The Fourteenth Goldfish

A gem of a story. While it could be considered science fiction, I think of it more as realistic fiction. Ellis is navigating middle school, with its evolving friendships. Ellie's grandfather has come to live with her and her mother. He has successfully tested his elixir of youth on himself and now has the body of a teenage boy. He is still his crotchedy self in this new body, however, having retained his grandfather brain. This accounts for much of the humor. The story is fast moving, promotes science and yet has thoughtful moments. At just under 200 pages, you can sneak a very good book into the hands of a reluctant reader.

My thoughts upon finishing this:

1. This is like [a:Rebecca Stead|175329|Rebecca Stead|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1212611033p2/175329.jpg] 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 show more 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. show less

Ellie's grandfather is a scientist. He's cranky, particular, and hoards packets of soy sauce when they visit the Chinese restaurant. What Ellie does not expect is that one day he will turn up at her house as a teenage boy, having discovered a cure for aging using cells from a rare jellyfish. Grandpa Melvin, now looking like an oddly-dressed thirteen-year-old, is discovering that being a teenager again has its drawbacks -- most notably, he can't get into his lab any more to continue working on his experiments. Ellie, on the other hand, is discovering the drawbacks of adolescence for the first time, as her best friend discovers new interests that don't include Ellie. Then again, Ellie is discovering new interests of her own: when Grandpa show more Melvin talks about science, it's a lot more interesting than she ever realized before. With the help of a new friend from school, Ellie and Grandpa Melvin hatch a plan to rescue Grandpa Melvin's experiments from his lab so he can continue his work. But Ellie is starting to wonder if there might be serious consequences to Grandpa Melvin's discovery. Is helping him continue to experiment really the best thing to do?

This story has a lot of good things going for it: it's a fast, funny read that incorporates a lot of science without becoming didactic. I thought it had just a couple of weaknesses, all related to the ending, which I don't want to give away here. So, if you find the summary intriguing, you will just have to read it and tell me whether you buy what happens at the end of the book, or if you (like me) were expecting a different outcome based on certain clues in the text. But even though I'm not a hundred percent sold on the ending, I thought this was an excellent book, and I'll be recommending it to kids at my library. show less

Where do authors get their fresh ideas and how do they pull them off? This charming story has a very down-to-earth quality in the relationships that are portrayed and a fantastical element in part of its premise. Ellie is on the cusp of teenager-hood, living with her single Mom in CA and maintaining a good relationship with her Dad. She is a sweet and guileless girl who hasn't begun to challenge authority or rebel. This status quo gets challenged when her grandfather Melvin shows up -- not as the crotchety old man her mother doesn't get along with, but as a crotchety old man in a teenager's body! He is a well-known scientist (with a fan club in Finland) and he has just created a serum that reverses aging. After trying it on himself, his show more life has really been upended. He is put into Ellie's mom's (his own daughter) custody, is enrolled in Ellie's middle school, can no longer drive, drink, or go to work -- nobody at his job believes him and he is barred from the building, while the serum goes undetected in the lab freezer. Hilarity ensues. Particularly funny is the old man voice and perspective in the midst of teen problems and issues (acne, homework, detention, love interest -- Ellie's best friend has a little crush on Melvin). Meanwhile, Ellie and her Mom try to pass Melvin off as a far-flung cousin. Melvin's goal is to get his serum back and Ellie tries to help, along with Raj a new friend who is an admirer of the adult Melvin's scientific discoveries. It all comes down to a sweet reflection on growing up, growing old, confronting change (and the attitude you confront it with) and the role of family in its many forms. There's also some excellent science knowledge and reflection here too. And it all works beautifully! show less

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

"We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed. A few people cried. Most people were silent."
-Oppenheimer (Loc 476 of ARC)

That's right, that's an Oppenheimer quote from a middle grade book. This isn't any old middle grade book about a girl and her goldfish (admit it, you kinda thought it was). It's a deeply moving story about a girl, Ellie and her grandfather Melvin. Melvin is a scientist who just made a groundbreaking discovery. He discovered the fountain of youth! He is now her grandfather trapped in a 13 year old's body. As you can imagine, hilarity ensues. But this isn't some comical joke of a novel.

