The Magic Fish PDF is a popular children's book written by Truong Tran. It tells the story of a young boy named Tien and his Vietnamese immigrant parents. Tien is struggling with his identity and communication with his parents, who have limited English skills. In an attempt to bridge the gap between them, Tien turns to the power of storytelling. He discovers a comic book featuring a magic fish that grants wishes. Tien starts to use the book to communicate with his parents, translating difficult concepts and emotions by using the colorful illustrations.
Important Bits:
Length: 256 pages
Published: October 13th 2020 by Random House Graphic
Content Warnings: Homophobia, on/off page murder, cannibalism, blood
Awards: None yet.
Also by: I believe this is his debut.
Or in a less colloquial, wordier way The Magic Fish is everything I want at the moment in a graphic novel, especially in one meant for both kids and adults to read. 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.
Tien starts to use the book to communicate with his parents, translating difficult concepts and emotions by using the colorful illustrations. The Magic Fish PDF explores themes of cultural assimilation, family dynamics, and the power of storytelling. It highlights the challenges faced by immigrant families and emphasizes the importance of communication and understanding.
The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen
Tiến knows that real life isn’t a fairy tale, but he still enjoys reading his favorite stories with his parents. However, he has a secret that he’s been keeping from his friends and family, a secret that might change everything, but it’s hard for him to find the words. It’s hard enough to communicate with your parents as a kid, but for Tiến, it’s even harder since they struggle with their English. Is there even a Vietnamese word for what he’s going through. Is there a way to tell them he’s gay?
This novel is amazing in that it’s a fairy tale retelling, a coming out story, a story about immigration, communication and love- all packed into one graphic novel. Tiến, at 13, has a crush on his best friend Julian, we see him battling his teachers’ homophobia and preparing for school dances. At home, we see his tender relationship with his mother and his parents escape from Vietnam. The illustrations do a great job of accentuating the different story arcs by use of color: the present in read, the past in yellow, and the fairy tales in blue.
However, the stories and the colors blend together sometimes, there may be a single blue panel in a field of red to show how the protagonist thinks about something. However, the art style doesn’t change between the different panels, which I think is to show how magical our lives can be and show the parallels between reality and fairy tales. Fairy tales despite being fantastical usually underlined some aspect of the human condition.
Tiến is obviously the main protagonist, but his mother also gets a POV. It examines her life and struggles with immigrating from Vietnam. She escaped her own country to find safety in a far off land. She battles with feeling like a bad daughter for abandoning her mother in Vietnam and having to struggle for years to get her citizenship and not feeling like she fully belongs in America. She left everything she knew and loved for the hope of a better life. She did all this for her future and love, which is what this story about at its heart. Everything in this graphic novel revolves around the actions that someone else takes because they love someone else. And it isn’t necessarily romantic love, friendship is just as strong of a force. This shows a wide variety of love languages from grand gestures and words, down to just small everyday actions to make someone’s life just a little easier.
It’s beautiful and I loved how the stories were woven together. The illustrations were phenomenal, my favorites coming out of the fairy tale sections, based on all of the blue in the middle of this review. My only complaint is that it felt like it ended a little abruptly and I could have used a little bit more for closure, but we don’t always get closure.
I would recommend this for fans of graphic novels, fairy tales, and people looking for Vietnamese representation. However, be aware that as with other fairy tales, there is a bit of darkness such as death and cannibalism. There is also a bit of homophobia from Tiến’s teachers. I think he goes to a Catholic school from the look of it. There is so much going on in this graphic novel that there is something for everyone and there is such a magic to it that it will connect readers no matter their language or age.
Have you read The Magic Fish? What did you think? What was your favorite fairy tale? Do you have another graphic novel that you would recommend? Let me know in the comments below!
Important Bits:
Length: 256 pages
Published: October 13th 2020 by Random House Graphic
Content Warnings: Homophobia, on/off page murder, cannibalism, blood
Awards: None yet.
Also by: I believe this is his debut.
While panels in red follow Tiên’s story, panels in black, white, and indigo follow the fairy tales that Tiên reads. All concern mermaids or magic fish, and all concern girls magically tied to the sea who make their way, and fall in love, on land. One is “Cinderella,” another “The Little Mermaid,” and another still has debts to “The Juniper Tree.” The first and longest concerns a girl in a Shakespearean boy-disguise and the boy who wins her love. All involve children and grandmothers, aunts, magic helpers, and older antagonists; all speak to the ocean, and to the generation, that separates immigrants both from their culture of birth and from their more Americanized children. They also evoke the spells, the determination, and the compassion that come with the right kinds of love.
Truong Tran's writing style is engaging and accessible, appealing to both children and adults. The story is beautifully illustrated, making it visually appealing and captivating for young readers. It encourages imagination and creativity, as Tien uses the magic fish to express his thoughts and desires. Overall, The Magic Fish PDF is a heartwarming and thought-provoking book that celebrates the power of storytelling and the importance of family bonds. It has received widespread acclaim and is a valuable resource for children and families alike..
Reviews for "The Magix Fish: A PDF Guide to Enhancing your Life through its Magic"
1. Emma - 1 out of 5 stars
I found "The Magic Fish PDF" to be incredibly boring and unoriginal. The plot was predictable and lacking any depth or complexity. The characters were one-dimensional and I struggled to connect with them or care about their journey. Additionally, the writing style was dry and uninspired, making it difficult to stay engaged with the story. Overall, I was highly disappointed and would not recommend this book to others.
2. James - 2 out of 5 stars
"The Magic Fish PDF" had an interesting concept, but it was poorly executed. The pacing was incredibly slow, and it took too long for anything of substance to happen. The dialogue felt stilted and unnatural, making it difficult to believe or invest in the characters' interactions. Furthermore, the world-building was superficial at best, leaving many unanswered questions and a lack of clarity. While the premise had potential, the execution fell flat, resulting in a disappointment.
3. Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars
I was excited to read "The Magic Fish PDF" based on the positive reviews, but unfortunately, it did not live up to the hype. The storytelling felt disjointed, with unnecessary flashbacks and confusing transitions between different plotlines. The characters lacked depth and development, making it difficult to feel invested in their journey. The ending was also unsatisfying, leaving loose ends and unresolved conflicts. Overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and not worth the time invested.
4. Michael - 3 out of 5 stars
"The Magic Fish PDF" had an interesting concept, but the execution fell short for me. While the writing was decent, the pacing was uneven, resulting in moments of boredom and confusion. The characters were somewhat relatable, but their actions often felt forced or unrealistic. Additionally, some plot points were never fully explored or resolved, leaving me with a sense of dissatisfaction. While this book had its moments, it ultimately left me wanting more.
5. Laura - 2 out of 5 stars
I had high hopes for "The Magic Fish PDF," but unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. The plot was unoriginal and lacked originality, following a formulaic structure that was easy to predict. The writing style was also lackluster, lacking the creativity and flair that I look for in a book. The characters were forgettable and failed to leave a lasting impression. Overall, this book was forgettable and not worth the investment of time.