Book Review: The Fourteenth Goldfish

Book: The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Description:

Galileo. Newton. Salk. Oppenheimer.

Science can change the world . . . but can it go too far?

Eleven-year-old Ellie has never liked change. She misses fifth grade. She misses her old best friend. She even misses her dearly departed goldfish. Then one day a strange boy shows up. He's bossy. He's cranky. And weirdly enough . . . he looks a lot like Ellie's grandfather, a scientist who's always been slightly obsessed with immortality. Could this pimply boy really be Grandpa Melvin? Has he finally found the secret to eternal youth?

With a lighthearted touch and plenty of humor, Jennifer Holm celebrates the wonder of science and explores fascinating questions about life and death, family and friendship, immortality . . . and possibility.



Rating: 5 stars

Review:

What happens when your grandfather turns into a teenager?

Well, that's exactly what 11 years old Ellie is finding out. After an experiment turns her scientist grandfather Melvin rather youthful it gave her another chance to get to know him better. In the past, she only saw her grandfather occasionally and when she did, he was always bickering with her mother. So not a lot of bonding time there.

But now she's getting to see a whole new side to him and his love of science is starting to inspire her as well. Which has turned out to be a highlight to her freshman year of middle school. And thanks to her grandfather, she made a new friend, Raj (the Goth kid). It turns out he's the perfect addition to their little group. Which is great since Ellie and her best friend have started to drift apart.

As the trio work together trying to acquire a certain specimen from her grandfather's lab. The specimen is the component to his new transformation. Unfortunately, since he's a teenager now, he can't get anywhere near the building without being stopped by security. So, the trio need to come up with a plan to get it as well as not get themselves caught.

I really like this book because it's smart and funny and makes you think and not just that. It's full of heart. The underlining question in this book is, just because science can achieve something doesn't mean we should pursue it.

I also really like the characters. They were all well written and seem real. Even the characters that were only shown in few scenes, you still got to know them.

How can you not like Melvin, even the scientific process of turning Melvin from a 76 years old man to a 13 years old teen doesn't change his personality. His crankiness is adorable as well as frustrating, especially for his daughter who he is driving crazy.

I like Ellie, she's curious, intelligent, fun and likes scary movies. She's the daughter of a theatre teacher and an actor but she has no desire to embrace the arts. It just wasn't her thing but science might be.

And Raj is more than just the Goth kid. He's cool and smart and a good friend.

I think this is a great book for young science buffs and something I would have loved to have read when I was younger.