Aoi Uroko to Suna no Machi
Mermaid Scales and the Town of Sand

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This manga came out of left field for me, but I'm so glad that I read it. It tackles some serious real-life issues intelligently through the perspective of an elementary schooler in a way that was nuanced but also appropriate to how someone that age would experience such events. Tying into addressing these topics is the overlying mystery surrounding the veracity of the village's local mermaid folklore. It makes efficient use of its short length to do all of this and executes its storytelling well. Additionally, its art is truly phenomenal in conveying its tone and setting of the story, and is rather unique in ... the landscape of shojo and josei manga art that I've seen. Overall, especially given its short length, this manga is a must-read.

The experience throughout reading this manga mirrored the way the sea or seaside feels, if that makes sense. Everything was very serene, but I think the emotions were touched on in a very tender and soft way. I think I really enjoyed this manga because it made me feel like a young kid again. It was nostalgic, and the way the mangaka developed the town made me feel very immersed in its atmosphere - the setting's personality was very distinct. The art compliments the story perfectly. The vibe of the story reminds me of 'When Marnie was there' or 'Song of the Sea'. It retained ... an innocent, naive magic while incorporating realistic elements of life. Everything was very delicate??? It really makes you feel like a young kid when you read it (at least it did for me).

An odd little book. It has a very spritely art style that I enjoy, and a neat slice-of-life framing with a twist: the inclusion of a mystical beach that may or may not have mermaids off the shore. What outwardly may appear like a fantastical, fantasy story is actually a down to earth telling of a girl's life as she moves to a sleepy, beachside town.

An important thing to note is that if you're expecting anything more than a slice-of-life narrative, you're going to be disappointed. Similar to other slice-0f-life stories, it may at times seem a bit objectiveless, as it just kind of follows ... the protagonist, Tokiko, and her daily struggles. She's the new kid, she receives some bullying, she deals with new friends, dumb boys, liars, and other odd circumstances in her life. This is on top of her own awkward family situation, such as living with her single dad, because her mother ran off from the family without another word, yet also didn't actuate a divorce. Friendships bud and then falter, relationships sway and ebb, all like the ocean that dominates the town.

The reason I detail all that is to temper expectations. If you're here for fantasy weirdness and mermaids, that's not the focus here. It's a character driven narrative first, so if you don't like sixth graders being silly and living their life, you might be let down.

HOWEVER, let's address the mermaid in the room. Because that fantasy weirdness IS there, and it is built in this extremely slow-burn mystery. Our main character has a strange trauma at this particular town's beach, in their past. And there's someone, who she has seen in her past, maybe even in her dreams, that looks just like the odd, untalkative boy in her class. There's a man who lives by the beach who seems to more than he lets on, and why are all the adults so cagey around the kids, always beating around the bush? What is the weird festival that's approaching before summer break, and just what is behind that long, dark, scary tunnel? And why, just why, is the town so closely related to mermaids?

Fun, right? That mystery hook is just loads of fun, in this really childish, nostalgic way. Lots of little questions peppered around the narrative that make you really want to know the answers. But, being a story based around realism, with all these funky, fantastical elements, how much of this truly is a fantasy, and how much is truly a reality? That's the heart of these more mystical moments in the text, and because it's all intermingled with the slice-of-life moments, it's kind of like solving the mystery out of order.

The question becomes: is the mystery any good? And... eh, is the best answer I have for you. I feel like the ending wrapped up very suddenly, as if the author realized they were coming up to their deadline, and quickly tied all the plot threads together. And especially with a story that does feature some personal traumas for the characters, I feel like it kinda surfed by those serious moments, which were resolved quickly, not really allowing enough time to process and grieve what was just learned.

At the same time, you can tell the author really put their soul into this. It feels very intimate, and even though Tokiko isn't exactly a lively person - more introverted, simple, and kind in her demeanor - you really get attached to her life and want to see her do her best. And better than the resolutions is the build-up of the mystery. The times where the kids are exploring the fantasy-mystery elements is really fun, and not only feels like the Scooby Doo gang solving a mystery, but also leaves some endearing suspense and intrigue on exactly what is happening in this strange, little town.

Is this the best book ever? No, not by a long-shot. But I would be lying to say I wasn't intrigued the entire time, both to see our kids learn, live, and grow, and also learn more about strange mermaids and ancient town legends. It's all good stuff, and even though it was hastily resolved in the end, it WAS resolved, and it leaves you feeling calm and hopeful. Can one really ask more than to experience a nice story? Because that's what you'll find here: calm, quiet moments, lapping away like waves on a beach.