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Soraya and the Mermaid
★ Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of 2021
It’s not easy being the weirdest kid in fourth grade. Soraya finds her escape reading comic books about a space superhero who saves the day. But everything changes when Soraya’s class goes on a field trip to an aquarium. Is that really a mermaid in the big tank, talking to Soraya and asking for her help? Can Soraya rise to the occasion and save the day like her superhero idol?
It’s not easy being the weirdest kid in fourth grade. Soraya finds her escape reading comic books about a space superhero who saves the day. But everything changes when Soraya’s class goes on a field trip to an aquarium. Is that really a mermaid in the big tank, talking to Soraya and asking for her help? Can Soraya rise to the occasion and save the day like her superhero idol?
- GenresFantasy
120 pages, Hardcover
Published November 1, 2020
About the author
Salima Alikhan
37 books6 followersSalima Alikhan is the illustrator of Pelican's Rocky Mountain Night Before Christmas. With a German mother and an Indian father raised in Pakistan, Alikhan grew up hearing a variety of fairytales, which aided her in developing an enchanted imagination. She is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and continues to pursue her passion of writing and drawing in Austin, where she resides."
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 5, 2021
Such a clever early chapter book, with a great suspenseful plot and colourful aquarium setting. Love the diversity! Can’t wait for the next Soraya adventure!
October 26, 2025
Soraya is a misfit and feels like a disappointment: her mother wants her to stop reading comics and make some *real* friends, and her dad left--because of her? While trying to avoid her noisy, mean classmates on a school trip to the aquarium, Soraya spots Estelle, a mermaid trapped in an exhibit, and agrees to rescue her. The other aquarium animals help by creating various distractions, and Soraya rolls her out in a janitor's bucket. Along the way, she considers taking her home to be *her* friend, but realizes that what people want matters (she didn't want her dad to leave).
Estelle is also a misfit--she alone cares about safe undersea architecture--and she reassures Soraya that she is needed by others. She tells Soraya her coordinates, hoping they can meet up again someday (I like that there is no promise, and Soraya deosn't agree to be a marine biologist, but says she wants to draw comics--and she does, of Estelle's underwater adventures, at the end of this book!)
Soraya also realizes that her comic heroine, Nimbla Moony, had advantages she lacks (magic horses, etc), so the fact that she could solve every problem is not a very relistic expectation.
Alos, hints of a potential friend in Christoff, who is very happy with his new lederhosen.
Estelle is also a misfit--she alone cares about safe undersea architecture--and she reassures Soraya that she is needed by others. She tells Soraya her coordinates, hoping they can meet up again someday (I like that there is no promise, and Soraya deosn't agree to be a marine biologist, but says she wants to draw comics--and she does, of Estelle's underwater adventures, at the end of this book!)
Soraya also realizes that her comic heroine, Nimbla Moony, had advantages she lacks (magic horses, etc), so the fact that she could solve every problem is not a very relistic expectation.
Alos, hints of a potential friend in Christoff, who is very happy with his new lederhosen.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2022
10 YO 4th Grader Soraya wanders away from her group at an aquarium field trip and helps a mermaid escape.
I don't know if it's a strength or a weakness that race/culture isn't discussed in this book at all -- a strength, perhaps, because kids named Soraya might be from many races or cultures and I love that it is totally unremarkable that Estelle is a brown mermaid -- those things are awesome. Maybe the lack of commentary and lack of attention to the heritages of the 3 women who are author and illustrators is the point.
In any case, I wanted to like the book more than I did -- Soraya's weirdness and her outsider feelings are a major plot point, but they aren't really resolved. Although it does seem like her classmates aren't hostile or bullying, just consistently surprised -- so it would be interesting to see how things develop. The adventure of getting Estelle out of the aquarium is highly repetitive (which is developmentally appropriate for beginning chapter books, but not very exciting). The comic in the back of the book is appealing. A solid choice for 3rd-4th graders.
I don't know if it's a strength or a weakness that race/culture isn't discussed in this book at all -- a strength, perhaps, because kids named Soraya might be from many races or cultures and I love that it is totally unremarkable that Estelle is a brown mermaid -- those things are awesome. Maybe the lack of commentary and lack of attention to the heritages of the 3 women who are author and illustrators is the point.
In any case, I wanted to like the book more than I did -- Soraya's weirdness and her outsider feelings are a major plot point, but they aren't really resolved. Although it does seem like her classmates aren't hostile or bullying, just consistently surprised -- so it would be interesting to see how things develop. The adventure of getting Estelle out of the aquarium is highly repetitive (which is developmentally appropriate for beginning chapter books, but not very exciting). The comic in the back of the book is appealing. A solid choice for 3rd-4th graders.
December 13, 2021
This colorful early chapter book introduces us to Soraya, a girl who worries about being different, not having friends, and believing her Dad left because of her. Classmates are always telling her she’s so weird. She finds a friend at an aquarium fieldtrip - a real live mermaid! The mermaid talks to animals throughout the exhibits to help Soraya save her new friend, even if that means saying good-bye. It’s a simple story, with enough fun adventure, animals kids love, and a little magic mixed in. A small comic at the end is a fun addition. Great diversity.
Might be interesting to my earliest readers, but my son who started it hasn’t been sucked in. Perhaps a little more advanced than a most basic early chapter book. Plot was suspenseful and kept moving, but all the animals seemed to do the same thing. Got a little tedious after so many times.
Received ARC hardback & reviewed in consideration for Cybils Award Early Chapter book shortlist for 2021.
Might be interesting to my earliest readers, but my son who started it hasn’t been sucked in. Perhaps a little more advanced than a most basic early chapter book. Plot was suspenseful and kept moving, but all the animals seemed to do the same thing. Got a little tedious after so many times.
Received ARC hardback & reviewed in consideration for Cybils Award Early Chapter book shortlist for 2021.
April 9, 2021
I got this for my 8 year old for Easter. As an advanced reader, this was a little easy for her, but she told me she loved it and wanted to read more. I thought it was a cute story with darling illustrations, and I loved the little graphic novel at the end. Fun read!
abandoned-and-samples
November 12, 2022 I received an eSample courtesy of Reycraft Books.
November 24, 2025
Pro of teaching upper elementary is I now get to preview kids chapter books I use in class 🩵 🧜🏼♀️ 🐠
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews