, including her boyfriend Alex’s depression and Mermaid Cove management’s treatment of gender nonbinary Geoff, another performer. It's all perfectly weighted and a pleasure to read, thanks to the fine storytelling. ©2022 Cooperative Children’s Book Center

CCBC Age Recommendation: Age 13 and older
Age Range: Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13) Grades 9-12 (Age 14 and older)
Format: Novel
Subjects: Depression Families Immigration and Immigrants Independence/Self-Reliance LGBTQ+ Persons Nonbinary People Peruvians and Peruvian Americans Physical Disability Sexism
Diversity subjects: Latine Physical Psychiatric

Publishers: Clarion, HarperCollins
Publish Year: 2022
Pages: 346
ISBN: 9780358536864
CCBC Location: Fiction, Sylvester

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