Shark Girl

K-Gr 6–Beaton is a legend for certain adults who devoured her webcomic Hark! A Vagrant, but her wry style translates well across several grade levels. Vagrant gained popularity for taking old timey subjects and inserting modern hilarity. Here, Beaton utilizes that same transformative tone for a retelling of The Little Mermaid. No longer a lovesick legend, Shark Girl is more fish than human, only leaving the water to wreak revenge on a greedy, overfishing ship captain. Beaton’s creepy-cute illustrations are immediately endearing. Shark Girl holds an edge of menace with her pointed teeth and light blue skin, while the looming Captain Barrett has big bad vibes with his shadowy, lurking, and insatiable smile. But the sea creatures, from blobfish to squid, are so adorable that readers will feel safe with the menace. With a happy ending that leaves Shark Girl victorious and a ship’s crew wiser in her stead, this book is a joyful reminder of the importance of living in harmony with the Earth and respecting nature’s connectivity.