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The Fourteenth Goldfish #1
The Fourteenth Goldfish
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Middle Grade & Children's (2014)Galileo. Newton. Salk. Oppenheimer.
Science can change the world . . . but can it go too far?
Eleven-year-old Ellie has never liked change. She misses fifth grade. She misses her old best friend. She even misses her dearly departed goldfish. Then one day a strange boy shows up. He’s bossy. He’s cranky. And weirdly enough . . . he looks a lot like Ellie’s grandfather, a scientist who’s always been slightly obsessed with immortality. Could this pimply boy really be Grandpa Melvin? Has he finally found the secret to eternal youth?
Lexile recommendation: 550
Science can change the world . . . but can it go too far?
Eleven-year-old Ellie has never liked change. She misses fifth grade. She misses her old best friend. She even misses her dearly departed goldfish. Then one day a strange boy shows up. He’s bossy. He’s cranky. And weirdly enough . . . he looks a lot like Ellie’s grandfather, a scientist who’s always been slightly obsessed with immortality. Could this pimply boy really be Grandpa Melvin? Has he finally found the secret to eternal youth?
Lexile recommendation: 550
208 pages, Hardcover
First published August 26, 2014
1210 people are currently reading
17047 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer L. Holm
108 books1,698 followersJennifer L. Holm is a USA TODAY and NEW YORK TIMES-bestselling children's author with more than 9.8 million books in print She is the recipient of three Newbery Honors for her novels OUR ONLY MAY AMELIA, PENNY FROM HEAVEN, and TURTLE IN PARADISE and a Scott O'Dell Award for her novel FULL OF BEANS.
Jennifer collaborates with her brother, Matthew Holm, on three bestselling graphic novel series -- the Eisner Award-winning Babymouse series, the SUNNY series, and the Squish series. SQUISH is now an animated tv series on YouTube!
For more information, visit her website at www.jenniferholm.com.
Jennifer collaborates with her brother, Matthew Holm, on three bestselling graphic novel series -- the Eisner Award-winning Babymouse series, the SUNNY series, and the Squish series. SQUISH is now an animated tv series on YouTube!
For more information, visit her website at www.jenniferholm.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,039 reviews
June 8, 2017
3 stars!
Ellie is eleven years old, lives with her eccentric actress of a mom while her dad is a traveling actor. Ellie has just started the sixth grade, started middle school and is feeling overwhelmed and lost. One day her mother gets a call to pick up her grandfather from the police, and brings home a thirteen year old boy Melvin, who is actually her grandfather. Through a special jellyfish, Melvin developed a serum to reverse the aging process, and he used it on himself. Mentally a seventy year old man in the body of a thirteen year old, Melvin is having trouble accessing his lab to gain all of the data that made him young. He enlists Ellie for help and the two form a strong bond.
A very interesting concept, what would an old person be like if they became young again? And how would they be perceived by other young adults? This book was very humorous in tone, the grandfather in a thirteen year old body acting in curmudgeonly ways, ordering adults around and criticizing fellow youth for not acting as mature.
Written for a younger tween audience, it deals with some scientific concepts that could very well be above their heads. Lots of scientific names, theories and such if a young reader did not like science it is possible they wouldn’t like this book. What saves the book from this is the authors mix of humor and her great original characters. The interactions between Melvin, Ellie and Ellie’s mother were hilarious because despite the age reversal, the family dynamics did not change. It was also great to see a young female protagonist interested in science, as there is a public stigma that boys like science and girls do not.
There were also much deeper thoughts included in the book, such as even if we could reverse the aging process, should we? Ellie points out that if no one aged, then there would not be grown ups around to raise the children. Despite the funny concept, the author notes that live has a process and should be lived out accordingly. To enjoy the time we have instead of constantly wishing we were younger or could repeat our youth.
Ellie is eleven years old, lives with her eccentric actress of a mom while her dad is a traveling actor. Ellie has just started the sixth grade, started middle school and is feeling overwhelmed and lost. One day her mother gets a call to pick up her grandfather from the police, and brings home a thirteen year old boy Melvin, who is actually her grandfather. Through a special jellyfish, Melvin developed a serum to reverse the aging process, and he used it on himself. Mentally a seventy year old man in the body of a thirteen year old, Melvin is having trouble accessing his lab to gain all of the data that made him young. He enlists Ellie for help and the two form a strong bond.
A very interesting concept, what would an old person be like if they became young again? And how would they be perceived by other young adults? This book was very humorous in tone, the grandfather in a thirteen year old body acting in curmudgeonly ways, ordering adults around and criticizing fellow youth for not acting as mature.
Written for a younger tween audience, it deals with some scientific concepts that could very well be above their heads. Lots of scientific names, theories and such if a young reader did not like science it is possible they wouldn’t like this book. What saves the book from this is the authors mix of humor and her great original characters. The interactions between Melvin, Ellie and Ellie’s mother were hilarious because despite the age reversal, the family dynamics did not change. It was also great to see a young female protagonist interested in science, as there is a public stigma that boys like science and girls do not.
There were also much deeper thoughts included in the book, such as even if we could reverse the aging process, should we? Ellie points out that if no one aged, then there would not be grown ups around to raise the children. Despite the funny concept, the author notes that live has a process and should be lived out accordingly. To enjoy the time we have instead of constantly wishing we were younger or could repeat our youth.
October 26, 2014
Want to raise kids who embrace curiosity, thrill in discovery, appreciate science, and care about ethics? Hand them this book. Warm, wise, and wonderfully accessible, The Fourteenth Goldfish is, on the surface, the entertaining story of an 11 year-old whose grandfather has found a way to reverse aging and is now forced to attend middle school alongside her. But dig a little deeper and you'll find this novel is a rich invitation for readers to explore and ponder big questions about the world and our place in it. Kids should come away with increased appreciation for and/or interest in science, genetics, discovery, experimentation, scientists (e.g. Salk, Curie, Oppenheimer), the history of medicine, and much, much more.
As I read this book I kept thinking of titles that would complement it perfectly! Here's a handful:
For a book with a similar tone, try When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead.
For another book in which a cantankerous old man teaches his granddaughter to love science, try The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly.
For another book about the role of aging and importance of the life cycle, try Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt.
For a nonfiction book about scientists conducting experiments on themselves, try Guinea Pig Scientists: Bold Self-Experimenters in Science and Medicine by Mel Boring and Leslie Dendy.
Come back to me when you've exhausted this list and need more! ; )
As I read this book I kept thinking of titles that would complement it perfectly! Here's a handful:
For a book with a similar tone, try When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead.
For another book in which a cantankerous old man teaches his granddaughter to love science, try The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly.
For another book about the role of aging and importance of the life cycle, try Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt.
For a nonfiction book about scientists conducting experiments on themselves, try Guinea Pig Scientists: Bold Self-Experimenters in Science and Medicine by Mel Boring and Leslie Dendy.
