Skin of the Sea

Gr 10 Up–It’s been three months since Yemoja remade Simidele in the image of Mami Wata (a mermaid) and tasked her with recovering the souls of those who perish in the water. Though she knows this to be a gift, as she would otherwise be a soul sent back to Olodumare, the Supreme Creator, Simidele still clings to the memories of her human life. When a living boy named Kola is tossed from a slave ship, she rescues him and in doing so unknowingly breaks an ancient decree from the Supreme Creator—an act that could cost her very existence and that of her fellow Mami Wata sisters. She needs Olodumare’s forgiveness, but another jealous Orisha is dogging her every step, hoping that she fails. It is no easy thing for a single girl to defy the gods. Blending West African mythology with the dark history of the slave trade, Bowen weaves a magical tale that will delight readers. Despite its heavy subject matter, this book is a testament to the strength of the human spirit amid tragedy that never shies away from the horrors it conveys.