Fish

by L.S. Matthews Narrated by J. Lamia

Overview

A compelling novel that touches upon the hardships that refugees face and their resilience in the most dire of situations, “celebrat[ing] the human spirit and inherent kindness” (School Library Journal).
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*** My story starts the day that my parents told me we must leave our adopted home forever. Because of the soldiers and the drought we barely had enough to eat and we could no longer stay to help the people in our village.
** The journey would be hard-to cross the mountains and get to the safety of the border and the people there who could help us. But right before we were leaving, I saw a fish in a small brown puddle and I knew I had to take it with me. Yet when I put the fish in the pot, I never realized what we would have to face. It never occurred to me to leave Fish behind.
*** A subtle and sophisticated exploration of life, the strength of humanity, and survival in an unforgiving world, Fish is a story that will teach those who doubt that, when hope is almost extinguished, miracles can happen.

ALA Notable Children's Book Choice
Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
Winner of the Fidler Award

[STAR] “Matthews allows just enough detail-and heart-to make miracles feel possible.”-Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
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“An amazing book.”-The Washington Post
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“Exciting and filled with crises and adventure... it is a story that celebrates the human spirit and inherent kindness.”-School Library Journal
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“Matthews is a compelling new voice.”-VOYA

Editorial Reviews

Kirkus Reviews

In an unnamed time and place a war has reduced the population to starvation levels. Now they must flee the soldiers from both sides. Led by a wise guide, husband-and-wife aid workers and their young child, Tiger, are the last to leave, heading for a nation whose borders have been closed to refugees. Tiger rescues a fish from a fast-drying mud hole and carries it throughout the harrowing journey. An introduction states that a powerful story can help young readers connect with harsh realities that seem removed from their daily lives. However, in an effort to achieve universality, the possibility of a real connection is diminished. The characters have no names or nationalities. It is unclear whether Tiger is male or female. The adults treat each setback with calm acceptance, perhaps to spare Tiger. But the lack of strong emotion serves to lessen the intensity. Everyone survives even the most dangerous and violent event without explanation. There are allusions to mysticism and allegory as well via the Guide and the fish. It's all probably way over the heads of its intended readers. Well intentioned, but flawed. (Fiction. 12+)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169262490
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	06/08/2004
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	10 - 13 Years

Read an Excerpt

"We are a funny family—we didn't come from the country we were living in now. Mum and Dad had brought me with them when I was little. They had come to this country to help the people, who were having a hard time.
And they were having a hard time, I can tell you.

First it was boiling hot, but not like summers in our home country. This hot was dusty hot, with no green growing anywhere.

The people Mum and Dad taught, and sometimes helped with medicine, ran out of water and food. We were luckier, because our country was still looking after us with some food and bottled water.

I sneaked bits to share with my friends in the village. Most of these kids didn't have parents anymore because they'd been killed in the fighting. They'd come to our village because it was safe here. It probably sounds bad to you, and now I'm older, I understand better, but the fact is that all that seemed normal to me at the time and I didn't think much about it, because that was how I grew up."

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