Emily Windsnap and the Monster from the Deep

Reach for this book when your child is grappling with the lingering shadows of a past conflict or the guilt of a well-intentioned mistake. While the setting is a fantastical world of merfolk and krakens, the emotional core centers on Emily's struggle to balance her new identity with the reappearance of a school bully, Mandy Rushton. It is an ideal choice for the middle-grade reader who feels like an outsider or is navigating the complexities of a changing family dynamic. Twelve-year-old Emily is finally reunited with her merman father in the Bermuda Triangle, but her attempt to fit into this new world leads her to accidentally wake a legendary sea monster. The story masterfully weaves together themes of bravery, accountability, and the realization that our heroes, and our enemies, are more complicated than they seem. It is a safe yet thrilling adventure that normalizes the messy feelings of pre-adolescence within a high-stakes fantasy quest.