Books Like The Surface Breaks
Families who loved The Surface Breaks by Louise O'Neill often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Families who loved The Surface Breaks by Louise O'Neill often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
A parent might reach for this book when their thoughtful teen is ready to deconstruct familiar stories and engage with complex feminist themes. A fierce and unflinching retelling of The Little Mermaid, this novel reimagines the classic tale as a powerful allegory for escaping patriarchal oppression. Mermaid princess Gaia feels trapped by her father's suffocating control and her culture's obsession with female beauty and silence. Believing a human prince is the key to freedom, she sacrifices her voice for legs, only to find the human world has its own restrictive rules for women. For ages 14 and up, this book is a fantastic, though intense, catalyst for conversations about bodily autonomy, finding one's voice, and challenging societal expectations.
