Common Sense Media Review
By Florencia Orlandoni
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Mesmerizing ocean tale of a spirit girl and living boy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In GRACIELA IN THE ABYSS, a young sea spirit named Graciela is navigating the afterlife while struggling with finding her own light. She fears being alone and clings to her spirit guide, Amina, who reminds her of her long-lost sister. Meanwhile on the surface, Jorge, a boy from a struggling fishing village, faces an oppressive home life that stifles his creativity and challenges his kindness. When a dangerous weapon with ties to Jorge's ancestors re-emerges to threaten sea spirits and the magic of the ocean, Graciela and Jorge must learn to trust each other in order to work together stop the threat. They must dig deep to find their courage, trust, and empathy along the way.
Is It Any Good?
This thought-provoking and imaginative tale plunges readers into an ocean abyss and the depths of the human heart. In Graciela in the Abyss the mystical and the mundane are inseparably linked: the threats against the ocean mirror the wounds of the human spirit. The book includes rich world-building and some historical references that add depth and awe-inspiring wonder to the fantasy setting. The sea-spirit world and the secret magic of the ocean merge with the ordinary struggles of human life—working to survive, sacrificing ideals in order to belong, and reckoning with the destruction of nature. Through Graciela's journey, the novel captures the wonder of myth while never shying away from the costs of greed, conformity, and environmental loss. Simultaneously mystical and human, it invites readers to reflect on the magic that is worth protecting—within us, and in the natural world.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the the abyss in Graciela in the Abyss. The story challenges the idea that humans know and have discovered everything. Are there species or worlds in the abyss of the ocean that we have yet to find?
Do you think there is a magic in nature that we cannot fully understand? Talk about what you think or imagine.
Do people have their own personal abyss—parts of who we are that remain undiscovered or full of wonder and truth?
Which character strengths—like Graciela's growing empathy or Jorge's courage—do you notice in the story? How do these qualities help the characters face challenges and protect the ocean and the spirits it contains?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Anna and Elena Balbusso
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Adventures , Animals ( Ocean Creatures ) , Fantasy ( Ghosts ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Candlewick
- Publication date : July 1, 2025
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 14
- Number of pages : 256
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 25, 2025
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