Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Graphix (2021), 256 pages
Description
Comic and Graphic Books. Fantasy. Young Adult Fiction. LGBTQIA+ (Fiction.) HTML: From the author of The Witch Boy trilogy comes a graphic novel about family, romance, and first love.Fifteen-year-old Morgan has a secret: She can't wait to escape the perfect little island where she lives. She's desperate to finish high school and escape her sad divorced mom, her volatile little brother, and worst of all, her great group of friends...who don't understand Morgan at all. Because really, Morgan's biggest secret is that she has a lot of secrets, including the one about wanting to kiss another girl.Then one night, Morgan is saved from drowning by a mysterious girl named Keltie. The two become friends and suddenly life on the island doesn't seem so stifling anymore.But Keltie has some secrets of her own. And as the girls start to fall in love, everything they're each trying to hide will find its way to the surface...whether Morgan is ready or not.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member oldandnewbooksmell
Morgan can't wait to escape the little island where she lives and get away from her sad, divorced mom, her angry young brother, and worst of all, her group of friends who don't understand her at all. Because, in all honesty, Morgan has the biggest of secrets... one about wanting to kiss a girl.
Then
Oh my goodness, I loved this so so so much! I'm going to be searching for my own copy of it for sure because of how much I enjoyed it!
The artwork of the novel is beautiful and visually appealing. I enjoyed the different styles everyone had. Keltie was probably my favorite to see as she never hid her expressions and was very animated (her seal eyes were beautiful!). Molly Knox Ostertag did a beautiful job at showing Morgan and her hidden emotions as well. Even if she would hide away and try to make herself small, you could still see her.
The storyline of this novel is super cute and adorable. Mythology, selkies, coming of age, coming out, LGBTQ+, divorced parents... it has quite a lot! The family dynamics will pull on your heartstrings, that's for sure! It's always nice to see a coming out scene where the family is supportive, Morgan's mom even cracked me up.
This is a great and adorable story that all can enjoy! I highly recommend this to anyone who would like a cutesy sapphic romance graphic novel.
Sometimes you have to let your life get messy. That's how you get to the good parts.
Then
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one night, after trying to clear her head, Morgan falls off from slippery rocks and into the ocean. She's saved from a mysterious girl named Keltie, who she's met once before. The duo become close and suddenly, life on the island doesn't seem so suffocating anymore. But Keltie has her own secrets. As the girls start to fall in love, everything hidden away finds its way to the surface... whether or not Morgan is ready for it.Oh my goodness, I loved this so so so much! I'm going to be searching for my own copy of it for sure because of how much I enjoyed it!
The artwork of the novel is beautiful and visually appealing. I enjoyed the different styles everyone had. Keltie was probably my favorite to see as she never hid her expressions and was very animated (her seal eyes were beautiful!). Molly Knox Ostertag did a beautiful job at showing Morgan and her hidden emotions as well. Even if she would hide away and try to make herself small, you could still see her.
The storyline of this novel is super cute and adorable. Mythology, selkies, coming of age, coming out, LGBTQ+, divorced parents... it has quite a lot! The family dynamics will pull on your heartstrings, that's for sure! It's always nice to see a coming out scene where the family is supportive, Morgan's mom even cracked me up.
This is a great and adorable story that all can enjoy! I highly recommend this to anyone who would like a cutesy sapphic romance graphic novel.
Sometimes you have to let your life get messy. That's how you get to the good parts.
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LibraryThing member jennybeast
Sweet and queer little love story -- very first love, very tween/teen. Really love the art. The story is solid, but not earth-shattering. Mostly just a really sweet story with some delightful magical aspects.
LibraryThing member EllielElf
Molly Knox Ostertag is creating the LGBT graphic novels I wish I had when I was a teenager. Having previously read “Witch Boy” I was already familiar with Ostertag’s works and I picked up a copy of “The Girl from the Sea” as soon as I was able. This book broke my heart in the best ways
I can honestly say “The Girl from the Sea” is one of my favorite books I’ve read so far this year. Even with bookmark in hand I could not find a reason to put this beautifully Illustrated graphic novel down. As queer person from a small town I felt a strong connection to the main character, being queer and from a small town is hard and can be terrifying, even deadly. I say this as I’ve read several books that boasted about the queerness in their pages only to have their queer characters face homophobia with horrific consequences. There are too many authors writing queer stories about teenage romances that bank on homophobia as the main source of conflict.
However, Ostertag has shown in “The Girl from the Sea” that homophobia is not integral to queer stories. The book follows Morgan a normal 15 year old girl from a small island town with a broken family and a big secret and Keltie a selkie. Like many queer people Morgan dreams of moving away after high school and living as herself. (As I’ve mentioned her reason for not coming out is not fear of homophobia, but rather the fear of being other/ different. This is a fear nearly every teenager has because teenagers are ruthless it is not just a queer experience) Keltie on the other hand is very different from Morgan not just in the obvious way but also in that she is unafraid of being herself. By the end of the story both girls have grown into different but better people for having met each other.
And that is all I will say because I do not want to spoil anything for anyone who hasn’t read the book yet.
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possible. I was crying bittersweet tears as I closed book and stepped out of the semi-fantastical world. Its such a cute awkward teenage romance that is beautifully illustrated, I personally really loved the way the eyes were drawn. I can honestly say “The Girl from the Sea” is one of my favorite books I’ve read so far this year. Even with bookmark in hand I could not find a reason to put this beautifully Illustrated graphic novel down. As queer person from a small town I felt a strong connection to the main character, being queer and from a small town is hard and can be terrifying, even deadly. I say this as I’ve read several books that boasted about the queerness in their pages only to have their queer characters face homophobia with horrific consequences. There are too many authors writing queer stories about teenage romances that bank on homophobia as the main source of conflict.
