The Magic Fish
by Trung Le Nguyen (Author)
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR by the New York Public Library - Kirkus Reviews - Booklist - Publishers Weekly
Tiến loves his family and his friends...but Tiến has a secret he's been keeping from them, and it might change everything. An amazing YA graphic novel that deals with the complexity of family and how stories can bring us together.
Real life isn't a fairytale.
But Tiến still enjoys reading his favorite stories with his parents from the books he borrows from the local library. It's hard enough trying to communicate with your parents as a kid, but for Tiến, he doesn't even have the right words because his parents are struggling with their English. Is there a Vietnamese word for what he's going through?
Is there a way to tell them he's gay?
A beautifully illustrated story by Trung Le Nguyen that follows a young boy as he tries to navigate life through fairytales, an instant classic that shows us how we are all connected. The Magic Fish tackles tough subjects in a way that accessible with readers of all ages, and teaches us that no matter what--we can all have our own happy endings.
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School Library Journal
Gr 7 Up--Le Nguyen folds five stories into his narrative. There's Tien, a young teen who's trying to figure out how to tell his parents he's gay while nursing a crush on one of his best friends. Meanwhile, his mother, Helen, struggles to help a sick parent back in Vietnam. Then there are three gorgeous fairy-tale adaptations from around the world, which Tien and his mother like to read together to learn English. The language gap between the two makes Tien wonder how his parents will react if he comes out, but their love for one another resonates throughout the story. Tien's best friends, Claire and Julian, are also an important support system for him. Though there are moments of stress and doubt, everything comes together, all wrapped up in Le Nguyen's sumptuous illustrations and intricate linework. The couture dresses worn by the characters in the fairy tales contrast with Helen's job as a seamstress and the patchwork coat she makes for Tien. Questions of happy endings and sacrifice--the bread and butter of fairy tales--are explored deftly. Notes from the author provide details on his own experience as the child of immigrants who spoke a hybrid language at home. He also includes in-depth information on the fashion and art, which will appeal to close readers of comics. VERDICT A lovely and original take on fairy tales, identity, and culture.--Gretchen Hardin, Bee Cave P.L., TX
Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
"A sparkling debut...about the child of Vietnamese immigrants who teaches through fairy tales — yet wrestles with how to come out to his family." —The Washington Post Infused with emotional depth and integrity, this coming-of-age story broadens the range of Vietnamese American creative voices in books for young people." —The Horn Book, Starred Review "Warm, loving family and friends are a refreshing alternative to immigrant stories that focus on family problems. Beautifully illustrates how sharing old stories can be the best way to learn how to share new ones." —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review "The magic happens here on every page, the perfection personified by debut author/artist Nguyen's autobiographical homage to the infinite power of storytelling." —Booklist, Starred Review "Nguyen's poignant debut captures the perspectives of, and essence of the bond between, a parent and child, proving that language—and love—can transcend words." —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review "How do you tell stories within stories within stories? Ask Trung Le Nguyen, who seamlessly blends family history, fairy tales, and a 1998 coming-out tale in this remarkable intergenerational graphic novel." —The Bulletin, Starred Review
Identity (Psychology)
Cartoons and comics
Comics (Graphic works)
Coming out (Sexual orientation)