Come back to me when you've exhausted this list and need more! ; )
July 16, 2016
I am on vacation! This gem of an audiobook helped us pass three hours of our six hour trip and to say it was a sheer delight is understating it a bit. This was a very nearly perfect listening experience in that both my children and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The adorable story slips in a lot of information about important scientists and life-changing scientific discoveries all while keeping it light and quite funny. There is an underlying moral question that both of my children fully embraced, as well as topics of changing friendships and family. This one was entertaining, hysterically funny, and very sweet.
August 13, 2019
Hi my name is Lainey and I am now the 233rd and proud member of the Official Melvin Sagarsky Fan Club. Nice to meet ya!
Did not expect the amount of fun and funny I got from this book! I finished it in one day, totally unputdownable.
I went in almost purely because of the cute cover (yes, guilty!) so I didn’t realize there’s an element of sci-fi in it. But it was a hugely welcomed addition. Oh how I loved the relationship between little grumpy Melvin and Ellie (and Raj).
Did not expect the amount of fun and funny I got from this book! I finished it in one day, totally unputdownable.
I went in almost purely because of the cute cover (yes, guilty!) so I didn’t realize there’s an element of sci-fi in it. But it was a hugely welcomed addition. Oh how I loved the relationship between little grumpy Melvin and Ellie (and Raj).
Read
April 9, 2023I drank this book up, goldfish and all. I loved it. Funny, quirky, and beautiful. This would be a perfect read-aloud. The grandpa is hilarious.
June 27, 2020
Meh. I didn't find this as endlessly enchanting and heartwarming as other reviewers did.
To me, it read like the usual 21st-century slapped-together-in-a-hurry crap that typically gets packaged for middle grade readers as a skinny chapter book. Wow, the author says girls can be scientists, give 'er a medal.
About as deep and developed as your average Scooby-Doo episode.
keywords: I'll give you cranky; and we all know what happened to Mme Curie; of course he dresses like an old guy; maybe they ran away and joined the goldfish circus; thanks for pointing out the ethical dilemma, I never would have noticed
To me, it read like the usual 21st-century slapped-together-in-a-hurry crap that typically gets packaged for middle grade readers as a skinny chapter book. Wow, the author says girls can be scientists, give 'er a medal.
About as deep and developed as your average Scooby-Doo episode.
keywords: I'll give you cranky; and we all know what happened to Mme Curie; of course he dresses like an old guy; maybe they ran away and joined the goldfish circus; thanks for pointing out the ethical dilemma, I never would have noticed
July 22, 2023
To be honest, Jennifer L. Holm's 2014 middle grade novel The Fourteenth Goldfish leaves me rather intellectually and emotionally conflicted, as I have both really enjoyed The Fourteenth Goldfish and also been rather frustrated with and by certain parts of Holm's presented text.
Sure, I (and in particular so my inner tween) very much textually do appreciate that main protagonist Ellie's school and home life issues in The Fourteenth Goldfish feel realistic, that they are described empathetically, authentically and with an age appropriate first person narrative voice, how navigating middle school is proving to be a challenge for Ellie, that her erstwhile best friend Brianna has discovered a passion for volleyball and now spends all her time with her teammates, that Ellie thus needs to find a new passion (as well as new friends) and that this new interest turns out to be the sciences (turns out to be solidly STEM).
But in my humble opinion, the above mentioned STEM scenario of The Fourteenth Goldfish, it kind of feels a bit too frustrating for me to fully, to totally textually enjoy (although I do appreciate the information on Marie Curie, Galileo Galilei, Sir Isaac Newton, J. Robert Oppenheimer, Louis Pasteur and Jonas Salk). Because and well, how in The Fourteenth Goldfish Ellie's curmudgeonly, opinionated scientist grandfather is presented by Jennifer L. Holm discovering how to reverse the ageing process and turning himself into an equally annoying, frustrating and know-it-all teenager (who moves in with his daughter and granddaughter Ellie, enrols in middle school and how no one from the grandfather's place of work seems to either worry or to even care that he is seemingly suddenly missing), for and to me this all simply does not really make all that much logical sense and renders the storyline of The Fourteenth Goldfish a bit too fantastical and unbelievable for my own personal reading tastes, not to mention that HOW Jennifer L. Holm describes both the older and younger versions of Melvin, of Ellie's grandfather kind of rubs me the wrong proverbial way as well. For in my opinion, Holm's words seem to rather cater to the oh so common attitude and stereotype that scientists are and should be weird, uncompromising, full of themselves and even intent on causing and creating havoc (and that honestly, I am rather sick and tired of novels which depict STEM individuals as inherently, as highly eccentric and problematic, and the fact that The Fourteenth Goldfish quite prominently in my opinion features and does this, yes, that certainly grates on me rather a lot since there are far far too many stories out there portraying especially scientists, mathematicians and the like as overly exaggeratedly nerdy, strange and often hugely narcissistic).
And finally, with regard to Jennifer L. Holm's message at the end of The Fourteenth Goldfish about science and responsibility, while I do most definitely agree with scientists needing to be held and made accountable for what their discoveries cause and can create (both beneficial and dangerous, harmful), sorry, but just because a scientific breakthrough or invention might be misused for nefarious purposes (like J. Robert Oppenheimer's nuclear bomb and of course also in The Fourteenth Goldfish Ellie's grandfather's fountain of proverbial youth), this in my opinion should not ever mean that certain scientific discoveries should not be happening, period, should not be occurring at all. Thus and yes, I definitely do kind of think that the grandfather in The Fourteenth Goldfish figuring out how to reverse ageing should be celebrated and not totally shelved and abandoned so to speak simply because it might cause problematic cases of individuals wanting and using this for problematic and negative purposes (and I really do wish that The Fourteenth Goldfish would have Jennifer L. Holm celebrating ALL science and to not consider certain inventions as unilaterally problematic and thus anathema, for come on, it is not the science and the discoveries that are a potential issue here, but how we humans make use of this, that science is basically something from good to neutral and that it is only potential misuse and abuse by us, by people that makes or can render science and scientific breakthroughs potentially dangerous, damaging and problem causing).
Sure, I (and in particular so my inner tween) very much textually do appreciate that main protagonist Ellie's school and home life issues in The Fourteenth Goldfish feel realistic, that they are described empathetically, authentically and with an age appropriate first person narrative voice, how navigating middle school is proving to be a challenge for Ellie, that her erstwhile best friend Brianna has discovered a passion for volleyball and now spends all her time with her teammates, that Ellie thus needs to find a new passion (as well as new friends) and that this new interest turns out to be the sciences (turns out to be solidly STEM).
