Review by Frank Plowright

The Girl From the Sea is a young adult coming of age story combining Morgan’s awareness that her sexual orientation differs from that of her friends with the legend of the selkie, a seal-woman able to shed their seal skin and pass as human.

Morgan lives in a small coastal town, and when she slips into the sea she’s saved from drowning by Keltie. Rather disoriented by the circumstances she convinces herself it’s a hallucination, and so was the mutual attraction, but the next morning Keltie turns up in her garden, joyously affectionate.

Molly Knox Ostertag has put a lot of thought into the mechanics, handling the conflicting emotions extremely well, and working out how people will react to situations that arise. Morgan’s kept her sexual awakening a secret from her friends, unsure of how to come out to people she’s known her entire life, but Keltie is uninhibited and unconcerned, which makes her seem weird to Morgan’s friends. The contrast leads to excruciatingly awkward moments, with Keltie’s forthright honesty playing against Morgan’s uncertainties. Also well handled is Morgan wanting to be honest with her friends, but unsure how, dropping text hints, then drawing back. Ostertag supplies a nice line in how people wear different skins, and to a lesser extent that’s also apparent in the pages of text messages integral to the story.

Everything is drawn in an open, cheery way, with attractive characters and alluring scenery, the idyllic surroundings contrasting the emotional turmoil generated by Keltie. That turmoil is greatly magnified halfway through, as a plot is introduced gradually generating an effective crisis.

That, though, is secondary to the well developed messages supplied all the way through about how people should be true to themselves, and friends should be accepting. The supporting cast are deftly created to reflect different views and emotional responses, Ostertag’s careful consideration extending to showing how one of Morgan’s friends is more understanding than the remainder. Yet everyone has a moment in the spotlight, defining them, sometimes against expectation.

The Girl From the Sea deals with a considerable amount of emotional issues in a caring and sensible way without ever descending into condescension. Along the way there’s an engaging plot and charming art. An absolute winner.