In the Name of the Mermaid Princess, Vol. 1

Gr 5 Up–The country of Blognig despises unhumans: those with abilities and attributes that make them not quite human. This causes difficulties for Princess Mio who was, born with the power of the merfolk. Forced to take an uncomfortable medication that hides her abilities, Mio still kindly embraces life and finds solace in letter correspondence with her betrothed—an arranged marriage to a prince of Aquatia. A new tutor, Yuri Ban, challenges Mio to examine her beliefs, helping Mio connect to her unhuman status and encounter the world outside of the palace for the first time. When her excursion is discovered, the king, filled with hatred toward unhumans, orders Yuri imprisoned and Mio confined. Now, with real experiences and knowing that her powers can be used to help people, Mio’s resolve is put to the test. While Fumikawa’s story and Tashiro’s artwork are adorable and appropriate for middle grades, there is surprising depth with complex topics, such as injustice, advocacy, and being true to oneself. The volume ends with “Eno’s Flight: Part 1,” the short story that inspired this series.