Title: The Girl from the Sea
Author: Molly (Lee) Knox Ostertag
Reviewed by Lorien
It might not be summer yet, but you can dive straight (or gay, if you prefer) into the summer vibes in this gorgeously illustrated graphic novel. At its heart, The Girl from the Sea is a touching portrayal of the tension and struggles of being a queer teenager, with a little bit of magic sprinkled in to make first love just that little bit more complicated.
Morgan has a plan: keep her life neatly tucked in boxes until she can escape her small town, her parents divorce, and her best friends who don’t know that she’s gay. But when she is saved from drowning by a mysterious girl named Keltie, keeping those boxes separate becomes a whole lot harder, especially when her growing relationship with Keltie threatens to reveal her secret. And little does Morgan know, Keltie’s has some secrets of her own.
The story plays out against the vibrant backdrop of Molly Knox Ostertag’s stunning art, beautifully capturing the emotional turns, from tense action-filled scenes to the gentle yet thrilling moments of falling in love. You could honestly enjoy this book from the art alone, but fortunately this isn’t necessary, as the plot and characters effortlessly meet this high bar.
The book is overall a fun and gentle read, however there are serious and emotionally charged moments – I did tear up when reading the climax, even when I knew how the book ended! The story also does an excellent job at touching on serious topics such as divorce, coming out, and navigating friendships, handling these elements with gentleness and empathy, grounding Morgan’s experiences and adding depth to her character.
With its fast-paced plot, I found myself reaching the end of the book faster than I would have liked. While this can be considered a flaw, it is also an advantage that the book is a quick and easy read, making it very accessible for anyone short on time or attention span (hello TikTok brainrot!) It is also a testament to the quality of the book, the stunning artwork, and relatable characters, that I wanted to lose myself in it for longer.
I would highly recommend The Girl from the Sea for anyone wanting a cosy, feel-good read, especially if you are a queer teenager (or have an inner queer teen) who wants to feel seen.