But in my humble opinion, the above mentioned STEM scenario of The Fourteenth Goldfish, it kind of feels a bit too frustrating for me to fully, to totally textually enjoy (although I do appreciate the information on Marie Curie, Galileo Galilei, Sir Isaac Newton, J. Robert Oppenheimer, Louis Pasteur and Jonas Salk). Because and well, how in The Fourteenth Goldfish Ellie's curmudgeonly, opinionated scientist grandfather is presented by Jennifer L. Holm discovering how to reverse the ageing process and turning himself into an equally annoying, frustrating and know-it-all teenager (who moves in with his daughter and granddaughter Ellie, enrols in middle school and how no one from the grandfather's place of work seems to either worry or to even care that he is seemingly suddenly missing), for and to me this all simply does not really make all that much logical sense and renders the storyline of The Fourteenth Goldfish a bit too fantastical and unbelievable for my own personal reading tastes, not to mention that HOW Jennifer L. Holm describes both the older and younger versions of Melvin, of Ellie's grandfather kind of rubs me the wrong proverbial way as well. For in my opinion, Holm's words seem to rather cater to the oh so common attitude and stereotype that scientists are and should be weird, uncompromising, full of themselves and even intent on causing and creating havoc (and that honestly, I am rather sick and tired of novels which depict STEM individuals as inherently, as highly eccentric and problematic, and the fact that The Fourteenth Goldfish quite prominently in my opinion features and does this, yes, that certainly grates on me rather a lot since there are far far too many stories out there portraying especially scientists, mathematicians and the like as overly exaggeratedly nerdy, strange and often hugely narcissistic).
And finally, with regard to Jennifer L. Holm's message at the end of The Fourteenth Goldfish about science and responsibility, while I do most definitely agree with scientists needing to be held and made accountable for what their discoveries cause and can create (both beneficial and dangerous, harmful), sorry, but just because a scientific breakthrough or invention might be misused for nefarious purposes (like J. Robert Oppenheimer's nuclear bomb and of course also in The Fourteenth Goldfish Ellie's grandfather's fountain of proverbial youth), this in my opinion should not ever mean that certain scientific discoveries should not be happening, period, should not be occurring at all. Thus and yes, I definitely do kind of think that the grandfather in The Fourteenth Goldfish figuring out how to reverse ageing should be celebrated and not totally shelved and abandoned so to speak simply because it might cause problematic cases of individuals wanting and using this for problematic and negative purposes (and I really do wish that The Fourteenth Goldfish would have Jennifer L. Holm celebrating ALL science and to not consider certain inventions as unilaterally problematic and thus anathema, for come on, it is not the science and the discoveries that are a potential issue here, but how we humans make use of this, that science is basically something from good to neutral and that it is only potential misuse and abuse by us, by people that makes or can render science and scientific breakthroughs potentially dangerous, damaging and problem causing).
July 19, 2014
This book was awarded by NetGalley - I LOVED it!!!
I wish I had read this book while I was in middle school! I think it had EVERYTHING I would have wanted!
The way the Information was so gently handed to the reader, would have prompted me to find other books to further research the scientists, they were so well explained.
The family issues, and interactions were believable. Growing out of one relationship and into another as we all do, as the one between Ellie and her best friend and having divorced parents is a part of life. So much was brought full circle!!
I loved the beginning about the 13 goldfish, the part where Ellie realized about her 14th goldfish was beautiful!
The phrase "To the possible!" is one of hope and faith, a great message to promote.
The endings/beginnings theme throughout the book was very well done.
The relationship with Melvin and Ellie and her mother again is a cycle theme, and the smaller issues that keep revolving give this story strength.
I think Melvin convinced me to re-read "Catcher in the Rye".
I enjoyed the slippers bit!
I wish I had read this book while I was in middle school! I think it had EVERYTHING I would have wanted!
The way the Information was so gently handed to the reader, would have prompted me to find other books to further research the scientists, they were so well explained.
The family issues, and interactions were believable. Growing out of one relationship and into another as we all do, as the one between Ellie and her best friend and having divorced parents is a part of life. So much was brought full circle!!
I loved the beginning about the 13 goldfish, the part where Ellie realized about her 14th goldfish was beautiful!
The phrase "To the possible!" is one of hope and faith, a great message to promote.
The endings/beginnings theme throughout the book was very well done.
The relationship with Melvin and Ellie and her mother again is a cycle theme, and the smaller issues that keep revolving give this story strength.
I think Melvin convinced me to re-read "Catcher in the Rye".
I enjoyed the slippers bit!
January 2, 2023
I admire the attempt at making this book a science showcasing story with a female MC, but the story also has to be entertaining and it fell short in that department. The beginning of the story was great, but somewhere around 20% in it started dragging with too many setting details and unnecessary dialogue. The middle portion should have all the filler taken out so it isn't such a slow tedious read, just to find the good parts. Kids aren't that patient and will drop a book when it gets boring. If they stop reading the message of the story is for nothing. The last 10% was quite good.
Children's books need to stop getting awards based on subject matter alone. The stories need to also be interesting and readable for their targeted age group.
I was approved for this eARC, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Children's books need to stop getting awards based on subject matter alone. The stories need to also be interesting and readable for their targeted age group.
I was approved for this eARC, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
August 24, 2022
A short but sweet faithful exploration of all that is science and life.
The narration was always to the point yet poignant when discussing heavy themes such as grief, growing old, and losing friends. And those themes really shone in the latter half of the book, paving the way for a lovely ending that felt somewhat bittersweet.
The plot was nothing particularly exciting or drastic but the plot was not what was really important here. What was so fantastic about this book was the underlying message about the duality of science. The book started out with a simple “science is great!” type message and that level of positivity is where most middle grade books would stop. But this book went the extra mile and then added depth by exploring the negative effects of science and the responsibility of being a scientist. It was an impressive and truthful message that would no doubt be beneficial for readers of all ages and made this book a delight to read.
The narration was always to the point yet poignant when discussing heavy themes such as grief, growing old, and losing friends. And those themes really shone in the latter half of the book, paving the way for a lovely ending that felt somewhat bittersweet.
The plot was nothing particularly exciting or drastic but the plot was not what was really important here. What was so fantastic about this book was the underlying message about the duality of science. The book started out with a simple “science is great!” type message and that level of positivity is where most middle grade books would stop. But this book went the extra mile and then added depth by exploring the negative effects of science and the responsibility of being a scientist. It was an impressive and truthful message that would no doubt be beneficial for readers of all ages and made this book a delight to read.
September 6, 2014
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
"Endings are sad....but beginnings are exciting."
This is one of those books I was invited to read via Netgalley. When I received the invitation, I did not realize this was a middle grade book, so that revelation was rather surprising. This was a cute book with lots of great messages for middle grade readers, but it definitely requires a great suspension of disbelief (probably much easier for the intended audience to do).
