Fish in the Sky

September 24, 2012
Icelandic author Erling's pensive, meandering novel, previously published in 2008 in the U.K., opens on 13-year-old Josh Stephenson's birthday, which marks the beginning of months of internal turmoil and questioning. Josh lives with his overworked mother in Iceland; he yearns for his absent father, a sailor, who sends him a taxidermied falcon, which he and his best friend plan to make the star of their nature magazine. Tormented by his attraction to an older cousin, Gertrude (who has temporarily moved into his mother's house), and following a humiliating school incident, Josh distances himself from friends and family and decides to skip school indefinitely. During his respite, he wanders rugged Iceland, rolling thoughts and ideas over in his mind about the nature of existence and freedom. While Erling (Benjamin Dove) builds a sensitive portrait of teenage transformation with dashes of humor, beautiful observations, and a close look at the chaos that lies below the surface, the story lacks a decisive plot. Heavy use of figurative language and Josh's overly mature voice burden the novel's message about the pain of growing up. Ages 12âup.

October 1, 2012

Gr 9 Up-The awkwardness of being a 13-year-old boy is candidly shared by protagonist Josh Stephenson with humor and compassion. Erlings writes with poignancy; Josh's experiences are raw enough to be embarrassing, sweet enough to evoke empathy. There is no American slang and no pop culture, but the emotions the teen feels are universal. He despises school, has his first ejaculation (while browsing National Geogaphic), and has a crush on a girl who doesn't know he's alive. Erlings handles the events beautifully. When Josh's sexy, older cousin moves in, he lusts for her. He watches with longing and horror as she kisses her boyfriend. "They go for each other's mouths like wolves gobbling up a carcass." Some difficult issues come up: divorce, rape, teen abuse, and bullying, but they seem like the author's own memories, not ploys to create plot. Josh struggles to find meaning in the small world he knows. He misses his father, worries about his cousin, and is annoyed by his preachy aunt. When he finds out that his father is having another baby, he wonders what his new half sibling will be like. He takes time to think by playing hooky. When he is finally caught, he admits he needs direction on his journey to freedom, and in the end decides to live with his dad. The target audience for this book is sensitive, intelligent, and postpubescent males who have a self-effacing sense of humor.-Pamela Schembri, Newburgh Enlarged City Schools, NY

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.