Content levels
Trigger warnings
Heroine archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Themes
Synopsis
Willow's soft spot for critters finds her spending a cold winter morning along the coast as part of a volunteer rescue team, cleaning up an oil spill that has damaged the marine habitat. While climbing over some rocks, she discovers another unexpected victim of the spillage -- a selkie, a shape-shifting seal girl who won't be able to return to the sea until the oil is removed from her coat. Willow takes the creature back to the library so that Giles and the Slayerettes can help her to restore her magickal coat. However, though "Ariel," as the posse dubs her, is endearing in her innocence, Buffy can't quite shake her innate suspicions of the creature whose nature, like the ocean, is ever changing. Unfortunately, the spill has forced more than a selkie from the cold water. Merrows look very much like traditional mermaids -- with one important and fatal difference. As if things weren't complicated enough...
Is Deep Water appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 10 and up.
Parents should know this book features an oil spill affecting marine life and mythological creatures (selkies and merrows). There's mild peril from dangerous merrows and environmental themes around pollution and animal rescue.
What to know going in
This book has mild violence, no sexual content, and clean language. Content notes include animal harm and environmental disaster.
Who'll love this
Kids will enjoy the magical selkie rescue mission, the team working together to solve problems, and discovering different mythical sea creatures.