Ellie is eleven and about to enter middle school. At the start of the book, her mother is called away to pick up her grandfather, who has been arrested for trespassing. This is where it enters a bit of a sci-fi realm. Ellie's grandfather, Melvin, is a scientist and he finally had a breakthrough with his latest research project - reverse aging. Unfortunately, the project worked a little too well, as he now appears to be a 13-year-old boy. Now he has to live with Ellie and her mother and attend school with her, despite that he possesses the mind of a 70-something year-old man.
As an adult reader, the premise gave me pause if only because Ellie's mother did not seem to have any reaction whatsoever to her father's dramatic change. No one questioned it at all. The few people he told simply accepted it. Then the little subplot about his lab and the company he worked for, there were some holes there - why did no one wonder where he had gone? How could no one know of this research, etc?
But those are questions an adult might ask, and this is not a book for adults. Poking holes in this fantastical story misses the point.
In actuality, these ideas go along with one of the book's themes - believe in the possible. When imparting wisdom upon a middle grade reader, it's important to encourage imagination and "the [im]possible", so as to fuel new ideas and dreams.
Ellie's parents are both very theatrical and interested in drama and theater, but Ellie has never had much interest in that subject. They tell her to find her passion, but, like many parents, suggest that she should be passionate about their passion - theater. I thought it was a great message to send to kids that they find their own passions in life, regardless of what their parents love.
Enter Melvin, who doesn't have much use for theater, but is a big fan of science. Through their interactions, Ellie learns about a whole world she's never been exposed to, and she finds her passion in it.
It was very clever for Holm to use Melvin as a way not only to unlock Ellie's passion for science, but also as a way for Ellie to realize that there is so much that her elders can offer - friendship, knowledge, wisdom - that she might otherwise ignore (because let's face it, western kids tend to write off their elders as, well, old). Making Melvin appear her age really gave her a way to relate to him so she could hear his messages. In other words, elders are interesting and should be revered, not ignored. After all, they aren't so different than the rest of us, even if they appear different on the outside.
Also of interest was the idea that the old can still learn from the young. As Ellie becomes more interested in science and starts reading about famous scientists and their inventions on her own, she develops some critical thinking skills and starts to contemplate the wisdom of some scientific advancements. That is, just because we can do something, does that mean we should?
The story also had some themes involving change - the change from elementary school, where you know everyone, to middle school, where you are introduced to loads of new students you've never met; and the ways in which lifelong friendships change as the young discover new interests and grow apart.
The quote above, that endings are sad, but beginnings are exciting, encapsulates the main theme within the book. For a middle school aged child, this is a very important lesson to learn because that age is so full of endings and beginnings.
Lovely book, with cute characters and great, positive themes. It was a very quick read and is probably best suited for grade school and middle school readers. Probably a little too sweet and young for high school aged kids.
"Endings are sad....but beginnings are exciting."
This is one of those books I was invited to read via Netgalley. When I received the invitation, I did not realize this was a middle grade book, so that revelation was rather surprising. This was a cute book with lots of great messages for middle grade readers, but it definitely requires a great suspension of disbelief (probably much easier for the intended audience to do).
Ellie is eleven and about to enter middle school. At the start of the book, her mother is called away to pick up her grandfather, who has been arrested for trespassing. This is where it enters a bit of a sci-fi realm. Ellie's grandfather, Melvin, is a scientist and he finally had a breakthrough with his latest research project - reverse aging. Unfortunately, the project worked a little too well, as he now appears to be a 13-year-old boy. Now he has to live with Ellie and her mother and attend school with her, despite that he possesses the mind of a 70-something year-old man.
As an adult reader, the premise gave me pause if only because Ellie's mother did not seem to have any reaction whatsoever to her father's dramatic change. No one questioned it at all. The few people he told simply accepted it. Then the little subplot about his lab and the company he worked for, there were some holes there - why did no one wonder where he had gone? How could no one know of this research, etc?
But those are questions an adult might ask, and this is not a book for adults. Poking holes in this fantastical story misses the point.
In actuality, these ideas go along with one of the book's themes - believe in the possible. When imparting wisdom upon a middle grade reader, it's important to encourage imagination and "the [im]possible", so as to fuel new ideas and dreams.
Ellie's parents are both very theatrical and interested in drama and theater, but Ellie has never had much interest in that subject. They tell her to find her passion, but, like many parents, suggest that she should be passionate about their passion - theater. I thought it was a great message to send to kids that they find their own passions in life, regardless of what their parents love.
Enter Melvin, who doesn't have much use for theater, but is a big fan of science. Through their interactions, Ellie learns about a whole world she's never been exposed to, and she finds her passion in it.
It was very clever for Holm to use Melvin as a way not only to unlock Ellie's passion for science, but also as a way for Ellie to realize that there is so much that her elders can offer - friendship, knowledge, wisdom - that she might otherwise ignore (because let's face it, western kids tend to write off their elders as, well, old). Making Melvin appear her age really gave her a way to relate to him so she could hear his messages. In other words, elders are interesting and should be revered, not ignored. After all, they aren't so different than the rest of us, even if they appear different on the outside.
Also of interest was the idea that the old can still learn from the young. As Ellie becomes more interested in science and starts reading about famous scientists and their inventions on her own, she develops some critical thinking skills and starts to contemplate the wisdom of some scientific advancements. That is, just because we can do something, does that mean we should?
The story also had some themes involving change - the change from elementary school, where you know everyone, to middle school, where you are introduced to loads of new students you've never met; and the ways in which lifelong friendships change as the young discover new interests and grow apart.
The quote above, that endings are sad, but beginnings are exciting, encapsulates the main theme within the book. For a middle school aged child, this is a very important lesson to learn because that age is so full of endings and beginnings.
Lovely book, with cute characters and great, positive themes. It was a very quick read and is probably best suited for grade school and middle school readers. Probably a little too sweet and young for high school aged kids.
December 19, 2019
This is a sweet, solid story about intergenerational discourse, friendship, and behaving in an responsible manner. Plus, science!
The only complaint I have is Ellie's assumption that her friendship with Briana is done. She never talks to Briana about it and Briana, who is busy pursuing other interests, continues to make an effort to stay on friendly terms with Ellie. I would have liked to have seen some sort of examination of that particular situation.
Otherwise, I was delighted and charmed. Recommended for fans of The Lemonade War
The only complaint I have is Ellie's assumption that her friendship with Briana is done. She never talks to Briana about it and Briana, who is busy pursuing other interests, continues to make an effort to stay on friendly terms with Ellie. I would have liked to have seen some sort of examination of that particular situation.
Otherwise, I was delighted and charmed. Recommended for fans of The Lemonade War
July 21, 2014
The Nitty Gritty: Ellie's world is about to get sucker punched in the gut. First, her best friends runs off for greener pastures with the volleyball team, her father is off on a tour with his play company and her mother is a hipster looking for some fashion sense. If that isn't enough her grandfather is now a moody teenager.
Like most people Ellie doesn't like change, but her grandfather and more importantly her dearly departed goldfish, Goldie just might teach the middle schooler that change is a necessary part of life.
