Aurora's Light - Jane Croneld

Thirteen-year-old Aurora has dreamed of becoming a mermaid for as long as she can remember. Now the princess of the Solar Empire has a place at the legendary Mermaid Academy-and a secret that could cost her everything.

She has never grown a tail.

Surrounded by gifted students and her famous mother's legacy, Aurora is determined to belong. With outspoken Rose and a quiet girl named Sound at her side, she faces strange lessons, tangled friendships, and mysteries no school rule could prepare her for.

But someone at the Academy is hiding something far more dangerous. As the Dark Waters stir, Aurora must decide how much longer she can protect her secret-and what she is willing to risk for her friends.