Part of My World: What I’ve Learned from the Little Mermaid About Love, Faith, and Finding My Voice

Actor Benson debuts with an enchanting memoir focused on her Christian faith and starring role as Ariel in Disney’s The Little Mermaid. The author recounts how she grew up in a musical family and fell in love with musical theater in high school, later earning a scholarship to Millikin University despite having auditioned while suffering from chicken pox. She also describes falling in love with her husband after acting with him in a show at Nashville’s Opryland theme park, and explains how his recommitment to Christianity inspired her to deepen her own relationship with God. Benson doesn’t shy from the darker moments of her life, including the rocky early days of her marriage, her miscarriages, and the death of her friend Howard Ashman, the lyricist for The Little Mermaid. Benson recounts her life with an irresistible wide-eyed wonder, and fans of The Little Mermaid will relish Benson’s insider perspective on the making of the film, including her difficulties nailing “Part of Your World” in the recording booth and how a distracted boy at a test screening almost led Disney execs to cut the number. Christian Disney fans will want to dive into this. (Sept.)

Correction: This review has been updated to correct the college the author went to.