The Opening Line: Eleven year old Ellie never liked change.
The Good: This was a cute and light read. Something that I would recommend to any budding scientist. Especially girls. Anything to show girls that they can be more than what TV and Twilight is telling them is ok in my book. We are really starting to question gender roles and girls are breaking out of that Victorian mold we've been regulated to since...well the Victorian era, and now authors are starting to get on the bandwagon and I am all for it.
Ellie as a main character was a bit simple minded to the point that I wanted to slap her with a better education, but then she would pop up and cook breakfast and I would like her again. Anyone that cooks is A-ok in my book. Ellie was a different kettle of fish from her other literary counterparts in that she isn't boy crazy, worrying about her looks, bemoaning her lack of social status and all that other nonsense. I like that. Women are multifaceted creatures and I like that Holm is giving us that. Especially in a younger character. Its so important to show girls that all that they are is ok. You can be the shy artsy girl, or the kooky theater girl, the math geek, the volleyball girl, the cheerleader, or the test tube chaser. Its ok to be all of those things and she still be a girl and still be awesome.
Or you can be the girl that doesn't really know what she wants to do yet. Ellie is that girl. She knows she has a fountain of passion bubbling away inside her, she just hasn't found her outlet and she wasn't rushed to find it. The "grown-ups" in her life allowed her to find it. There wasn't any pressure to be this or be that. Sure her parents wanted to expose her to the things they loved, but she was free to like it or not.
I think that is a great lesson for kids and parents.
The Bad: Ellie and her mother just accept that this teenage boy is her grandfather/father without much ado about nothing. There's no discussion, no screaming, tears, denial...nothing. He just walks in the door and everyone accepts it. I call BS on that. If my 90 year old grandfather suddenly turned up in the body of a 13 year old I would have a few questions and a hard time swallowing that. And I write fractured fairy tales for a living.
The chapters ended abruptly and they started off in weird places. There was a bit of a disconnect there.
This book was a tad hard on the "soft science" or the creative arts. Though it did have a redeeming moment in the kitchen between Ellie and her grandfather as they looked through her late grandmother's recipe book. I thought that was a very Southern thing. Don't get me wrong I know people in the North have recipe books, but for a girl in the South getting her mother's or grandmother's recipe book is a right of passage. When I got my grandmother's cast iron skillet I cried. That scene for me tugged at all my heart strings.
This book would work better in 3rd person. Everything is on the surface with the characters and their development. Sure Ellie does go through a change as all growing kids do, but I didn't feel it was genuine. I would have loved to have really gotten into the head of her grandfather. This is one character that had one foot in the grave and now he gets to do it all over again. All we got from his was black hole hunger and sullen teen. We got that in Twilight. I just wanted a little more. The first person POV hindered that.
Final thoughts: All in all it was a cute, entertaining book that had hidden layers of depth.
Like most people Ellie doesn't like change, but her grandfather and more importantly her dearly departed goldfish, Goldie just might teach the middle schooler that change is a necessary part of life.
The Opening Line: Eleven year old Ellie never liked change.
The Good: This was a cute and light read. Something that I would recommend to any budding scientist. Especially girls. Anything to show girls that they can be more than what TV and Twilight is telling them is ok in my book. We are really starting to question gender roles and girls are breaking out of that Victorian mold we've been regulated to since...well the Victorian era, and now authors are starting to get on the bandwagon and I am all for it.
Ellie as a main character was a bit simple minded to the point that I wanted to slap her with a better education, but then she would pop up and cook breakfast and I would like her again. Anyone that cooks is A-ok in my book. Ellie was a different kettle of fish from her other literary counterparts in that she isn't boy crazy, worrying about her looks, bemoaning her lack of social status and all that other nonsense. I like that. Women are multifaceted creatures and I like that Holm is giving us that. Especially in a younger character. Its so important to show girls that all that they are is ok. You can be the shy artsy girl, or the kooky theater girl, the math geek, the volleyball girl, the cheerleader, or the test tube chaser. Its ok to be all of those things and she still be a girl and still be awesome.
Or you can be the girl that doesn't really know what she wants to do yet. Ellie is that girl. She knows she has a fountain of passion bubbling away inside her, she just hasn't found her outlet and she wasn't rushed to find it. The "grown-ups" in her life allowed her to find it. There wasn't any pressure to be this or be that. Sure her parents wanted to expose her to the things they loved, but she was free to like it or not.
I think that is a great lesson for kids and parents.
The Bad: Ellie and her mother just accept that this teenage boy is her grandfather/father without much ado about nothing. There's no discussion, no screaming, tears, denial...nothing. He just walks in the door and everyone accepts it. I call BS on that. If my 90 year old grandfather suddenly turned up in the body of a 13 year old I would have a few questions and a hard time swallowing that. And I write fractured fairy tales for a living.
The chapters ended abruptly and they started off in weird places. There was a bit of a disconnect there.
This book was a tad hard on the "soft science" or the creative arts. Though it did have a redeeming moment in the kitchen between Ellie and her grandfather as they looked through her late grandmother's recipe book. I thought that was a very Southern thing. Don't get me wrong I know people in the North have recipe books, but for a girl in the South getting her mother's or grandmother's recipe book is a right of passage. When I got my grandmother's cast iron skillet I cried. That scene for me tugged at all my heart strings.
This book would work better in 3rd person. Everything is on the surface with the characters and their development. Sure Ellie does go through a change as all growing kids do, but I didn't feel it was genuine. I would have loved to have really gotten into the head of her grandfather. This is one character that had one foot in the grave and now he gets to do it all over again. All we got from his was black hole hunger and sullen teen. We got that in Twilight. I just wanted a little more. The first person POV hindered that.
Final thoughts: All in all it was a cute, entertaining book that had hidden layers of depth.
April 14, 2015
Maybe 2.5 stars? I really wanted to like this book but found the characters pretty flat. Ellie, an 11-year old girl, is in middle school and lost her best friend to volleyball. Ellie’s mother brings home a stray teenage boy, Melvin, Melvin gets Ellie interested in famous scientists like Robert Oppenheimer, Isaac Newton, and Jonas Salk and how their scientific discoveries changed the world. So much so in fact that Ellie worries about Melvin’s discovery could adversely affect the world, similar to Oppenheimer's nuclear bomb.
February 6, 2019
This almost felt too short. It started and ended quite abruptly and I was left wanting more. I see there’s a sequel so look forward to checking that out. I loved the science aspect of it and the family relationships and enjoyed the story, though. Read it on the recommendation of my 9-year-old.
January 22, 2015
THE FOURTEENTH GOLDFISH, BY JENNIFER L. HOLM
I really wanted to like this book. The person who recommended it to me is a very dear friend, and a wonderful soul. I tried so hard...
This is a children's book. I don't agree with it, but some people say allowances have to be made for that. In any case, if you decide to read it, keep that in mind.
