The Magic Fish
Written by Trung Le Nguyen
Published by Random House Graphic
Real life isn’t a fairytale. But Tien still enjoys reading his favorite stories with his parents from the books he borrows from the local library. It’s hard enough trying to communicate with your parents as a kid, but for Tien, he doesn’t even have the right words because his parents are struggling with their English. Is there a Vietnamese word for what he’s going through? Is there a way to tell them he’s gay? A beautifully illustrated story by Trung Le Nguyen that follows a young boy as he tries to navigate life through fairytales, an instant classic that shows us how we are all connected. The Magic Fish tackles tough subjects in a way that is accessible with readers of all ages, and teaches us that no matter what–we can all have our own happy endings.
Primary ISBN: 9780593125298
Available As: Hardcover, Paperback
Middle Grade, Age 12 or older
Community Represented: Vietnamese/Vietnamese American
Themes: Cross-Group Friendship, Education & Literacy, Family Relationship: Parents, Generation: 1st, LGBTQIA+, Refugee Journey, Refugee: War/Conflict
Setting: United States
Character’s New Arrival/New American Status: Refugee, 1st Generation
Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience
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