MERMAID REVEAL

Lav, Amethyst, and Rose, who are in their last year of Elementary Magic, must strengthen their friendship bonds as they try to solve an environmental catastrophe.

After half-Mer student Cyan pranks Lav on the first day of spring semester, he reacts angrily, and both boys end up in Dean Jared’s office. There Lav discovers that Cyan, who’s now been assigned as his official buddy, is also from Île Violette. As the boys prepare for their Equinox Test together, Lav sees how poorly some people treat the Mer. Back in Brooklyn, Amethyst is attending school in the Under City—she loves it among the Mer and has trouble reconnecting with people when she visits “the land part of Brooklyn.” Rose returns to school feeling sad that she’s no longer able to use Heart Leading to connect with Amethyst; she’s determined not to let their connection fade even more. One Saturday when Amethyst is home, she and Rose Heart Lead to Chicago for a visit with Lav. They learn that the spell that created land is starting to fail, and “now the water is starting to take it back.” The friends must cooperate to help land and water stay in balance to sustain the magical cycle. The racially diverse, well-drawn characters navigate relatable friendship changes and frenemy encounters and grow throughout the story. The sweet, cheerful illustrations convey the characters’ emotions and help readers visualize the magical settings.

A clever story that explores the interplay between relationships and magic.