What Do Fish Have to Do with Anything?

Starred review from November 3, 1997
Avi (City of Light, City of Dark) is in top form constructing these seven surprising stories. Seemingly ordinary events (offering a handout, getting a series of hang-ups on the telephone, eating Chinese food) take unexpected turns, leading Avi's middle-school heroes and heroines (and readers) to profound, often disturbing truths. Will, the protagonist of the title story, gains insight into his newly separated mother's unhappiness after talking with a philosophical beggar outside his apartment building. In "Talk to Me," Maria O'Sullivan comes to grips with the disappearance of her brother, who left home at 16, during a series of one-sided conversations with a mysterious, silent caller. Parker, the narrator of "Fortune Cookie," thinks his birthday "belongs to , like writing your own fortune cookie," and, for a present, asks his recently divorced parents if they will both take him to dinner. The outing proves disastrous, but he leaves the restaurant with a clearer understanding of his feelings about his mother, father and himself. Each of the selections, characterized by a sharp and often dark ironic twist, is like a carefully packaged parcel. The process of unwrapping its layers is almost as exciting as finding the pearl of wisdom inside. Ages 10-14.

Starred review from December 1, 1997
Gr 4-8-These short stories affirm the ability of their main characters to choose their fate. In the title story, Willie bravely searches for the cure for unhappiness. It, and the other stories, show readers the resilience and power of kids using their eyes and minds over accepting conventional adult wisdom. In "Pets," Eve comes up with a solution to the ghost cats who want her to join them, even though she is desperately ill. In "Teacher Tamer," Gregory sneaks into the house of his teacher to seek revenge for her persecution of him; instead, he comes to understand her. Whether facing a domineering mother, divorced parents, or a reputation as a bad guy, the protagonists take positive steps forward. It is this constant of taking action, of choosing the halo over the pitchfork, that make these stories inspiring. Some characters are crass and brash; others are introspective and quiet. Danger lurks in guns, ghosts, strangers, and unjust adults. It's a rare treat to be so surprised so consistently in a collection of stories that still adheres to its theme. Unpredictable and fun, these selections stand out for their inventiveness in dealing with difficult issues in a positive way without sacrificing the honest voices of real kids.-Carol A. Edwards, Minneapolis Public Library

November 15, 1997
Gr. 5^-8. The ever-versatile Avi serves up a collection of seven stories about kids teetering on the brink of adolescence. Happily, angst is less the order of the day here than irony, which takes the form of some pretty nifty plot twists. In "The Goodness of Matt Kaizer," for example, the baddest kid in town (the eponymous Matt) is mistaken for an angel and turns into the bestest--er, best! But it's authentic emotional insights that provide the surprises and right-on rites of passage in the most successful of the stories--the title tale and "Fortune Cookie," which is further enhanced by a character-defining first-person voice. Another solid performance by an important writer. ((Reviewed November 15, 1997))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1997, American Library Association.)