First of all, the book is about show more science. Technical details, famous scientists name, and controversial issues were all discussed. Keep in mind, in case you're forgetting, this is a middle grade novel. I can't tell you how happy this made me. I mean, middle school was the setting, but Ellie was considering really great topics. For instance, the issue of scientific discovery. Oppenheimer's Manhattan Project (which I didn't learn about until High School, and Ellie is learning it in middle school because of her grandfather), created the atomic bomb. Was the world ready for it? What were the ramifications? How was his discovery received? Did the scientists eat burritos while discussing ideas?

The characters were hilarious. The majority of the humor came from Melvin, Ellie's grandfather-turned 13 year old, who also turns into her new babysitter. He wears her moms leggings because he hates doing laundry. He steals soy sauce packets from the Chinese restaurant (my grandfather does that with saltine crackers). Basically, he's laugh out loud funny. The book is a fast read, and I was instantly captivated by Ellie and her scientific mind. I loved how the author didn't dumb things down for the audience. In fact, she did the opposite. She encourages young readers to look up these famous scientists, and their discoveries! Marie Curie, Einstein, Galileo, Oppenheimer, and Stalk are some of the many that are listed and referenced in the book. Not to mention, at the end there's a wonderful "for further research" page for kids who want to quench what curiosity was piqued from reading the book.

So thank you Jennifer Holm! I will be recommended this to my nephew and niece, as well as my students I tutor. Those who like and those who don't like science, will find this a pleasurable and funny read. I wouldn't e surprised if this wins awards. show less

Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

Sixth-grader Ellie is a perceptive and bright narrator who brings an unbiased and comic look at the crazy situation her family is thrown into when her grandfather discovers an antidote to aging and turns himself into a teenager. Now, despite his Harvard education and fan club in Finland, cranky grandfather Melvin is going back to middle school, all the while scheming with Ellie on the best way to break into his lab and recover his research.

Jennifer Holm is a genius at packing so much into her deceptively simple prose. The story is fun and engaging, and manages to touch on weighty issues without sounding heavy-handed. Her characters are at once familiar and wholly original - from Ellie's show more flamboyant drama teacher mom, to her scientist grandfather, and even Ellie herself, who's learning what it means to grow up even as her grandfather seeks to reverse aging.

A lovely book, warm and sentimental in the best way, that explores what it is to grow up and grow old, and what can be learned from doing both. show less

Ellie Cruz is not having the best 6th grade year. Middle school is no fun: “Middle school is like one of those highway restrooms in the middle of nowhere. It’s dirty and smelly and it’s crowded with strange people.” Her best friend plays volleyball and doesn’t have time for her. But that’s nothing compared to the night her mom brings home a teenage boy.

It’s her estranged grandfather. Melvin is a brilliant scientist who has found a way to turn himself back into a teenager. And boy is her mother mad. She treats him like a middle-schooler and he wants to ask her boyfriend about his intentions.

Ellie discovers she has more in common with her grandfather than she thought as her love of puzzles fits in with his idea that show more scientists never give up “because they believe in the possible. … That it’s possible to find a cure for polio. That it’s possible to sequence the human genome. That it’s possible to find a way to reverse aging.”

The fast-paced novel includes Ellie, her grandfather and their new friend Raj trying to break into her grandfather’s old lab. But the novel includes the ups and downs of science, too, like what happened after Oppenheimer and crew were successful in the Manhattan Project. And how one person can grow old gracefully while another finds out there are exciting new possibilities out there.

Holm’s father, a WWII navy vet who became a pediatrician, inspired the book with his love of science and curiosity. That influence resulted in a humorous, highly accessible novel that sneaks in ideas without being pedantic. show less