By Colorado Kids Advisory Board member Annalise Kraus

Title: Fish
Author: L.S. Matthews
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Number of Pages: 183


The book Fish, by L.S. Matthews, tells the story of a boy known as Tiger, and his family who are sent from their country (the name is never mentioned) to another country (this name is also never mentioned) desperately needing their help. Tiger's parents are helping aids who arrive on an airplane to this country to help the less fortunate people in the villages. One of the major problems of this country is the drought. There is no water and there is no vegetation. After adapting to the life of this country, word was spread that war was imminent. After hearing this dreadful news, all of the villagers hurried out of their homes and headed for the border where they would be taken care of in a refugee camp. Tiger and his family were soon one of the last ones still in the village. After seeing that they were no longer a help to anyone, they decided that it would be best for them if they packed up their belongings and hired a guide to get them safely over the border. While getting ready to leave, Tiger was out walking when he spotted a mud puddle from the last rain. He walked up beside the mud puddle and stared into the muddy water. Suddenly, he saw a black figure swim by his feet. As he looked more closely, he could see a hole that opened and shut like the blinking of an eye. It was the mouth of a fish. Tiger couldn't believe what he had seen. Tiger picked up a stick and stirred the mud. The fish was startled. Then Tiger reached his hand under the surface of the puddle and touched the fish. Making sure that he didn't fall in, Tiger cupped his hands and scooped the fish out of the puddle. As he held the fish in his hands, it felt like holding a huge piece of cold, slippery melted chocolate. As he looked into the fish's eye, he knew that he couldn't just leave him in that mud puddle. Tiger figured that since there was going to be a better place for them just over the border, they could find a better home for this fish. Tiger held the fish tightly in his hands as he ran back home. When he got there, he quickly found a cooking pot, filled it with water and plopped the fish in. He secured a lid on the top of the pot and his family, the guide and his donkey headed for the border. Once they reached the border, the soldiers would not let them through because the refugee camp was full. Their only way of getting to safety was to cross over the mountains. This journey soon becomes a life or death situation for everyone. But then they remember the fish. If he could live in that horrible mud puddle for so long and still survive, then all they needed was hope in finding a better place just over the border of the mountains.

I liked this book a lot because it seemed to strike me as a book that took a lot of imagination to write about. I also think that it was very well written for being L.S Matthews' first book. I would recommend this book because the way that the book is written, it makes you never want to put it down and read just one….more….page!!!!! I think kids who are about 10 years or older would enjoy this book. I think the overall story of this book is a lot like the book, So Far From the Bamboo Grove, with the whole idea of the escape from one country to another without being able to take the easy way out.

If this book sounds like a great summer reader that you think that you might enjoy, then fish it out of your nearest book store and dive in! (February, 2005)