This is what middle-grade graphic novels should be: beautiful, funny, emotionally intelligent, and willing to tackle real stuff like grief and environmental ethics without becoming a lecture.
Santat's visual storytelling makes the absurd premise (sea creatures in a diving suit!) work while grounding it in Sophia's very real loss. The book doesn't shy away from sadness but balances it with genuine adventure and humor. The marine conservation angle feels organic rather than forced—kids naturally question whether keeping animals in tanks is okay when they see it through Sophia's and the aquanaut crew's eyes.
At 4.7 stars on Amazon and praise from multiple review sources, this hits the mark for kids who want something more substantial than pure fluff but aren't ready for YA heaviness. It's readable in an afternoon but sticks around longer.






