Sea Sirens (A Trot & Cap'n Bill Adventure)

A beautiful book full of wonder, and a great tale about responsibility and growing up. I was lucky enough to meet the author and get it autographed.

Thank you to Viking Books for Young Readers and Penguin Random House for a free copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.I was SO surprised to get this finished copy from Viking today! I saw I had something coming from Penguin Random House so I was like, ‘Oh, it’s Memento.’ Even though I’m so excited for Memento, I was pleasantly surprised! And a finished copy! What?!I was so excited I dove right in to this California surfer girl’s story. The first thing I noticed on the cover was she was holding a one-eyed cat! You never get the story of why he has one eye, however, there are more books coming!Trot is a surfer girl who goes to the beach every day after school to surf while her grandpa fishes. Her grandpa has Alzheimer’s, which I think is really good to show in a book for younger kids. I know a lot of kids have to go through having a loved one with this disease – I did. So it’s really nice to have that representation like, hey- you aren’t alone. It’s a pretty common thing these days.I loved when Trot and Cap’n Bill – the one eyed cat – make it to the Siren Kingdom. The story was so cute and fun. I couldn’t put it down!I loved the diversity of the characters. I loved the underwater experience. It definitely read as a middle grade novel, but honestly, sometimes we just need something light-hearted and fun. I will definitely be on the lookout for the further adventures of Trot and Cap’n Bill!

Trot is a Vietnamese American girl who is an avid surfer that loves the ocean. She is usually accompanied by her grumpy one-eyed cat, Cap'n Bill. While surfing one day, Trot wipes out on a big wave and is transported to a magical underwater kingdom. She realizes that she is in the middle of ancient deep-sea battle. The Sea Sirens are being invaded by the Serpent King and his minions. When someone gets kidnap, Trot must risk everything to rescue someone she loves dearly.The beautifully drawn graphic novel is colorful and easy to read. The book weaves mythology, mystical ocean creatures, and quirky characters together. While I enjoyed reading the book, I felt that there wasn't much of a plot and it was mostly fluff. I thought there was going to be a great big battle or an epic surprise at the end. The novel does leave an opening for more books but, I am hoping the next graphic novel has more going on.

Inspired by L. Frank Baum’s novel The Sea Fairies, Sea Sirens is a fun magical adventure tale about a girl and her cat who discover an underwater kingdom after getting swept away at sea.This graphic novel drew my attention because it features a Vietnamese-American girl, an animal companion, a surfer-protagonist, and magical elements. To top it off, the California beach setting and underwater adventures are perfect for a summer read.Trot lives in a close-knit home. While there is no mention of a father, Trot’s mother relies on her to keep an eye on the grandfather, who demonstrates frequent lapses in memory. Trot’s reluctance to sacrifice her surfing hobby to stay with her grandfather sets the stage for events to come. In particular, this volume features the grandfather-granddaughter relationship and how each cares for the other in their own way: despite her initial attitude, Trot worries over her grandfather’s dementia, and her grandfather looks after her during moments of clarity.The plot is straightforward with few twists and turns, and the protagonists get out of bad situations with little to no consequences. I would have preferred more complexity to the characters and their situation, but Sea Sirens does complete the story it sets out to tell while providing some action and adventure. The ending opens the possibility for more adventures to come.Additional ThoughtsThe beautiful full-color illustrations by Janet K. Lee added to my enjoyment of this graphic novel. Furthermore, elements of Vietnamese culture are interwoven into the story. While it’s not necessary to understand the plot, I do wish more Vietnamese words were translated since I, and many readers besides, cannot read Vietnamese.

My Review: It was such a pleasant surprise to receive this book in the mail. It was a perfect book to kick off my summer. The colors of this one are so bright and vibrant and I really enjoyed the illustration style. The story is supposed to be based on a fairy tale and mythology but I am not familiar with those original materials, so I was able to just enjoy the story for what it was. I really enjoyed the characters, Trot, while a little rebellious was still a good kid, concerned about her grandfather. I, of course, loved Cap'n Bill he is such a cat a little snobby and stubborn but still loyal and loving to his people. The underwater world is beautiful and unique, and the adventure offers some fun and surprising twists. It is meant for a younger audience but can be enjoyed by everyone.My Rating: I really enjoyed this one, the story, the illustration style and characters were all so enjoyable. I give it a rating of Four Paws!

A cute middle grade novel about a Vietnamese American surfer girl named Trot who is accidentally engulfed in a big wave and cast underseas with her trusty cats. What she discovers is a fantastical palace ruled by mermaids, when her trusty kitty, Cap'n Bill, fends off some dastardly serpents, the mermaids welcome the unlikely duo. At first Trot is apprehensive about staying underwater too long, she cant leave her grandfather alone for too long and her mother is at work, but soon she is having too much fun with her new friends. That is until disaster strikes! Cap'n Trot's services will once again be needed to take care of the serpents that threaten the realm. Cute, whimsical, but not terribly action packed. It's fun and I think younger teens will be intrigued.

Have to say this is a truly charming book with a lovely tale and artwork throughout. The sirens / serpents / humans are all great characters and I loved each and every page and who couldn't full in love with that beautiful cat. Truly hope there is another tale from that team, I will certainly be buying a copy.