CDO:
This graphic novel is a perfect example of the mastery of simplicity. The artist takes the familiar threads of the immigrant story, fairy tales, and stories as the means of human connection, and spin them together into a masterpiece that tugs at the heartstrings and addresses difficult topics in a way that still remains accessible to middle-grade readers.
The main cast of characters are all very likable and the artist is able to make the fairy tales his own by fleshing out the archetypes and peopling the stories with characters of his own invention which freshens up the familiar tales. Nothing is overdone. The balance between the story within the story, and the narratives of our main characters is deftly maintained, and the parallels between the two narratives becomes a way to create mood and invoke allusions in the main story while maintaining the strict realism of the setting.
The script is not particularly complex or heavy to avoid overwhelming the small panels, but every single panel adds to our depth of understanding. For instance, the Dad and the friends only show up for 10 or 15 pages each, but the reader can very quickly grasp their...
United States on Oct 09, 2023
Theodore G. OsiusTheodore G. Osius:
Luxurious colored graphics illuminate the interwoven stories. In the past is the story of Hien and Vinh falling in love and fleeing from Vietnam in a boat, revealed in brown and tan hues. Three rich and surprising fables unfold in blue and purple. Peach and blood red emerge from these colors. The central story, set in 1998, is in soft red and pink, the story of “a boy and his mother figuring out how to express love without the benefit of an appropriate vernacular.”
Thirteen-year-old Tien and his family live in the USA. Because his parents are recent immigrants, there are different languages within one family. Tien has a secret crush on handsome, athletic Julian. His hard-working parents Hien and Vinh don’t easily talk about feelings. With his mom grieving the loss of her own mother, Tien doesn’t want to ask for what he needs.
Tien’s coming out story follows the first two fairy tales. Father Niles engages in “faith counseling” and at first discourages Tien from speaking the truth to his parents. With different languages, it’s sometimes hard to communicate. Hien changes the ending of the third fairy tale to show her son she...
United States on Oct 03, 2023
James R. Gilligan:
With illustrations that are simple yet astonishingly beautiful and dialogue that is authentic yet fabulous (in both senses of the word), Nguyen weaves a complex tale of intertwined stories that portray the challenges of escaping “normed” narratives of coming out and immigration.
Tiển, a young adolescent, struggles to find the words to come out to his mother, an immigrant from Việt Nam. She, meanwhile, struggles to make peace with her new identity even as she is faced with sad news that forces her to return to the land of her birth. As they attempt to communicate, Tiển and his mother read each other fairy tales, each of which also tells the story of a protagonist confronting identity issues.
The Magic Fish, a touching and deceptively sophisticated graphic novel, would be a wonderful way for younger readers to learn about what it means to be “different” and how to overcome marginalization.
United States on Oct 03, 2023
Ana G:
I loved this layered story that at its heart is a story about a mom and her son. I loved the characters and the fairy tales. The artwork was so pretty.
United States on Sep 17, 2023
Pat O'Donnell:
Great story, and the cover wasn’t damaged
United Kingdom on Mar 05, 2023
Citlalli Martinez|:
I'm only giving this restrict to the illustration and design of the book. It is so beautiful, the style, the colours, etc. So worth it to have it printed
Mexico on Oct 27, 2022
InaMM:
A great combination of fairytales and real life. I enjoyed the different colour schemes for the different elements of the story. A beautiful book.
Germany on Jul 22, 2022
ZoeeeeeZoeeeee:
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This book was such a treat to read! I loved learning about the fairy tales, and how they correlated with what was going on in the book as well. Not to mention, it came in mint condition- no creases, rips, anything.
The artwork is a big seller to me, it’s fantastic. The colour schemes used throughout are such a treat for the eyes, and are never grating to look at.
Overall, the gay representation in the book was good too. It intertwined with the mother’s immigrant struggles, and I thought that it was nice that we got to see how the mother-son duo both struggled with their identities.
I did like the sentiment, and the representation, but I thought it would’ve been nice if we got to see a bit more of Tièn’s story after coming out. I still thought the ending was sweet, but I would’ve liked to see Tièn’s mother take time to come to terms...
Canada on May 11, 2021
Octavio Cariello:
uma narrativa precisa e uma mensagem necessária.
Brazil on Jan 03, 2021
| Trung Le Nguyen's Graphic Novel "The Magic Fish" | Heaven Officials Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu Volume 1 (Novel) | Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Mo Dao Zu Shi Novel Volume 1 | |
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| B2B Rating |
97
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98
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98
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| Sale off | $6 OFF | $2 OFF | $7 OFF |
| Total Reviews | 64 reviews | 221 reviews | 216 reviews |
| Paperback | 256 pages | 432 pages | 396 pages |
| Dimensions | 5.75 x 0.78 x 8.19 inches | 5.9 x 0.9 x 8.3 inches | 5.92 x 0.93 x 8.22 inches |
| Reading age | 12 - 17 years | ||
| ISBN-13 | 978-1984851598 | 978-1648279171 | 978-1648279195 |
| Grade level | 7 - 9 | ||
| Fantasy Manga (Books) | Fantasy Manga | ||
| Item Weight | 2.31 pounds | 13 ounces | 2.31 pounds |
| ISBN-10 | 1984851594 | 1648279171 | 1648279198 |
| Lexile measure | HL400L | ||
| Children's Books on LGBTQ+ Families | Children's Books on LGBTQ+ Families | ||
| Language | English | English | English |
| Best Sellers Rank | #6 in Children's Books on LGBTQ+ Families #10 in Young Adult Coming of Age Comics & Graphic Novels #542 in Fantasy Manga | #13 in Asian Myth & Legend #114 in LGBTQ+ Romance #262 in Romantic Fantasy | #50 in Asian Myth & Legend #383 in LGBTQ+ Romance #558 in Romantic Fantasy |
| Customer Reviews | 4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,016 ratings var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when.execute { if { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative { if { ue.count || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when.execute { A.declarative{ if { ue.count || 0) + 1); } }); }); | 4.9 out of 5 stars 7,760 var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when.execute { if { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative { if { ue.count || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when.execute { A.declarative{ if { ue.count || 0) + 1); } }); }); | 4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 6,501 ratings var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when.execute { if { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative { if { ue.count || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when.execute { A.declarative{ if { ue.count || 0) + 1); } }); }); |
| Young Adult Coming of Age Comics & Graphic Novels | Young Adult Coming of Age Comics & Graphic Novels | ||
| Publisher | Random House Graphic; Illustrated edition | Seven Seas | Seven Seas |
United States on Feb 06, 2024