Plain Jane and the Mermaid

About this book

Eisner Award Winner A New York Times Best Children's Books of the Year An NPR Best Book of the Year From Anya's Ghost and Be Prepared author Vera Brosgol comes an instant classic graphic novel that flips every fairy tale you know on its head! Jane is incredibly plain. Everyone says so: her parents, the villagers, and her horrible cousin who kicks her out of her own house. Determined to get some semblance of independence, Jane prepares to propose to the princely Peter. It’s a good plan! Or it would’ve been, if he wasn’t kidnapped by a mermaid. Jane must venture underwater to rescue her maybe-fiancé. But the depths of the ocean hold beautiful mysteries and dangerous creatures. What good can a plain Jane do? Already love Vera’s work? Don’t miss her first novel, Return to Sender!

Similar grade-level books

• 
  To Kill a Mockingbird
  Harper Lee · 870L
• 
  The Great Gatsby
  F. Scott Fitzgerald · 1070L
• 
  Of Mice and Men
  John Steinbeck · 630L
• 
  Lord of the Flies
  William Golding · 770L

See all books like Plain Jane and the Mermaid→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This Juvenile Fiction title, typically at grades 9–12. Published in the canon; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Where this book is assigned

• Great Lakes Great Books Award

  • recommended·9th grade · Michigansource: Michigan Reading Association — Great Lakes Great Books Award 2026-27 nominee (official GLGBA nominee press release + nominees list, announced March 7, 2026 at the MRA Annual Conference; Michigan students vote through January 9, 2027) — 9-12 division
  • recommended·10th grade · Michigansource: Michigan Reading Association — Great Lakes Great Books Award 2026-27 nominee (official GLGBA nominee press release + nominees list, announced March 7, 2026 at the MRA Annual Conference; Michigan students vote through January 9, 2027) — 9-12 division
  • recommended·11th grade · Michigansource: Michigan Reading Association — Great Lakes Great Books Award 2026-27 nominee (official GLGBA nominee press release + nominees list, announced March 7, 2026 at the MRA Annual Conference; Michigan students vote through January 9, 2027) — 9-12 division
  • recommended·12th grade · Michigansource: Michigan Reading Association — Great Lakes Great Books Award 2026-27 nominee (official GLGBA nominee press release + nominees list, announced March 7, 2026 at the MRA Annual Conference; Michigan students vote through January 9, 2027) — 9-12 division

Common questions

What grade level is Plain Jane and the Mermaid?

Plain Jane and the Mermaid is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 9–12. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.

How long does it take to read Plain Jane and the Mermaid?

It takes about 6h 45m to read Plain Jane and the Mermaid (370 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 405 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

What curricula assign Plain Jane and the Mermaid?

Plain Jane and the Mermaid appears on reading lists for Great Lakes Great Books Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is Plain Jane and the Mermaid banned in schools?

Plain Jane and the Mermaid does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.