The Fourteenth Goldfish

By Jennifer L. Holm,

Book cover of The Fourteenth Goldfish

Book description

Believe in the possible . . . with this "warm, witty, and wise" New York Times bestselling novel from three-time Newbery Honor winner Jennifer L. Holm. A perfect read about a child's relationship with her grandfather!

Galileo. Newton. Salk. Oppenheimer.
Science can change the world . . . but can…

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Why read it?

2 authors picked The Fourteenth Goldfish as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I loved how zany and smart this book was. It explores questions about aging and immortality in a fun, kid-friendly way.

When eleven-year-old Ellie bumps into a gawky and rather bossy boy around town, she realizes he reminds her a whole lot of someone else—her Grandpa Melvin! I appreciated how this book weaved in science and ideas about death, family, and what’s possible in such a playful way.  

Books that use humor to explore serious issues are delightful, and this one tops my list. Eleven-year-old Ellie isn’t the biggest fan of change. Then one day her mom is called to pick up Ellie’s grandfather from the police station and comes home with...a thirteen-year-old boy?! Ellie’s grandfather has managed to reverse the aging process, and now he’s enrolled in her middle school. Ellie and her grandfather form a strong bond over their shared interest in science. She even helps him break into his old lab so he can retrieve the specimen he needs to publish his findings. But Ellie…

From Cathy's list on families, changes, and challenges.

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