When I heard Karen Witemeyer was writing a fairytale retelling of Disney's The Little Mermaid, I was thrilled because of my connection to the film. When I was five years old, I got a VHS of The Little Mermaid (1989) for my birthday and promptly played it on repeat till I practically wore out the tape. Ariel's world of adventure and longing completely captured my imagination. (Be honest, aren't you still singing along to the unforgettable soundtrack?)
Fun fact: Jodi Benson who is the iconic voice of Ariel is from my hometown which only made my childhood obsession that much more magical.
Part of Your World is Karen's clever reimaging of this fairytale. It's evident that this story is close to the author's heart.
Fairytale retellings can be tricky to pull off. Lean too heavily on the original storyline and readers feel the story is too predictable. Karen manages to have enough nuanced Easter egg references to the Disney classic that are innovative and subtle.
Muriel Quinn feels far more at home beneath the waves than within the rigid expectations of society on land. As the youngest daughter, her father expects her to embrace the duties and decorum of respectable womanhood even if that life feels confining to her adventurous spirit.
Zane Erickson understands that same tension between expectation and passion. Despite coming from a wealthy and respected family, he chooses to pursue architecture instead of following the path laid out for him, creating friction between his ambitions and his family’s wishes.
Together, Muriel and Zane’s struggles reflect the heart of every great fairytale retelling: the desire to pursue the life that calls to you, even when the world expects something else entirely.
One of the strongest elements of the novel is its underlying message of redemption. The theme that God can redeem anyone is woven naturally throughout the story, giving the novel both emotional depth and spiritual encouragement without overwhelming the narrative.
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