A review by filipacarvalho
The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen

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

I loved this book from page one!

I knew I was getting into a story about a little boy trying to connect with his mother, but I wasn’t expecting the mother’s story line to be such an integral part to the book. It was an incredible surprise! And one that made so much sense. When you’re trying to tell a story about connection, it helps so much, as the reader, to know both sides so well.

I was in love with the characters by page two. I cried when they cried, I was in rage when they were being treated unfairly, I hugged it close to my heart when I finished, so that I could give the characters a hug.

A special mention to the friend group, that even if it wasn’t a big part of the story, they were fantastic all the same.

The fairy tales, and the way they are woven into this book are without a doubt my favorite part. I loved seeing the different interpretations of fairy tales and the way they changed with each culture and character. I loved the extra content the author wrote and drew at the end, explaining all the little nuances that went into this particular aspect of the book.

The art is stunning. It’s very rare that I pick up a graphic novel in full color, which would be worth it just for the aesthetic of it, but the way Trung Le Nguyen uses color to tell the story along his intricate beautiful drawing had me in love.

It is a story about a boy trying to come out to his mother. But I think it’s above all a story about connection. Connection between a mother and a son that are not from the same country. Between a mother and her mother, that was left behind. The mother and the new country she had to run to, not knowing a word of the language. And how stories and storytelling will always help us with that.