The Deep is the powerful and emotional story of Yetu, the historian of the Wajinru people. The Wajinru are a mermaid-like people living deep in the sea, the descendants of pregnant African slaves who were thrown overboard from slave ships. Their babies could breathe underwater and were raised by whales. The story is set hundreds of years after the time of slavery. The Wajinru appoint one historian to hold and experience all the history and memories of their people, so that they do not have to live burdened by these memories. This person is Yetu. The trauma of experiencing centuries of memories, both wonderful and traumatic, is destroying Yetu emotionally and physically. In a ceremony, she gives the memories to her people and escapes to find herself near land. She experiences autonomy and freedom from the memories for the first time in many years. She meets humans who live near the water and has a relationship with one of them. She must eventually return to the Wajinru and her people must find a new way to keep their memories. This book is beautifully written and haunting. The world building is imaginative and skillfully done. Highly recommended.