Combining Germany's north eastern coast with an art style that those with surface-knowledge of visual storytelling would call "manga" is something that is tried time and time again, but always seems to miss a mark.

My critique of this book lies not in the art style (which I loved - especially seeing as how the protagonist is very young, you could almost imagine her doodling the dream sequences in her journal), but in the story itself. Multiple conflict were introduced, from Heidi's crush on an old fisherman, to her difficult family life (both financially and relationship-wise) to her crumbling friend group. Sadly we don't get a lot of detail on any of these storylines, such as how Heidi came to fall for the captain (is he just a stand in for her yearning for the high seas) or why her parents are so standoffish towards her. A few flashbacks or flash forwards could have provided necessary context or resolution, or just a bit more tweenaged melodrama.