Cover of The Last Mermaid of the Mississippi by Emily Berge and Spencer Thielmann

Cover by Chantal Horeis · Download

The Last Mermaid of the Mississippi

Published by Aladdin, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
Available April 6, 2027

When her trailer park is threatened by developers, a determined girl will do anything to save it—even proving a real-life mermaid calls the nearby river home—in this unforgettable debut middle grade novel perfect for fans of Erin Entrada Kelly and Tae Keller.

Twelve-year-old Jocie Ballentine knows there is nowhere in the world better than home, and hers—the Great River Trailer Park on the bank of the Mississippi River—just happens to be the best. Not only is it where Zelda (her best friend) and Jasper (her biggest crush) live, it’s also right down the shore from a real-life mermaid: Stormi, the local gas station clerk. Most important, it’s where her mom will be able to find her (if her mom ever decides to come back home).

So when Jocie learns that the trailer park is being sold to developers and that she and her friends are going to be forced out, she’s devastated. And soon it feels like the things she always counted on are starting to unravel: Zelda is spending all her time with a new girl, and her Aunt Cate is making plans to move.

In a last-ditch effort, Jocie enlists Jasper’s help to find evidence that Stormi really is a mermaid. Because if Jocie can prove that, surely she’ll be able to show everyone at the Great River Trailer Park that their home is worth fighting for, right?

Illustration of Jocie floating in an inner tube with a snorkel mask
Jocie · Download
Illustration of Stormi the mermaid holding a soda
Stormi · Download