The Magic Fish Book is a children's book that was written by Trung Le Nguyen. It was published in 2020 and quickly gained popularity for its beautiful illustrations and heartfelt story. The book tells the story of a young boy named Tiến who is struggling with both his Vietnamese heritage and his identity as a gay person. Tiến's parents are from Vietnam and they struggle to communicate with him due to the language barrier. Tiến wants to come out to them as gay, but he fears that they will not understand. In order to cope with his feelings, Tiến escapes into the world of fairy tales and uses a magic fish to communicate with his parents.
About the Author
In this imaginative graphic novel, thirteen-year-old Vietnamese American boy Tin and his Vietnamese-refugee seamstress mother, Hin, have always loved stories, with the two often reading library books aloud while enjoying time together. The magic happens here on every page , the perfection personified by debut author artist Nguyen s autobiographical homage to the infinite power of storytelling.
In order to cope with his feelings, Tiến escapes into the world of fairy tales and uses a magic fish to communicate with his parents. Through these stories, Tiến is able to express his true self and find acceptance from his parents. The Magic Fish Book is not only a heartwarming story about family and love, but it also explores the themes of identity, language, and the power of storytelling.
The Magic Fish - by Trung Le Nguyen (Paperback)
"It's hard enough trying to communicate with your parents as a kid, but for Tiâãen, 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?"--
Book Synopsis
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR by New York Public Library - Kirkus Reviews - Booklist - Publishers Weekly
In this gorgeous debut graphic novel, fairy tales are the only way one boy can communicate with his Vietnamese immigrant parents. But how will he find the words to tell them that he's gay? A powerful read about family, identity and the enduring magic of stories.
"One of the most astounding graphic novels of the year" -Entertainment Weekly
Tien and his mother may come from different cultures--she's an immigrant from Vietnam still struggling with English; he's been raised in America--but through the fairy tales he checks out from the local library, those differences are erased.
But as much as Tien's mother's English continues to improve as he reads her tales of love, loss, and travel across distant shores, there's one conversation that still eludes him--how to come out to her and his father. Is there even a way to explain what he's going through in Vietnamese? And without a way to reveal his hidden self, how will his parents ever accept him?
This beautifully illustrated graphic novel speaks to the complexity of family and how stories can bring us together even when we don't know the words.
"A lyrical masterpiece." -BuzzFeed
Review Quotes
A Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 2020 Blue Ribbon Selection
"[A] gorgeously drawn. story of a first-generation Vietnamese American who is struggling with coming out to his parents." --Forbes
"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
About the Author
Trung Le Nguyen, also known as Trungles, is a comic book artist and illustrator working out of Minnesota. He received his BA from Hamline University in 2012, majoring in Studio Art with a concentration in oil painting and minoring in Art History. He has contributed work for Oni Press, BOOM! Studios, Limerence Press, and Image Comics. He is particularly fond of fairy tales, kids' cartoons, and rom-coms of all stripes. The Magic Fish is his debut graphic novel.
Jerry Dear, information strategist at the San Francisco Public Library, also teaches in the Library Information Technology program at City College of San Francisco. He contributes to the blogs for APALA, Hyphen Magazine, and No Flying No Tights.
The illustrations in the book are incredibly detailed and vivid, bringing the story to life. Overall, The Magic Fish Book is a must-read for children and adults alike, as it teaches important lessons about acceptance and the power of communication..
Reviews for "The Mythical Beings Within the Pages of the Magical Fish Book"
1. John - 2/5 stars - The Magic Fish book was a disappointment for me. The story lacked depth and the characters felt one-dimensional. The plot was predictable and I found myself losing interest halfway through. Additionally, the writing style was not engaging and I struggled to connect with the story. Overall, I would not recommend this book to others.
2. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for The Magic Fish book, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The pacing was slow and I found myself struggling to stay engaged. The characters were not well-developed and I couldn't connect with any of them. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it hard to believe in the story. I was ultimately left feeling unsatisfied and disappointed with this book.
3. Emily - 1/5 stars - I really wanted to like The Magic Fish book, but it just wasn't for me. The writing style was overly descriptive and dragged the story down. The plot felt disjointed and I couldn't follow the timeline properly. The characters lacked depth and their motivations were unclear. I found myself skimming through pages just to get to the end. Overall, I would not recommend this book to others.