January Review: The Fourteenth Goldfish

Eleven-year-old Ellie was used to her life. She had the same best friend since she was little, and she and her mom had a comfortable routine. But, all that changed. Her best friend joined the volleyball team and her grandfather moved in. Watching her best friend slip away was hard, but dealing with her grandfather became the real challenge. Why? Because he was now a fourteen-year-old boy. As a scientist, he invented a formula that would reverse the aging process and make a person young again. He found a way to change the world, no more aging, no more pain. But, does the world need changing? Ellie learns a great deal as she tries to help her grandfather break into his lab to retrieve the formula, the biggest lesson being that things change, and we should enjoy life as we go.

What I liked: great lessons throughout the book, and the main character truly grows as a person. Although the book is made for kids, I think adults would learn a few things from it as well. The grandfather character is fantastic! Exactly what you’d expect from an old man stuck in the body of a young kid. Hilarious.

What I didn’t like: the first and last third of the book were wonderful, but the middle third was a bit slow. I had to force myself to get through it.

Still, a good read and worth your time.

4.5 out of 5 stars