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132minutes's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
nicolemhewitt's review
5.0
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
A compelling story about grief and mental health, My Life in the Fish Tank examines how secrecy and shame can be the root of pain. When Zinnia’s brother is in an accident, her whole life changes, not because he’s hurt but because it reveals an issue her family had been unknowingly dealing with for a very long time—her brother is bipolar. Now, Zin’s parents have asked her to keep her brother’s mental health issues private, while her friends seem to be expecting her to unload her grief on them—it all leads to Zin feeling like she’s under the microscope and like she can’t win, no matter how she responds to the circumstances.
This book deals with mental illness in such a realistic way, portraying all the fears and the heartbreak and the guilt and confusion that can go along with it. The book explores Zin’s feelings in the present, but it also flashes back to incidents in the past—red flags that Zin now feels like she should have seen. She’s grieving, but it’s a peculiar kind of grief—one she almost doesn’t feel that she has a right to. I was captivated by her story and empathized with her conflicting feelings. This book gives kids a view into the realities of mental illness and teaches them that there is no shame involved, only a chance for healing. I highly recommend it for readers of all ages!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher for review purposes. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
A compelling story about grief and mental health, My Life in the Fish Tank examines how secrecy and shame can be the root of pain. When Zinnia’s brother is in an accident, her whole life changes, not because he’s hurt but because it reveals an issue her family had been unknowingly dealing with for a very long time—her brother is bipolar. Now, Zin’s parents have asked her to keep her brother’s mental health issues private, while her friends seem to be expecting her to unload her grief on them—it all leads to Zin feeling like she’s under the microscope and like she can’t win, no matter how she responds to the circumstances.
This book deals with mental illness in such a realistic way, portraying all the fears and the heartbreak and the guilt and confusion that can go along with it. The book explores Zin’s feelings in the present, but it also flashes back to incidents in the past—red flags that Zin now feels like she should have seen. She’s grieving, but it’s a peculiar kind of grief—one she almost doesn’t feel that she has a right to. I was captivated by her story and empathized with her conflicting feelings. This book gives kids a view into the realities of mental illness and teaches them that there is no shame involved, only a chance for healing. I highly recommend it for readers of all ages!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher for review purposes. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
blogginboutbooks's review
4.0
This is a poignant tale about the effects of untreated mental illness on every member of a family. Zinny's struggle to deal with the emotional roller coaster that ensues after her brother is diagnosed with bi-polar disorder will resonate with any reader who's experienced a family crisis, regardless of what that crisis is. The family's struggle feels authentic, although Zinny's victimhood got a little old for me. Zinny doesn't have a strong story goal, so the tale feels episodic instead of focused—I would have liked a stronger secondary storyline to give her a focus other than just her brother. That being said, MY LIFE IN THE FISH TANK teaches some important lessons about friendship, getting help when it's needed, identifying emotions and being allowed to feel them, and erasing the stigma that surrounds mental health issues. While I didn't end up loving this book, I liked it well enough. I'd give it 3 1/2 stars if I could. Since I can't, I rounded up.
jenni_r's review
5.0
really great juvenile fic/young adult read.
narrator's brother has mental health issues and it is a great look into how those issues affect siblings, how stigma can be an issue, and how important friendship is
narrator's brother has mental health issues and it is a great look into how those issues affect siblings, how stigma can be an issue, and how important friendship is
thenextgenlibrarian's review
5.0
I just devoured this MG book. Barbara Dee has such a gift for taking topics that are relevant in today’s youth and writing just beautiful and important MG novels for them to relate to and learn from. This book reminded me of Still A Work In Progress but instead of a bulimic sister, Zin has a bipolar brother. This is a topic not written about much and I am so happy that Dee was able to bring the stigma out of the shadows. So many kids are struggling with this either themselves or with family members like Zin. The whole story was told in such a realistic way. I loved this book from start to finish. Thanks Edelweiss for an ARC. All opinions are my own.
ax3l's review
4.0
I love how this book showed and explained how having a mental illness does not make you crazy, weird, or not normal. Another thing I enjoyed about this book was the references for later in the book and for what has already happened in the book. This help me remember the book better. This is also a good book for younger kids to understand.
angiedkelly's review
4.0
This book takes an honest and approachable look at the effect that mental illness can have on a family, specifically its 12 year old main character. Zinny is very much a typical 12 year old but in many ways not probably due to the circumstances in her family life. I would recommend this book as a great conversation starter and/or as a way to approach the subject of mental illness in a gentle way with a middle grade reader.
rikkir77's review
5.0
Barbara Dee has another hit here. This book really shows how big events and decisions made affect everyone differently. I’ve heard that people think the parents decisions are not realistic, but I think they really are! Mental health is such a touchy subject that people just don’t know what to do when they realize a family member is dealing with their own mental health issues.
librarianlinda82's review
5.0
Fish Tank has it all: relatable, strong characters, a crisp, moving plot that doesn’t slow so kids won’t want to put it down, and a focus on mental illness. This last is especially important today, as we as a society begin to understand the harm that keeping things “a secret” can do. Mental illness shouldn’t be a “tough topic,” and if we help kids start to understand and talk about it, maybe it won’t be. I think the book can help start a conversation with middle school students.
gingertonks's review
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.75
Zinnia, a seventh grader, navigates middle school, family drama and her own feelings while trudging through abnormal standard time as her brother is hospitalized. Especially as I spent so much of this past year supporting a coworker with a family member working through mental illness, this book hit close. I love that it focused on the way in which those around someone can be affected by their struggles; so many books focus on the person primarily dealing with mental illness. It was a really lovely book.