Welcome back to another Top Ten Tuesday! And we are almost to the end of August already, which thank goodness. I am ready for fall. This week’s theme is: water! There are all kinds of books that feature water on the cover, so we’re going to focus on some of my favorite YA featuring water. Mermaids, selkies, sirens, and pirates: all of these books feature water in some way!
Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and is currently run by The Artsy Reader Girl. Check out my last one here!
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Top Ten Water Themed YA
In Deeper Waters by FT Lukens
If you’re looking for a fun pirate adventure, definitely check this one out! About a boy who basically falls in love with a merperson, and then goes on a quest to save his kingdom. What’s not to like?
The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa
Another pirate adventure! This one featuring a nonbinary protagonist who has made a deal with the devil in order to get his father back. The catch is: no one knows who they actually are. Lots of magic and adventure in this one!
The Girl from the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag
A girl falls in love with a selkie in this graphic novel from one of my favorite creators, Molly Knox Ostertag. An adorable little story all about first love and finding the courage to finally be who you are.
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh
If you like Spirited Away, this book will give you all those vibes. Based in Korean Folklore, it’s about a girl who saves her brother from the sea and gets dragged to the spirit realm by a water dragon.
A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow
Sirens are featured in this story, about a girl who is forced to hide her powers due to prejudice. Especially when a siren murder makes the news. If you like social justice themed fantasy, this one is for you!
Skin of the Sea by Natasha Brown
A Black mermaid fantasy steeped in African myths, this is about a girl who saves a boy who falls overboard and the consequences that come from it. Lots of magical ocean adventures in this one, with a touch of history.
The Isles of the Gods by Amie Kaufman
Selly is about to sail home to her father when the ship she’s on is commandeered by a prince on a quest to save the world. They just need to do it before the gods stir from their slumber. This is perfect for fans of mythological adventures.
Fable by Adrienne Young
After her mother’s death by drowning, Fable has been marooned on an island by her father. So, she enlists the help of West to get off the island–but learns that the sea has changed in the years since she’s been gone.
Out of the Blue by Jason June
In order to officially become a part of merfolk society, Crest must help one human on land or be stuck there forever. What they don’t expect is to possibly fall in love with that human, because after all, humans are disgusting.
All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace
After a display of power goes awry, Amora has to get back in the good favor of her people. Enter Bastian, a pirate who has sworn to help. But there’s more danger in her kingdom than she realizes. This duology is the pirate fantasy you definitely need in your life!