My story starts the day that my parents told me we must leave our adopted home forever. Because of the soldiers and the drought we barely had en...
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reviews
Oct 11, 2011
Chris
rated it: 
From School Library Journal
Grade 4-8–Tiger's Mum and Dad are aid workers in a remote unnamed country that has been devastated by drought, flooded by rains, and besieged by political conflict. The villagers have fled across a neighboring country's border as war looms. Tiger has just rescued a fish from an evaporating pond-turned-puddle on the morning that his family and their Guide are preparing to evacuate. So begins a staggering journey of indomitable odds across a hostile land. The simpl More...
Grade 4-8–Tiger's Mum and Dad are aid workers in a remote unnamed country that has been devastated by drought, flooded by rains, and besieged by political conflict. The villagers have fled across a neighboring country's border as war looms. Tiger has just rescued a fish from an evaporating pond-turned-puddle on the morning that his family and their Guide are preparing to evacuate. So begins a staggering journey of indomitable odds across a hostile land. The simpl More...
Nov 04, 2010
Michele
rated it: 
Interest level: 5th +
Reading level: easy, short book
Genre: Realistic fiction, war, refugees
"Fish" is an excellent short read about a child called Tiger and his/her (the author never specifies whether the child is a boy or girl) parents who have to flee a war-torn country when life becomes unbearable and they can no longer help the local population as aid workers. They leave their home with a wise local guide (who lost his entire family during the war) and his trust More...
Reading level: easy, short book
Genre: Realistic fiction, war, refugees
"Fish" is an excellent short read about a child called Tiger and his/her (the author never specifies whether the child is a boy or girl) parents who have to flee a war-torn country when life becomes unbearable and they can no longer help the local population as aid workers. They leave their home with a wise local guide (who lost his entire family during the war) and his trust More...
Jun 07, 2010
Linda
rated it:
This is an intriguing little book. Told by a child of indeterminate age and unspecified gender, it is the story of parents and child who are (likely British) aid workers in a third-world country, who must flee for their lives from the civil unrest and outright warfare.
The child, nicknamed "Tiger", finds a fish in a puddle, in a country that has been also plagued by drought. Rescuing the fish and putting it into a bottle, the fish is taken by the child on the hazardous journey to More...
The child, nicknamed "Tiger", finds a fish in a puddle, in a country that has been also plagued by drought. Rescuing the fish and putting it into a bottle, the fish is taken by the child on the hazardous journey to More...
Sep 13, 2009
Michele
rated it:
Thanks, Kate, for this wonderful recommendation. A beautiful book. Well done. This is one of the best books I have read in quite a while. Not recommended for children under the age of nine. There is death and suffering involved, but if you want to introduce your children to what people in undeveloped countries experience, and if you want to talk about sacrifice and hope, this is, as I said, a beautiful book.
The story unfolds from the unique perspective of young girl whose age we do n More...
The story unfolds from the unique perspective of young girl whose age we do n More...
Jan 19, 2012
Johnny
rated it:
THIS BOOK WAS AWESOME! I loved this book. It was very interesting and right on pace. It didn't go off track into unimportant stories. It was about a girl named Tiger who is living in a poor country because her parents are humanitarians who help people in need from poor countries. When the country they help is under attack by rebels they have to leave and return to their own original country. They have to travel a long way to get to the border but find out that people cannot cross the border beca
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Mar 15, 2010
Gem
rated it:
The reason I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars is that I don't think the writing particularly makes this a book of "excellence," but L.S. Matthews talks about how she writes books that effect change, and I think this book does have the potential to effect change.
I recommended this book often when I worked at a children's bookstore to teachers and librarians. I think it's a great novel for group study like literature circles or book clubs. It's great for younger readers becaus More...
I recommended this book often when I worked at a children's bookstore to teachers and librarians. I think it's a great novel for group study like literature circles or book clubs. It's great for younger readers becaus More...
Apr 12, 2009
Yoke
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The book "Fish" starts off when a boy hears his parents say, "We have to leave our village because of a huge mudslide, and a war that is spreading towards our village." So off they went across the border, but on the way out of the house he saw a fish. The fish was stuck in a muddy lake because of the mudslide, so the boy asked his parents if he could take the fish with them across the border. His parents replied, "Yes." So he caught the fish, but he really didn't ta
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Aug 21, 2009
Kate Hastings
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Tiger, the child of foreign aid workers, has lived most of her life with her parents in a village helping refugees. Then the war threatens the peace in their already impoverished village, and her parents stay to help as many people as they can. By the time they are able to leave, the nearest border is closed-- and the family is forced to take a treacherous trek through arid mountains with only a donkey and a local guide. Throughout, Tiger is determined to keep a small fish alive that she rescued
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May 04, 2008
AbigailK
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This book is more for middle schoolers but I still love it. It's about this kid whose parents are missionaries in this country thats been devastated by war. Their the last ones to leave the town, because they had to get everyone out first, and the borders closed. This guide with a donkey has the job of helping them get back to their country. Since the border is closed they have to go through this mountain pass. But wait I've gone too far. So when the kid's waiting for his parents to finsh packin
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Oct 11, 2011
Christy
rated it: 
My story starts the day that my parents told me we must leave our adopted home forever. Because of the soldiers and the drought we barely had enough to eat and we could no longer stay to help the people in our village.
Right before we were leaving I saw a fish in a small brown puddle and I knew I had to take it with me. The journey would be hard to get across the mountains—
Right before we were leaving I saw a fish in a small brown puddle and I knew I had to take it with me. The journey would be hard to get across the mountains—
Jul 12, 2009
Rafe
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It's a book about travelling. It's pretty long, but it always works out in the hard parts. Some things happen wrong. If you read this book, see what happens next and it'll turn out good. There are some silly parts, and where the fish almost dies, and things get hurt, so it would be a good thing to do this review. It's a good book, and it's a good thing to review.
