A review by thenovelmaura
The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen

emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book has my whole heart! The story of a Vietnamese boy struggling to come out to this family while being beautifully intertwined with relevant fairy tales is 100% my cup of tea. And the gorgeous illustrations take this book to a whole new level, with its detailed line art and use of color. Yellow =  Tiến's parents' life in Vietnam, pink = Tiến in the present day, blue = a fairy tale being told by someone in the present day. Yes, the ending made me cry (which almost distracted me from the thoughtful author's note). If you're only going to read one graphic novel this year, pick this one!

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