A Song Below Water

Name: A Song Below Water
Brand: Macmillan Publishers New Zealand Ltd
SKU: 9781250315335
Price: 22.99 NZD
Availability: InStock

A Novel

By Bethany C. Morrow

0.0 (0 reviews)

3.72

( 12,077 ratings, 2,872 reviews)

Summary

Tavia is a siren hiding her identity in a society fearful of magical beings, navigating life in Portland, Oregon, a city with few Black residents and even fewer with supernatural powers. Alongside her best friend Effie, she faces high school challenges, family secrets, and the fallout from a siren murder trial that shakes the nation. When Tavia's secret voice is exposed during a police stop and Effie confronts her own demons, Portland becomes a place where no secret is safe.
Read More

Format: Paperback / softback

$22⁹⁹

AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

A Song Below Water

$22⁹⁹

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This compelling blend of fantasy and contemporary social themes is especially suited for young adults and readers interested in nuanced stories about identity, friendship, and social justice.

PAGE2SCREEN 13 Oct 2026

TV Show Review on: Carrie

Liam's Review Carrie 26’Carrie has been on my radar for a while now, probably my...

FANTASY 13 Oct 2026

The Struggle of Working Somewhere That Sells Beautiful Books

The problem is…I work in the cutest little (I said what I said) bookshop and...

FICTION 13 Oct 2026

New Releases to add to your TBR this week (12th October)

There's new dark romance from one of our favourites, the brand new US edition of...

CHILDREN'S CORNER 12 Oct 2026

Recent Releases I Would Add to My Classroom Library

Lizzy is rounding up a bunch of the recent children's releases that she thinks would...

AUTHOR SIGNING 12 Oct 2026

Anthony Byrt visits Book Hero

We were lucky enough to hear from author Anthony Byrt as he was going to...

Description

Tavia is already at odds with the world, forced to keep her siren identity under wraps in a society that wants to keep her kind under lock and key. Nevermind she's also stuck in Portland, Oregon, a city with only a handful of black folk and even fewer of those with magical powers. At least she has her bestie Effie by her side as they tackle high school drama, family secrets, and unrequited crushes.

But everything changes in the aftermath of a siren murder trial that rocks the nation; the girls' favourite Internet fashion icon reveals she's also a siren, and the news rips through their community. Tensions escalate when Effie starts being haunted by demons from her past, and Tavia accidentally lets out her magical voice during a police stop. No secret seems safe anymore—soon Portland won't be either.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Booklist praises Bethany C. Morrow for expertly exploring race, bigotry, and injustice within an engaging fantasy context, calling A Song Below Water a must-read. Dhonielle Clayton describes it as a "watery and melodic crossroads" blending real and mythic worlds with searing social commentary. Daniel José Older hails it as a modern classic, balancing happiness and sadness through riveting storytelling and celebrating Black girl magic.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781250315335

Publisher: St Martin's Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 June 2021

Country: United States

Imprint: St Martin's Press

Audience: Teenage

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 25.0mm

Width: 139.0mm

Height: 211.0mm

Weight: 269g

Pages: 304

Collections

Bethany C. Morrow Children's Books Children's Fiction Children’s, Teenage and Educational Young Adult

About the Author

A California native, BETHANY C. MORROW has lived in Montreal, Quebec for several years before settling in northcountry New York. She graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a BA in Sociology, and studied Clinical Psychological Research at the University of Wales, Bangor before focusing on her writing. She is also the editor of the forthcoming young adult anthology Take the Mic (Arthur A. Levine Books). bethanycmorrow.com Twitter: @BCMorrow

Also by Bethany C. Morrow

View all

The Body

Mavis broke from her parents' congregation years ago, but she still hasn't recovered. Their impossible expectations and soul-shredding critiques have dug deep into her mind, and she's taunted by the knowledge that even when she's done nothing wrong, she'll never be right. Now Mavis is afraid she's about to lose the only thing she has: her husband, Jerrod. The man...

By Bethany C. Morrow

Hardback

$70⁰⁰

Available
Ships in 2-3 weeks
A Song Below Water

Tavia is already at odds with the world, forced to keep her siren identity under wraps in a society that wants to keep her kind under lock and key. Nevermind she's also stuck in Portland, Oregon, a city with only a handful of black folk and even fewer of those with magical powers. At least she has her bestie Effie...

By Bethany C. Morrow

Hardback

$34⁹⁹

Available
Ships in 4-6 weeks
So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix

Four young Black sisters come of age during the American Civil War in So Many Beginnings, a warm and powerful YA remix of the classic novel Little Women, by national bestselling author Bethany C. Morrow. North Carolina, 1863. As the American Civil War rages on, the Freedpeople's Colony of Roanoke Island is blossoming, a haven for the recently emancipated. Black...

By Bethany C. Morrow

Paperback

$24⁹⁹

Available
Ships in 4-6 weeks

More from Children's Books

View all

New Release

Gruffalo Granny

The brand new Gruffalo picture book from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. The Gruffalo said to his daughter one day, "Your Gruffalo Granny is coming to stay." Return to the deep dark wood with the first new Gruffalo story in over 20 years, and meet Gruffalo Granny as she visits the Gruffalo family. This fresh and exciting new Gruffalo adventure...

By Julia Donaldson

Hardback

$24⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$30⁰⁰~~

(1)

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

Lottie Brooks’s Twelve Disasters of Christmas

From hilarious MEGA bestselling author, Katie Kirby, comes a new story collection from the world of Lottie Brooks! But this time... it's not about Lottie! From hilarious MEGA bestselling author, Katie Kirby, comes a new story collection from the world of Lottie Brooks! And it's CHRISTMAS! In The Completely Chaotic Christmas of Lottie Brooks we spent the holiday season with...

By Katie Kirby

Paperback

$17⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$21⁰⁰~~

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

Wahine

From a majestic mermaid to a clay woman, the creator of glaciers to the mother of gardening, discover powerful wahine and how their stories shaped the world around us. Wahine introduces readers to twelve purakau of brave, bold, and inspiring women of Aotearoa. A beautifully illustrated collection that will delight the whole whanau, from award-winning illustrator Isobel Joy Te Aho-White....

By Isobel Joy Te Aho-White

Hardback

$31⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$39⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

The Sweet As Looky Book

Can you find all the chocolate fish? Is it possible for kiwi to fly? Can you spot the difference? See Aotearoa New Zealand through the eyes of award-winning artist Donovan Bixley in The Sweet As Looky Book. Use your finest skills to seek out pirates in the Bay of Islands and birds in Rakiura Stewart Island. Get in a car...

By Donovan Bixley

Hardback

$22⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$27⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

The Day of the Dinosaur Disaster

Angry anacondas, blizzarding blobs, carnivorous cactuses ... what kind of twisted curse will Glam-Evil think up this time?!Only it's not just Glam-Evil's curse the gang needs to worry about; they've got a few other problems, too. Swooping Pteranodons, a hungry T-Rex, a missing mother, and ... is that ... an ASTEROID?!Join MILES AND JONES as they face their biggest challenge...

By Sam Smith

Paperback

$14⁰⁰
Elsewhere:
~~$14⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

The Neverfear

A world of richly-imagined wonder Cressida Cowell It’s the Midsummer Feast on the Islet of Glimt and on this magical moonlit evening, the word on everyone’s lips is bandits. Reports of masked men burning villages are spreading throughout the Archipelago, but worse is still to come: Christopher and Anya are ambushed and one of the people they love most is...

By Katherine Rundell

Paperback

$19⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$22⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

Mari the Unwonderful Witch

A charming, cosy and thought-provoking tale about a wonderfully unconventional little witch, by bestselling author of BUTTER, Asako Yuzuki. Perfect for fans of WICKED, KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE, and THE HATMAKERS series by Tamzin Merchant - and anyone who likes an enchanting adventure with just a hint of mischief. Mari the Unwonderful Witch introduces us to Mari, an eleven-year-old witch who...

By Asako Yuzuki

Paperback

$19⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$24⁰⁰~~

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

Animalia 40th Anniversary Edition

A beautiful, foiled collector's edition to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Graeme Base's classic and bestselling Australian picture book, Animalia. Embark on a fantastical alphabetic adventure where each turn of the page unveils a rich tapestry of intricate illustrations tied to a unique letter of the alphabet. More than 5 million copies sold worldwide Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA)...

By Graeme Base

Hardback

$29⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$35⁰⁰~~

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

The Comeback Kid

Charlie Boy might be just an ordinary kid, but he's about to get into some EXTRA-ordinary trouble... Get ready for this funny, fast-paced, friendship adventure with lots of kick. Meet Charlie Boy: skinny, small, looks like a strand of spaghetti. He and his best friend, Rocky the Lower Hutt Chief, are good at getting into trouble together. But when Charlie...

By Airana Ngarewa

Paperback

$17⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$19⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

Millie from Milford

Based on the true story of Ruth Shaw and her husband Lance looking after a baby seal that had been shot between the eyes. Millie from Milford lives in Milford Sound, the number one tourist destination in Aotearoa New Zealand. After Millie was checked by a vet, she was taken to Ruth and Lance's home to be looked after until...

By Ruth Shaw

Paperback

$22⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$27⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

The Case of the Tall Stranger: Violet and the Velvets 4

But disaster strikes when guitarist Jack breaks his wrist and can no longer play. On top of that, all their hard work fundraising has fallen short! When help comes from unexpected channels, the Velvets make it to the Big Apple just in time to compete against the best kid bands in the whole world, including their new rivals the Blazer...

By Rachael King

Paperback

$16⁰⁰
Elsewhere:
~~$18⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships today
Pocket Observology

Pocket Observology is a practical field guide designed for those who love to explore and understand the natural world around them. Slip this guide out of your pocket to identify, measure, compare, or find clues to the things you encounter every day in nature. This pocket guide is a useful tool and a fun reminder of how to engage with...

By Giselle Clarkson

Paperback

$23⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$27⁹⁹~~

Available
Ships in 4-6 weeks

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.