Synopsis: Ellie is an 11 year-old girl with artistic parents who is currently suffering a break-up from her best friend, and doesn't like the change. One day, her grandfather, Melvin, appears at her house as a 13 year-old boy, announcing he's discovered the cure for aging. As Ellie and her mother adapt to their new situation, significant and deep changes are wrought in all their lives.
Overall enjoyment: Meh. I tried, I really did. And I suppose I would have liked it less if I hadn't tried.
Plot: The idea is really interesting, but it's poorly executed. There's no development, no climax, and everything is a bit too obvious. The chapters are very disconnected from each other.
Characters: They don't feel like people at all, they're walking clichés. Ellie is the only one with a bit of life in her; I'll admit she's very well constructed. But all the others are stereotypes: the grumpy old man, the artsy-hipster mom, the goth kid...
World/setting: Again, it's like she did the bare minimum. It doesn't play a big part on the story, though.
Writing style: A bit sloppy. The book feels like a first draft. It feels unfinished, and, up to a point, that's what bothers me the most. I kept thinking "this could be such a good book with a bit of rewriting and editing!" The first chapter is really good, sweet and interesting, with a bit of humor. The rest is just a bunch of disjointed phrases thrown together. And it really bothered me how obvious things were. I don't mean the suspense of the story, but the characters' feelings and motivations; she kept spelling them out all the time. It may be a children's book, but kids aren't stupid. They're perfectly capable of understanding those things, you don't have to explain that to them.
Representation: She didn't specify anybody's ethnicity. There was a kid named Raj, with a brother named Andalos, but she doesn't even describe them. And everyone is cis, straight and able-bodied.
Political correctness: This book was made to get kids interested in science, so that's a plus. It's even more specifically addressed at girls, with a girl as a main character, so that's a double plus. I just wish it had been better written. Something I enjoyed immensely, though, was the fact that she didn't try to force romance onto the kids. Ellie meets a boy, and they become friends, but not a couple. I can't tell you how satisfying that was. And how uncomfortable I was while reading, sure that, despite the fact that this is an 11 year-old girl, they would end up kissing, or something.
This one was not entirely bad, just disappointing. Especially after it started off so strong.
Up next: Yes Please, by Amy Poehler
July 7, 2014
My thoughts upon finishing this:
1. This is like Rebecca Stead lite! And I mean that as a compliment! Stead's books explore themes in interesting and sophisticated ways. This explored a theme (the impacts of science on nature) on a bunch of levels in a way that is (probably) easier to grasp for most young readers. I'm very excited to talk to kids about this one.
2. Man, I love this idea of a teenage grandparent. So funny. There was something about it that was familiar to me, but I can't put my finger on where I've seen it before. It begs to be a movie with a great young actor playing Melvin with his scrunchies and polyester pants. Now, I will admit that so much of the Melvin story stretches logic past its breaking point, but I don't care. The story was realistic where it needed to be, and not so realistic in other places. I thought it all flowed beautifully in service of the story.
3. I wish I had read this earlier so I could have booktalked it at my school visits last spring. Our Summer Learning theme is science and this book pushes science in a really fun way. Ellie feels left out of her mom's theater world and her friend's volleyball world, but finds she belongs in the world of scientists.
4. I love Jenni Holm! I've never read anything by her I didn't like. The only thing that keeps me from giving this five stars is the title--well, really, the whole goldfish metaphor. It seemed a little tacked on and unnecessary, like driving home a point that's already been made, which is sort of like talking down to your audience. The only off-key note in an otherwise perfectly pitched middle grade novel.
1. This is like Rebecca Stead lite! And I mean that as a compliment! Stead's books explore themes in interesting and sophisticated ways. This explored a theme (the impacts of science on nature) on a bunch of levels in a way that is (probably) easier to grasp for most young readers. I'm very excited to talk to kids about this one.
2. Man, I love this idea of a teenage grandparent. So funny. There was something about it that was familiar to me, but I can't put my finger on where I've seen it before. It begs to be a movie with a great young actor playing Melvin with his scrunchies and polyester pants. Now, I will admit that so much of the Melvin story stretches logic past its breaking point, but I don't care. The story was realistic where it needed to be, and not so realistic in other places. I thought it all flowed beautifully in service of the story.
3. I wish I had read this earlier so I could have booktalked it at my school visits last spring. Our Summer Learning theme is science and this book pushes science in a really fun way. Ellie feels left out of her mom's theater world and her friend's volleyball world, but finds she belongs in the world of scientists.
4. I love Jenni Holm! I've never read anything by her I didn't like. The only thing that keeps me from giving this five stars is the title--well, really, the whole goldfish metaphor. It seemed a little tacked on and unnecessary, like driving home a point that's already been made, which is sort of like talking down to your audience. The only off-key note in an otherwise perfectly pitched middle grade novel.
October 29, 2016
I liked this a lot more than I was expecting to. I had checked this title out because I just wanted something short for a couple of walks/runs.
I was reminded of "Flowers for Algernon" pretty early on in the story, but this book wasn't treading that same ground. Instead, this book covered a lot of different territories: growing old, losing friends and making new friends and the pain there, learning to live with one's parents' expectations, learning to accept one's child's differences and interests, opening oneself to possibilities, tolerance, the importance of curiosity and asking questions....and the part I liked best, science is okay and interesting.
Ellie was such a positive and open person, in stark contrast to her overbearing, intolerant, and at times idiot, grandfather. I found that Ellie came across as more of an adult than her grandfather, and mother sometimes. I liked Ellie's growing interest in science, and how positively the author presented a few scientific discoveries that have had a large impact on the world. Ellie also learned that there are costs to science, sometimes quite grim, but the overall message was to keep exploring, keep asking questions. This science-positive book was a nice change over the bajillion fantasy stories out there, that tell kids that a spell, a wand, a secret, or just somehow being that special chosen one are all you need in life. I left this book with the idea that a questioning mind, and being open and caring are not bad things to have.
I was reminded of "Flowers for Algernon" pretty early on in the story, but this book wasn't treading that same ground. Instead, this book covered a lot of different territories: growing old, losing friends and making new friends and the pain there, learning to live with one's parents' expectations, learning to accept one's child's differences and interests, opening oneself to possibilities, tolerance, the importance of curiosity and asking questions....and the part I liked best, science is okay and interesting.
Ellie was such a positive and open person, in stark contrast to her overbearing, intolerant, and at times idiot, grandfather. I found that Ellie came across as more of an adult than her grandfather, and mother sometimes. I liked Ellie's growing interest in science, and how positively the author presented a few scientific discoveries that have had a large impact on the world. Ellie also learned that there are costs to science, sometimes quite grim, but the overall message was to keep exploring, keep asking questions. This science-positive book was a nice change over the bajillion fantasy stories out there, that tell kids that a spell, a wand, a secret, or just somehow being that special chosen one are all you need in life. I left this book with the idea that a questioning mind, and being open and caring are not bad things to have.
