Skin of the Sea

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - The must-read Black mermaid fantasy series that #1 NYT bestselling author Nicola Yoon calls "epic and original," in which one mermaid takes on the gods themselves. Perfect for fans of Children of Blood and Bone and anyone who can't wait for the live-action The Little Mermaid.

"Riveting." --NPR
"Evocative." --Entertainment Weekly
"Remarkable." --Buzzfeed

A way to survive.
A way to serve.
A way to save.

Simi prayed to the gods, once. Now she serves them as Mami Wata--a mermaid--collecting the souls of those who die at sea and blessing their journeys back home.

But when a living boy is thrown overboard, Simi goes against an ancient decree and does the unthinkable--she saves his life. And punishment awaits those who dare to defy the gods.

To protect the other Mami Wata, Simi must journey to the Supreme Creator to make amends. But all is not as it seems. There's the boy she rescued, who knows more than he should. And something is shadowing Simi, something that would rather see her fail . . .

Danger lurks at every turn, and as Simi draws closer, she must brave vengeful gods, treacherous lands, and legendary creatures. Because if she fails, she risks not only the fate of all Mami Wata, but also the world as she knows it.

Author: Natasha Bowen
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Published: 11/02/2021
Pages: 336
Binding Type: Library Binding
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 8.60h x 5.90w x 1.20d
ISBN: 9780593120958
Audience: Young Adult

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 5.8
Point Value: 14
Interest Level: Middle Grade Plus
Quiz #/Name: 517553 / Skin of the Sea


Review Citation(s):
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 11/01/2021
Kirkus Reviews 10/01/2021 pg. 103
Horn Book Magazine 01/01/2022 pg. 108

About the Author
NATASHA BOWEN is a writer, a teacher, and a mother of three children. She is of Nigerian and Welsh descent and lives in Cambridge, England, where she grew up. Natasha studied English and creative writing at Bath Spa University before moving to East London, where she taught for nearly ten years. Her debut book was inspired by her passion for mermaids and African history. She is obsessed with Japanese and German stationery and spends stupid amounts on notebooks, which she then features on her secret Instagram. When she's not writing, she's reading, watched over carefully by Milk and Honey, her cat and dog. Follow her on Twitter at @skinofthesea.