Reviews

Magic fish. Le storie del pesce magico by Trung Le Nguyen

dogoodwithbooks's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

In a semi-autobiographical take on his coming out experience to his family and friends, Trung Le Nguyen transports readers to the heart of connection through the love of stories in spite of hate and fear. 

Not only is this just a graphic novel with pretty illustrations, Trung Le Nguyen has readers sucked into the heart of the story: whether that would be Tiến in the present trying to figure out how he can come out to his family or Tien’s mom reflecting on the sacrifices she’s made to become a U.S. citizen or the various fairytales Tiến reads to his mother. 

Full of heart despite the darker topics addressed in the book, readers will absolutely love the underlying message that happy endings are for everyone. If you’re looking for a graphic novel with coming out themes amidst examinations of fairytales throughout the world, you will definitely want to read The Magic Fish.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Homophobia, and Death

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Blood, Gore, and Outing

Minor: War and Cannibalism

siren_oleander3's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

lostxxboy's review against another edition

5.0

I thoroughly enjoyed this graphic novel. I loved the fairytale retellings it had from a different cultural perspective, and I loved the characters that were reading these stories.

The ending made me cry.

Read this.

bbqxaxiu's review against another edition

4.0

The relationship between the mother and son teaches us that while communicating in broken tongues is limited and results in an opaque understanding of one another, this is less a symptom of your effort than it is of the vast divide that must be traversed. And that ultimately, there is hope, as your intention will travel where words cannot.


Go read this! The Magic Fish is one of my favorite works from the Vietnamese diaspora, and I recommend it to anyone

akhcreates's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

sophia_readrebelliously's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

yoliesbookdates's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

the_bookish_escape's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

slimygf's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted sad fast-paced

5.0

rubarb05's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0