June 16, 2018
I read The Fourteenth Goldfish for a second time today and still really liked it. The only thing I wished was different about the book, was if not everything ended happily so suddenly--her mom gets married to Ben, and Ellie suddenly has Momo as her new best friend. Of course I like happy endings, but I wish there was a bit more struggle for it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2014
Holy moly! We will be buzzing about The Fourteenth Goldfish in the fall. http://mrschureads.blogspot.com/2013/...
May 6, 2024
read this for a book club challenge and it was such an intriguing concept about scientific exploration, mixed with a heartwarming tale about believing in the possible. It was such a fun read 💙
July 2, 2014
Holm has spun a beautiful little tale for readers of all ages that addresses family, growing pains, and the importance of belief in the possible. Science facts sure to entice curious readers are found throughout the novel. I love this simple, evocative story & found many connections with the familial relationships & Ellie's uncertainty about her future. A must read. THIS REVIEW COMES AS A RESULT OF READING AN ADVANCED READER'S COPY. MUCH THANKS TO THE RANDOM HOUSE REPS AT ALA14.
June 15, 2017
I didn't like this book because it got really boring at the end.
October 27, 2014
Two-second recap:
The Fourteenth Goldfish is a wonderful, funny tale on family, finding what you love in life and second chances. Readers both young and old, will undoubtedly appreciate Ellie's gradual discovery of her love of science, and her growing appreciation of family and friends in all ages and forms.
***
Full review:
I've been sitting on my review for The Fourteenth Goldfish for several months now, because I've been worried that I just can't do this book justice.
It's a wonderfully inventive tale about a girl getting to know her grandfather, but it's also a book that brings up some pretty profound ideas, including examining Oppenheimer's work on the Manhattan Project, and also questioning the ethics of altering the natural order of things.
In other words, it's one of those books that you want everyone to read, but you become concerned that by gushing about a book so much, you'll accidentally turn those others readers off. However, I'm determined to get people to pick this up, so I'll give it a go.
Jennifer Holm introduces us to Ellie, an eleven-year-old who is going through an awkward period in her life. Her dad is out of town, her goldfish has died and her best friend has found another group of people to hang out with, effectively leaving Ellie on her own.
But one day, her mother shows up with a teenaged boy claiming to be Ellie's grandfather Melvin. Melvin has reverted in age because of a scientific experiment involving a jellyfish, and now he needs Ellie to help him finish his work. What follows are hilariously madcap adventures, a new friendship, and a relationship which begins to develop between grandfather and granddaughter, that leads Ellie to realize just what she's good at, and where she might possibly begin to fit in.
Holm's tale of a granddaughter and a grandfather who are able to meet while relatively close in age, is an enjoyable tale for so many reasons, particularly when it comes to the grandfather/granddaughter relationship.
By having the newly-young Melvin appear in Ellie's life just as she's going through a host of difficult events, Holm does a great job of exploring the novelty of what it means to have an adult who does understand what a younger person is going through, something that all readers will likely relate with.
Conversely, as Ellie works with her grandfather to continue his scientific work, Holm also does a wonderful job of showing the importance of having love - particularly familial love - and feeling like you have someone to work with, and inspire in your own life.
Melvin has clearly been lonely since losing his wife, and it's obvious that Ellie's newfound interest in science not only encourages him, but also helps him find the courage to pursue goals that he's put off for many years. There are many strong reminders that it's sometimes the most unusual relationships that help you become even better versions of yourself, and it's heartwarming to see how Melvin and Ellie effect that change in one another.
Outside of Ellie and Melvin's relationship, Holm also does a great job of asking some profound questions on science, and what it means to look beyond one's personal desires, for the betterment of the world. Both Ellie and Melvin pose questions and assertions on the advantages and ethics of certain research, which will undoubtedly encourage readers to think for themselves.
While The Fourteenth Goldfish is a relatively short book at 208 pages, Holm has created such a rich world filled with fun characters and insightful looks at big concepts, I felt like I had completed a thoroughly satisfying journey by the time I got to the final page. Holm also concludes the book by leaving a hint that she may not be done with Ellie and Melvin just yet, and I sincerely hope that we'll be able to rejoin them at a later point.
Of special note: Holm makes it a point to subtly highlight the value of being a non-conformist throughout the course of the book. Various characters have chosen to pursue their passions rather than what's appropriate and/or desired by others, a lesson that Ellie learns herself throughout the story.
Educators and parents will likely appreciate Holm's reminder that it's not only important to pursue your dreams, but it's often that desire to work on your passions that can help lead to some of the biggest, most amazing discoveries out there. It's a very positive message, especially at an age when readers do feel peer pressure to conform.
***
Final verdict:
As another reviewer stated, The Fourteenth Goldfish isn't just any middle grade story about a girl and her goldfish.
Jennifer Holm has written a funny, intelligent tale about that transitory period in a young person's life, as they begin to discover what they enjoy and who they're meant to be. Ellie begins the book a little unsure of what she wants out of life, but concludes her tale with a renewed interest in a field that is sure to take her to many different places.
This is a book that will absolutely encourage young readers to dream big, while also hopefully inspiring them to look critically at the scientists, concepts and themes that are discussed in this book. As Jennifer Holm says in her author's note, "...believe in the possible."
I highly recommend this book for fans of Laurel Snyder and Karen Foxlee, but also for reluctant readers. Ellie and her grandfather will inspire all readers to look at the world around them a little differently.
The Fourteenth Goldfish is a wonderful, funny tale on family, finding what you love in life and second chances. Readers both young and old, will undoubtedly appreciate Ellie's gradual discovery of her love of science, and her growing appreciation of family and friends in all ages and forms.
***
Full review:
I've been sitting on my review for The Fourteenth Goldfish for several months now, because I've been worried that I just can't do this book justice.
It's a wonderfully inventive tale about a girl getting to know her grandfather, but it's also a book that brings up some pretty profound ideas, including examining Oppenheimer's work on the Manhattan Project, and also questioning the ethics of altering the natural order of things.
In other words, it's one of those books that you want everyone to read, but you become concerned that by gushing about a book so much, you'll accidentally turn those others readers off. However, I'm determined to get people to pick this up, so I'll give it a go.
Jennifer Holm introduces us to Ellie, an eleven-year-old who is going through an awkward period in her life. Her dad is out of town, her goldfish has died and her best friend has found another group of people to hang out with, effectively leaving Ellie on her own.
But one day, her mother shows up with a teenaged boy claiming to be Ellie's grandfather Melvin. Melvin has reverted in age because of a scientific experiment involving a jellyfish, and now he needs Ellie to help him finish his work. What follows are hilariously madcap adventures, a new friendship, and a relationship which begins to develop between grandfather and granddaughter, that leads Ellie to realize just what she's good at, and where she might possibly begin to fit in.