Aug 10, 2011
Susan
rated it:
Fish is a fifth grade reading level book with a cute story. A boy finds a fish in a puddle, rescues it and ends up needing rescue himself...with the fish in tow. The setting of the sotry could be in a number of countries in Africa or Asia. I enjoyed the book that I read during the "read or rest" period of TAKS testing.
Jun 16, 2010
Tracy
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This was a wonderful book. The author really made you wonder what the importance behind the book the whole way through. You don't realize the importance of everything until the last chapter. It all comes together, and it's refreshing. The students I read this too enjoyed the book too. It was a great life lesson for them.
Aug 04, 2010
Marilyn
rated it:
Ages 10+ A child of unspecified gender in an unspecified country must escape from that country with parents who are aid workers lead by a guide and a donkey. The journey is long and hard. The child takes a fish rescued from an evaporating pond. A little fraught with meaning to be really delightful.
Jul 29, 2010
Janet
rated it:
A delightful story of a child named Tiger. A subtle and sophisticated exploration of life, the power of people, and survival in an unforgiving world. Fish will teach the ones who doubt that when hope is almost gone, that miracles can happen. This message is why I pick up and read this story. A very goodread.
May 14, 2008
Waffle...♥
rated it:
Chapter Seven.
The main character seems like a boy to me! I think because of the nickname Tiger. And his/her actions. OH WELLS! (Helen thinks he/she is a girl...) Helen do you think EVERYBODY you don't know the real gender of, is a GIRL? Haha different for me! I usually think they are boys... wow. Remember Desertwind? You thought it was a girl when I was thinking boy. Hehehe xP
Alot of walking, I somehow managed to enjoy it... though not really recommended... depending on w More...
The main character seems like a boy to me! I think because of the nickname Tiger. And his/her actions. OH WELLS! (Helen thinks he/she is a girl...) Helen do you think EVERYBODY you don't know the real gender of, is a GIRL? Haha different for me! I usually think they are boys... wow. Remember Desertwind? You thought it was a girl when I was thinking boy. Hehehe xP
Alot of walking, I somehow managed to enjoy it... though not really recommended... depending on w More...
Mar 17, 2009
Cindy
rated it:
This is a wonderful story of a little girl and her parents who flee a country in civil war. This lille girl nicknamed "Tiger" saves a fish from a drying pond by bringing it with her family in exile. A very good story told through the eyes of a small child. A quick read.
Nov 01, 2009
Terje
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This book has some deep meanings that make it a fun read. What is the symbolism of the fish? How does the changing size of the fish equate to the girl's ability to carry the "burden" and what does the fact that she willingly takes on this additional burden say about the human soul and her desire to take care of things important in her life?
Dec 23, 2010
Tom
rated it:
Listened to an audio version, actually. Very anonymized setting, nationalities, gender of main character, and so on. Very engaging, anyway. Good adventure and interesting thoughts about life. Serious themes. Been too long to remember the details, but it's an easy read.
Oct 01, 2010
deadlypeaches
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This is another favorite must read action/adventure.This is up there with Interworld.I love this book I might read it again and then again.It is very much of a page turner.I suggest you read it.Sorry i do not remember the date i finished it.Again no spoilers.
Sep 18, 2011
Sally
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This novel is all about hope and survival. A boy about 12 finds a fish and manages to keep it alive as he and
his family and guide cross a country trying to get to the border. This actually is aimed at a young adult.
his family and guide cross a country trying to get to the border. This actually is aimed at a young adult.
Jun 01, 2008
jackie sze
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Tiger's parents are aid workers in a foreign country wrecked by war. They had to leave their hometown to a refugee camp due to political problems and war.On the day of the family's departure, Tiger rescues a fish from muddy waters and insists that they take it along. The fish is secured in a jar strapped to Tiger's back and becomes a symbol of hope as the family, along with a guide, makes their long travel to the border. Food and water are low, and they encounter with "fighting mens" w
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Jan 27, 2009
Eliza
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I loved that this is a youth adventure with her intact family. This book explores parent dynamics in pressure and the power of a good deed to keep us on our feet.
Nov 08, 2010
Kristine
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We listened to an audio version of this book. Short, but wonderful. This would make a great book club book. I don't want to give away the plot - just read it!
Nov 21, 2011
Ms. Lau
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A wonderful survival story... Hard enough to survive a refugee relocation but to take a fish-in the middle of a drought? Courage and ingenuity
Jan 29, 2012
Neill
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Tiger's family had come to a small country to help the people but as an invasion from a neighbouring country developed they had to leave. Torrential rains had just flowed through the drought-plagued land leaving seas of mud. Unfortunately the borders were closed so their only recourse was to cross a mountain lead by a guide and a donkey. Just prior to leaving Tiger finds a fish in a mudhole and he plans to save it by taking it with them in a water pot. Rebel soldiers, lack of food, treachero
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Jul 25, 2010
Susann
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For VSC discussion. Interesting story, with allegorical fish, but I'm not sure how much we'll have to discuss at tomorrow's meeting.
Mar 01, 2009
Leilani
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Amazing Moral about never giving up. It inspired me like no other book has and made me want to become a writer.
May 12, 2011
Janet
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This book is meant for a teen or young adult, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is almost in a parable style.
Mar 12, 2009
Maura
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A sweet little book, labeled "10&up", but a lovely story for any of us.
