What If a Fish

May 15, 2020
It is the summer before sixth grade, and Eddie Aguado's life is taking several unexpected turns. Eddie's best friend has moved away; he's looking forward to the arrival of his older half brother from Colombia; and he's just partnered with a new girl in town to enter a fishing competition. Neither one of them can fish, but Eddie is hoping his brother, Big Eddie, will teach him. Eddie's biracial. His Colombian father died when he was little and he hardly remembers him now, but he has his dad's black hair and brown eyes (his mom is white), and his skin is "the color of coffee ice cream." Because of his looks he's asked where he's from, when all he's ever known is Minneapolis, and he wonders if he can be Colombian if he doesn't speak Spanish. Summer suddenly changes when Big Eddie announces he's not coming because his abuela is very sick and asks if Little Eddie can come to Cartagena instead. Though she's not his abuela, she would like to meet him. It is this monthlong stay in a new environment, culture, and language followed by his subsequent return to Minnesota that helps Eddie come to an understanding of family, friendship, and identity. It all unspools in Eddie's perceptive present-tense narration, which is both poetic and believable. Multilayered and convincing, the book will have readers rooting for its sweet and smart protagonist. (Fiction. 9-12)

COPYRIGHT(2020) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 1, 2020
Grades 4-6 After his best friend moves away, Eddie spends his summer waiting for his half-brother, Big Eddie, to visit from Colombia. Inspired by his late Papa, Eddie decides to enter a fishing contest, certain that his brother will be able to help him. But when Big Eddie's abuela becomes ill, he cancels his trip, and Little Eddie finds himself flying to Colombia to spend time with Big Eddie and Abuela, who wants to get to know him. As her condition worsens, Little Eddie spends more time with her, learning about Papa and his first wife and thinking about the life his parents shared before Papa passed away. Along the way, he discovers the magic of Colombia, the different ways people experience loss, and the importance of family. Fajardo's honest, heartfelt text evokes sorrow and grief but also understanding, navigating the many complexities of identity, friendship, family, loss, and death. Threads of magical realism, woven carefully into the story, are sure to leave readers pondering the magic present in their own lives.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

October 2, 2020

Gr 4-6-Life is changing rapidly for Eddie Aguado in Fajardo's middle grade debut. His Colombian father died when Eddie was only four, and he's since lived with his white, American mother in Minnesota. As Eddie navigates evolving friendships and tries to support his mother by winning a fishing contest (despite not knowing how to fish), Eddie's half-brother calls with news about his abuela in Colombia. Eddie travels to Colombia to spend time with both his brother and his abuela, with whom he forms a distinct bond despite the brevity of the relationship. When abuela passes, Eddie and his brother traverse literal and metaphorical waters to find home and family, together. Fajardo doesn't shy away from conversations about grief and racism, and provides context and support for those experiences. Among them is Eddie's struggle with racist bullying. Some ethnic slurs are used throughout, but Fajardo handles it gracefully-their inclusion feels appropriate both for the audience and within the context of the book. Slivers of magic weave through the narrative, but this isn't a fantasy. Whether the elements are real, imagined, or something else is entirely up to the reader. Many will identify with Eddie as he struggles with his Colombian identity, and others will learn a great deal through his internal dialogue. VERDICT A whimsical and inviting #OwnVoices story of family, friendship, and identity. Recommended as a general purchase.-Taylor Worley, Springfield P.L., OR

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.