However, Ostertag has shown in “The Girl from the Sea” that homophobia is not integral to queer stories. The book follows Morgan a normal 15 year old girl from a small island town with a broken family and a big secret and Keltie a selkie. Like many queer people Morgan dreams of moving away after high school and living as herself. (As I’ve mentioned her reason for not coming out is not fear of homophobia, but rather the fear of being other/ different. This is a fear nearly every teenager has because teenagers are ruthless it is not just a queer experience) Keltie on the other hand is very different from Morgan not just in the obvious way but also in that she is unafraid of being herself. By the end of the story both girls have grown into different but better people for having met each other.
And that is all I will say because I do not want to spoil anything for anyone who hasn’t read the book yet.
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LibraryThing member senbei
Book. Of. The. Year! I'm seriously crying over how beautiful The Girl from the Sea is. It's very moving, romantic, funny and artistic. Themes are real, relatable and relevant. It makes you want to immediately go back and read it over again. Honestly, I would give this book to any young person or
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anyone interested in marine mythology. So well executed. I enjoyed Witch Boy, but The Girl from the Sea is an absolute treasure. Show Less
LibraryThing member villemezbrown
Molly Knox Ostertag is pretty darn reliable at this point. This may not be her strongest book, with a few more clunks than clicks in the plot, but it has a little romance, a little adventure, and a whole lotta heart. A closeted teen is surprised by the reappearance of a mysterious girl she briefly
I really enjoyed the main characters (though the side characters were pretty stock) and hope there is a sequel in the future.
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met once seven years ago. A cute mysterious girl.I really enjoyed the main characters (though the side characters were pretty stock) and hope there is a sequel in the future.
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LibraryThing member sashame
there r a lot of good things abt this--mainly v cute makeout scenes--but it drops too many beats that couldve made it great. the two central conflicts r compelling--a fear of homophobia and family tension on the one hand, and risking relationships to prevent ecological destruction due to economic
it was a good move on ostertag's part to do away w homophobia within the family, but surely in such a rural area there might still b issues being out and proud in public at such a young age. also, the family tension was left vague, never investigated, and mostly dropped when it was time to focus on the other conflict.
it wouldve been fun if serena was revealed to have a crush on morgan, which morgan leveraged to prevent ecological destruction. instead, just ~telling the truth~ and appealing to the friendship of someone who the protagonist -DOES-NOT-EVEN-LIKE- is enough to sort of save the day. and in the end everyone is happy--even the capitalist polluters can still operate their ship w/ minimal environmental damage! such an everyone-wins compromise ending cheapens the stakes and undermines any potential commitment ostertag couldve taken wrt ecological conservation
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greed on the other. but ostertag fumbles the resolution to both.it was a good move on ostertag's part to do away w homophobia within the family, but surely in such a rural area there might still b issues being out and proud in public at such a young age. also, the family tension was left vague, never investigated, and mostly dropped when it was time to focus on the other conflict.
it wouldve been fun if serena was revealed to have a crush on morgan, which morgan leveraged to prevent ecological destruction. instead, just ~telling the truth~ and appealing to the friendship of someone who the protagonist -DOES-NOT-EVEN-LIKE- is enough to sort of save the day. and in the end everyone is happy--even the capitalist polluters can still operate their ship w/ minimal environmental damage! such an everyone-wins compromise ending cheapens the stakes and undermines any potential commitment ostertag couldve taken wrt ecological conservation
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LibraryThing member Koralis
2021 is really coming in clutch with all this queer content. I am here for it. Morgan & Keltie were so cute. I need a sequel that picks up 7 years later.
LibraryThing member electrascaife
A middle grade graphic novel about a Morgan, who feels out of place in her small island town, and who befriends/is befriended by the eponymous girl, who in turn changes both their lives.
Sweet and fun and sad and very well written/drawn. Definitely recommended.
Sweet and fun and sad and very well written/drawn. Definitely recommended.
LibraryThing member BarnesBookshelf
Its a very cute story. I really like the art style, especially for Keltie. Morgan's mom is hilarious. Its a pretty typical coming out story, but its good nonetheless.
Awards
Great Lakes Great Books Award (Nominee — 2023)
British Fantasy Award (Nominee — 2022)
South Dakota Teen Choice Book Awards (Nominee — 2023)
Blue Hen Book Award (Nominee — 2024)
Kids' Book Choice Awards (Finalist — 2022)
Texas Maverick Graphic Novels Reading List (Selection — 2022)
Excellence in Graphic Literature Award (Finalist — Young Adult Fiction — 2022)
ALA Rainbow Book List (Selection — 2022)
VLA Graphic Novel Diversity Award (Honor Book — Youth — 2021)
Maine Student Book Award (Reading List — 2023)
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (Top Ten — 2022)
New York Public Library Best Books: For Kids (Graphic Novels — 2021)
Nerdy Book Award (Graphic Novels — 2021)
Los Angeles Public Library Best of the Year (Graphic Novels — 2021)
Great Graphic Novels for Teens (Top Ten — 2022)
Read for Empathy Collections (2023)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2021-06
Physical description
256 p.; 8.25 inches
ISBN
1338540572 / 9781338540574