On a small island off the coast of South Carolina, a hardworking girl named Sukey lives a miserable life under the strict rules of her cruel step-pa, a man she secretly calls Mister Hard-Times. Every day from dawn to dusk, he forces her to weed the garden while he lazily watches and yells. Desperate for a moment of peace, Sukey sneaks away to her secret hiding place by the rolling ocean. As she sings a sorrowful song to the waves, she unwittingly calls forth Mama Jo, a breathtakingly beautiful mermaid with dark skin and shimmering scales. Hearing Sukey's cries for help, Mama Jo offers her a miraculous escape: a magical, peaceful kingdom hidden deep beneath the sea, far away from pain and grueling labor. But as Sukey experiences this silent, timeless world without other people, she must make a difficult choice about where she truly belongs. Woven from African American folklore, this beautifully illustrated tale is a dreamlike journey of resilience, magic, and discovering the strength to face the world above.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
40 Pages
