In its pages, readers will find a complex and emotional tale, which in summary is about a young boy who is the son of Vietnamese immigrants. The Magic Fish is somewhat clearly marketed to a teen or YA reader, featuring as it does a set of teen protagonist and a colorful cover and marketing tact. That’s all great, but as an adult reader, there was something that came late in the year that made it much more exciting for me - the release of The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen. Given the excited critical reaction to these works, one might presume that in 2021 that number will end up being higher.
I make that assumption because these publishers are rolling out rich and varied lines of youth-skewing stories (even if the actual audience for the books is perhaps more complex…which we’ll get into later).Ĭhief among these publishers and lines is Random House Graphic, which put out 23 books this year as part of what one might describe as a first wave. Publishers not traditionally prolific within the medium have launched lines of graphic books, presumably inspired by the vast sales numbers of juggernaut creators Raina Telgemeier and Dav Pilkey.
Ages 12 up.By Zack Quaintance - It’s been an interesting few years for the graphic novel landscape. Back matter includes author's notes that delve into personal inspiration, the interplay between immigration stories and fairy tales, and contextualize the illustrations. Nguyen's poignant debut captures the perspectives of, and essence of the bond between, a parent and child, proving that language and love can transcend words. Alternating between Ti n and Hi n, the narrative intertwines Western and Vietnamese fairy tales, including "T m C m" "our Cinderella' " and a nuanced retooling of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid." Detailed illustrations rendered in split complementary colors cleverly distinguish each story line. Meanwhile, Ti n struggles to discuss his sexuality with his parents ("The librarian and I couldn't find the word for it in Vietnamese") and navigate his feelings for male best friend Julian, even with the encouragement of best friend Claire. Despite her busy schedule, though, she dreams of taking her son to her hometown in Vietnam to meet her mother. Ti n cherishes this bonding activity, as his mother works long hours as a seamstress. Ti n Phong, 12, who "speak mostly English," and his mother, Hi n, a refugee who "speak mostly Vietnamese," have long read fairy tales together to bolster Hi n's English.
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