Part of Your World: A Twisted Tale Graphic Novel

Gr 6-10–In this adaptation of Braswell's novel, the curtain opens on a play reiterating the original Disney version of The Little Mermaid. After the play ends, with Ursula by Prince Eric’s side, we return to Atlantica, where a voiceless Ariel was made Queen. Now she, her love, and friends must save King Triton and protect the peoples of land and sea from the witch’s plans. This “Twisted Tale” injects a bit of reality into the fairy tale. Gone is the sweet, naive mermaid, for the fallout of her failure produced a more disillusioned and mature Ariel. Even in a broader sense, things like depression and war are a reality and yet, it is still tempered in tone, content, and art to fit Disney’s brand. Stylistically, the characters are recognizable next to their movie counterparts, but again have a more grounded look; Ariel’s body type and clothing suit modern sensibilities better. Strohm and the illustrators retain the main points of the novel and only make minor changes—not all beneficial—for the condensed format. Readers who enjoyed the overall idea of the film, but disliked its shallow aspects, will much prefer this version. Rather than changing the full story, the creators inserted a satisfactory redemption arc and a relationship with more genuine foundations.