Holm's tale of a granddaughter and a grandfather who are able to meet while relatively close in age, is an enjoyable tale for so many reasons, particularly when it comes to the grandfather/granddaughter relationship.
By having the newly-young Melvin appear in Ellie's life just as she's going through a host of difficult events, Holm does a great job of exploring the novelty of what it means to have an adult who does understand what a younger person is going through, something that all readers will likely relate with.
Conversely, as Ellie works with her grandfather to continue his scientific work, Holm also does a wonderful job of showing the importance of having love - particularly familial love - and feeling like you have someone to work with, and inspire in your own life.
Melvin has clearly been lonely since losing his wife, and it's obvious that Ellie's newfound interest in science not only encourages him, but also helps him find the courage to pursue goals that he's put off for many years. There are many strong reminders that it's sometimes the most unusual relationships that help you become even better versions of yourself, and it's heartwarming to see how Melvin and Ellie effect that change in one another.
Outside of Ellie and Melvin's relationship, Holm also does a great job of asking some profound questions on science, and what it means to look beyond one's personal desires, for the betterment of the world. Both Ellie and Melvin pose questions and assertions on the advantages and ethics of certain research, which will undoubtedly encourage readers to think for themselves.
While The Fourteenth Goldfish is a relatively short book at 208 pages, Holm has created such a rich world filled with fun characters and insightful looks at big concepts, I felt like I had completed a thoroughly satisfying journey by the time I got to the final page. Holm also concludes the book by leaving a hint that she may not be done with Ellie and Melvin just yet, and I sincerely hope that we'll be able to rejoin them at a later point.
Of special note: Holm makes it a point to subtly highlight the value of being a non-conformist throughout the course of the book. Various characters have chosen to pursue their passions rather than what's appropriate and/or desired by others, a lesson that Ellie learns herself throughout the story.
Educators and parents will likely appreciate Holm's reminder that it's not only important to pursue your dreams, but it's often that desire to work on your passions that can help lead to some of the biggest, most amazing discoveries out there. It's a very positive message, especially at an age when readers do feel peer pressure to conform.
***
Final verdict:
As another reviewer stated, The Fourteenth Goldfish isn't just any middle grade story about a girl and her goldfish.
Jennifer Holm has written a funny, intelligent tale about that transitory period in a young person's life, as they begin to discover what they enjoy and who they're meant to be. Ellie begins the book a little unsure of what she wants out of life, but concludes her tale with a renewed interest in a field that is sure to take her to many different places.
This is a book that will absolutely encourage young readers to dream big, while also hopefully inspiring them to look critically at the scientists, concepts and themes that are discussed in this book. As Jennifer Holm says in her author's note, "...believe in the possible."
I highly recommend this book for fans of Laurel Snyder and Karen Foxlee, but also for reluctant readers. Ellie and her grandfather will inspire all readers to look at the world around them a little differently.
April 14, 2017
Sách dễ thương, đọc 1 lèo trong 1 buổi tối. Nhưng không thích bằng mấy cuốn trước của Jennifer L. Holm.
Bài nhỏ của mình về cuốn này trên trang Đọc Sách: https://docsach.org/2017/02/20/chu-ca...
Bài nhỏ của mình về cuốn này trên trang Đọc Sách: https://docsach.org/2017/02/20/chu-ca...
October 20, 2016
Cuốn sách thiếu nhi với cốt truyện đơn giản, về một nhà khoa học và cô cháu gái cùng nhau nghiên cứu và phát triển một thứ thần dược giúp người ta trẻ mãi không già. Nhưng cuối cùng họ nhận ra, lớn lên r��i già đi là một quy luật tất yếu của cuộc đời, không thể can thiệp hay thay đổi, nếu như cố tình sẽ gây ra những hậu quả khôn lường.
Người ông của cô bé khi trở lại là một đứa trẻ tuổi 13 do thứ thuốc mình nghiên cứu đã gây rất nhiều phiền phức cho gia đình cô bé cũng như ngôi trường ông theo học để che mắt người đời. Nhưng khi trở lại thành chú bé 13 tuổi, ông và cô cháu gái có điều kiện gần gũi và hiểu nhau hơn. Ông đã truyền cho cô bé niềm đam mê khoa học, giúp cô nhận ra quy luật của cuộc sống là không ngừng phát triển đi lên, không thụt lùi cũng không đứng yên một chỗ.
Trùng hợp là thời gian này mình cũng đang đọc cả cuốn Chân trời đảo ngược, cũng có nội dung về phát kiến khoa học sẽ gây chấn động thế giới, nên có thể đồng cảm hơn với cuốn sách này. Chú cá vàng thứ mười bốn là truyện thiếu nhi, nhưng nội dung ẩn chứa trong nó không hề đơn giản, mang theo những thông điệp về nhân sinh cũng như sự sáng tạo không ngừng theo đuổi ước mơ khoa học của con người.
Người ông của cô bé khi trở lại là một đứa trẻ tuổi 13 do thứ thuốc mình nghiên cứu đã gây rất nhiều phiền phức cho gia đình cô bé cũng như ngôi trường ông theo học để che mắt người đời. Nhưng khi trở lại thành chú bé 13 tuổi, ông và cô cháu gái có điều kiện gần gũi và hiểu nhau hơn. Ông đã truyền cho cô bé niềm đam mê khoa học, giúp cô nhận ra quy luật của cuộc sống là không ngừng phát triển đi lên, không thụt lùi cũng không đứng yên một chỗ.
Trùng hợp là thời gian này mình cũng đang đọc cả cuốn Chân trời đảo ngược, cũng có nội dung về phát kiến khoa học sẽ gây chấn động thế giới, nên có thể đồng cảm hơn với cuốn sách này. Chú cá vàng thứ mười bốn là truyện thiếu nhi, nhưng nội dung ẩn chứa trong nó không hề đơn giản, mang theo những thông điệp về nhân sinh cũng như sự sáng tạo không ngừng theo đuổi ước mơ khoa học của con người.
May 21, 2015
You could just read this as a warm, funny story with a science fiction twist. But Holm is too good a writer to leave it at that. lnstead, she casually slides in an introduction to some great scientists, the classic play Our Town, teen read The Catcher in the Rye, and ties them all together into the age old question of the meaning of life. A kid can read this, and simply enjoy it, but a good teacher could get a heck of a good classroom discussion going with this book. Good work.
January 8, 2015
I liked the breezy, no questions asked, way this book handled the central idea: that Ellie's grandfather had indeed found a way to turn himself young again. I loved how it tackled family relationships and the dynamics of middle school. I can why it's getting such great buzz. At times, though,it was almost too breezy. There are some big issues here, and would have liked more!
April 7, 2014
A wonderful story about life--growing up and growing old.
March 18, 2014
This is one amazing book. My students will be addicted to it.
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