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A review by brokenspine
The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I've been wanting to read this for over a year. It came on my radar in 2022 with the increase of books being challenged and banned. And, of course, in some areas it was in fact banned because the main character is gay. Boo hiss boo!! Anyway, I saw it come into the library and thought perfect timing.
Anyway, I really enjoyed this graphic novel. I loved how the fairy tales are blue, present day (Tien) is red, and Hien's memories are yellow. I loved how the author interwove the fairy tales into Tien and Hien's stories and thereby giving them a real world connection. Cinderella are the first two fairy tales and The Little Mermaid is the third.
Nguyen tackles quite a few themes in this graphic novel like love, immigration, gender identity, being afraid to come to your parents, and the importance of stories to name a few. In one of Hien's storylines she is back in Vietnam and her aunt asks her if she remembers how a particular fairy tale goes and she doesn't but once her aunt finishes it's revealed that this may or may not be how the story goes but this version of it is ours. And I found that absolutely fascinating because it's true. We are first and foremost oral storyteller's and the SAME story can be used situationally, have different meanings for different people.
Anyway, I really enjoyed this graphic novel. I loved how the fairy tales are blue, present day (Tien) is red, and Hien's memories are yellow. I loved how the author interwove the fairy tales into Tien and Hien's stories and thereby giving them a real world connection. Cinderella are the first two fairy tales and The Little Mermaid is the third.
Nguyen tackles quite a few themes in this graphic novel like love, immigration, gender identity, being afraid to come to your parents, and the importance of stories to name a few. In one of Hien's storylines she is back in Vietnam and her aunt asks her if she remembers how a particular fairy tale goes and she doesn't but once her aunt finishes it's revealed that this may or may not be how the story goes but this version of it is ours. And I found that absolutely fascinating because it's true. We are first and foremost oral storyteller's and the SAME story can be used situationally, have different meanings for different people.
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia