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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
A hilarious yet thought-provoking story that will encourage students to think scientifically about cause and effect. Also, yay! for girls and science!
funny
lighthearted
I picked this one up as a quick read while at my job. I adored Jennifer Holm's blend of science and story in The Lion of Mars, so I had high hopes of a joyful read. Unfortunately, it fell short and I wouldn't recommend this to my students unless they were looking for something fairly quick.
Heck yes to girls in STEM, but the stereotypical mad scientist of Melvin was one dimensional. Same with the mom and the debate of arts versus sciences - I feel like students are at a point where both are encouraged (hello...STEAM?). Even her former best friend was flat. For a book rife with kid-friendly introductions to different scientists and ethical dilemmas, I would have expected more from the characters.
Anyway...read The Lion of Mars instead.
Heck yes to girls in STEM, but the stereotypical mad scientist of Melvin was one dimensional. Same with the mom and the debate of arts versus sciences - I feel like students are at a point where both are encouraged (hello...STEAM?). Even her former best friend was flat. For a book rife with kid-friendly introductions to different scientists and ethical dilemmas, I would have expected more from the characters.
Anyway...read The Lion of Mars instead.
Thought-provoking sci-fi for the upper-el and middle-school crowd. Super-fast read and great for discussions on life, what it means to grow old vs. grow up, does science have a responsibility, etc.
Loved the wit and humor of Ellie and Grandpa Melvin. Loved Grandpa Melvin's cranky observations about modern life, stuck in the body of a 13 year old boy. Loved the science--the renowned scientists, the normalization of what science is, the focus on attempting to discover what is possible. A sweet and funny accessible story with surprising depth. This is a 2017 Caudill nominee.
Loved, loved, loved this funny, heartfelt book about science, family, and the circle of life. Sixth-grader Ellie is the daughter of an actor and a theater director. She's a bit lost as she begins middle school and everyone else seems to have discovered their passion. Her life gets turned upside down when her grandfather, an eccentric and brilliant scientist who has been studying the process of aging, shows up on her doorstep in the body of a teenage boy. He's discovered a way to reverse aging.
While he and Ellie's mom fight over who's the grownup, he sparks a passion for science in Ellie, teaching her about the great scientist of the past and how they made their discoveries. But in doing so, he also teaches Ellie to think critically and make decisions for herself. I'm going to press this one into the hands of all the science-loving kids I know.
While he and Ellie's mom fight over who's the grownup, he sparks a passion for science in Ellie, teaching her about the great scientist of the past and how they made their discoveries. But in doing so, he also teaches Ellie to think critically and make decisions for herself. I'm going to press this one into the hands of all the science-loving kids I know.
A book that is superficially about science, but more concerned with the repercussions of an anti-aging experiment. The work of various scientists is lightly touched upon, but for the most part the story is about family dynamics and middle school angst. Very light and easy to read.
This was the first book I read with my fifth graders for our class book club. I couldn't put it down, and my students couldn't either! We had a lot of fun discussing this one. It's a great middle grade read that would be perfect for 3-6th graders.
This was the book I read instead of studying for midterms. :)This is a super cute story that motivates kids to explore and believe in what could be possible. As soon as I finished it, the rest of my family members lined up for it, kid and adults both!
Listened with the kids. Was perfect for their ages. Little bit of fantasy mixed with real-life science and curmudgeonly grandfather. Overall a really sweet book.
Originally posted here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
I am going to be honest, I'm not one of Jennifer Holm's biggest fans. Don't get me wrong, I book talk her books, put them on recommended reading lists, and buy them for my daughter (who is a huge a fan), but her writing style is not my particular cup of tea. I was really surprised then to find myself enjoying The Fourteenth Goldfish as much as I did.
The Fourteenth Goldfish is a story about life and how it is in constant flux. At the center of that story are Ellie and her grandfather, Melvin. Ellie has just started middle school, a time in one's life when it never becomes more clear that life is all about change. Her best friend has moved on to a different group. Everything is different and she is constantly having to adjust. Into all this change comes her grandfather in the form of a 13 year old boy. He wanted to find a way to roll back time. He succeeded beyond his wildest dreams. As Ellie is caught in the first truly great phase of change in her life when everything is new, her grandfather is caught in a desperate bid to stop time, life, and all that change.
The science and the sci-fi element is not nearly as important to the story as the relationship between Ellie and her grandfather. Through their shared time together as Melvin once more has to negotiate middle school, Ellie learns a lot about herself and science. She also discovers more about her grandparents and her mother by watching the interactions between Melvin and her mom. The Fourteenth Goldfish is truly a story about family, growth, identity, and life exactly like all of Holm's historical fiction is. But this time I think she does it all so much better. That may be because the one thing that drives me crazy about her other books is the juvenile actions and attitudes of all the adults. Here Melvin does sometimes act juvenile, but it is understandable given his situation. The other adults conduct themselves the way adults ordinarily do, making it easier for me to read. I think Melvin's true age plays into this some too as he is desperately trying to regain something that can not be regained. The moment Ellie realizes this is a beautiful one and the most poignant moment of the book. Holm did an excellent job with the themes in this book and bringing it all together.
I am sure this will be a huge hit among kids, even more so than her historical fiction as readers will be drawn to the intriguing concept and the weird thought of being the same age as your grandparent. My daughter read my ARC and loved it, reading off lines every other page and giggling non-stop.
I read an e-galley provided by the publisher, Random House Books for Young Readers, via NetGalley. The Fourteenth Goldfish goes is available August 26th.
I am going to be honest, I'm not one of Jennifer Holm's biggest fans. Don't get me wrong, I book talk her books, put them on recommended reading lists, and buy them for my daughter (who is a huge a fan), but her writing style is not my particular cup of tea. I was really surprised then to find myself enjoying The Fourteenth Goldfish as much as I did.
The Fourteenth Goldfish is a story about life and how it is in constant flux. At the center of that story are Ellie and her grandfather, Melvin. Ellie has just started middle school, a time in one's life when it never becomes more clear that life is all about change. Her best friend has moved on to a different group. Everything is different and she is constantly having to adjust. Into all this change comes her grandfather in the form of a 13 year old boy. He wanted to find a way to roll back time. He succeeded beyond his wildest dreams. As Ellie is caught in the first truly great phase of change in her life when everything is new, her grandfather is caught in a desperate bid to stop time, life, and all that change.
The science and the sci-fi element is not nearly as important to the story as the relationship between Ellie and her grandfather. Through their shared time together as Melvin once more has to negotiate middle school, Ellie learns a lot about herself and science. She also discovers more about her grandparents and her mother by watching the interactions between Melvin and her mom. The Fourteenth Goldfish is truly a story about family, growth, identity, and life exactly like all of Holm's historical fiction is. But this time I think she does it all so much better. That may be because the one thing that drives me crazy about her other books is the juvenile actions and attitudes of all the adults. Here Melvin does sometimes act juvenile, but it is understandable given his situation. The other adults conduct themselves the way adults ordinarily do, making it easier for me to read. I think Melvin's true age plays into this some too as he is desperately trying to regain something that can not be regained. The moment Ellie realizes this is a beautiful one and the most poignant moment of the book. Holm did an excellent job with the themes in this book and bringing it all together.
I am sure this will be a huge hit among kids, even more so than her historical fiction as readers will be drawn to the intriguing concept and the weird thought of being the same age as your grandparent. My daughter read my ARC and loved it, reading off lines every other page and giggling non-stop.
I read an e-galley provided by the publisher, Random House Books for Young Readers, via NetGalley. The Fourteenth Goldfish goes is available August 26th.