Fish

My story starts the day that my parents told me we must leave our adopted home forever. Because of the soldiers and the drought we barely had enough to eat and we could no longer stay to help the people in our village.

Right before we were leaving I saw a fish in a small brown puddle and I knew I had to take it with me. The journey would be hard to get across the mountains—to the safety of the border and the people there who could help us. Yet when I put the fish in the pot I never realized what we would have to face. It never occurred to me to leave Fish behind.

A subtle and sophisticated exploration of life, the strength of humanity, and survival in an unforgiving world, Fish is a story that will teach those who doubt that, when hope is almost extinguished, miracles can happen.

Amazon.com
In L.S. Matthews's inspiring story of altruism and human resilience, a young (presumably British) child of undetermined gender flees with Mum and Dad, a guide, a donkey, and a rescued fish when war comes to the desolate, desperate village where his/her parents are aid workers. Fish tracks the family's harrowing journey to a safe boundary, a trek with dangerous challenges that force the youngster, nicknamed Tiger, to rapidly evolve beyond the "silly little child" Tiger felt he/she was. Readers will find parallels between Tiger protecting the rescued fish; the gentle, intuitive guide looking out for Tiger's family; and the parents risking their safety for the impoverished villagers.
Tiger's first-person narrative is often amusing and genuinely childlike, keeping the episodic story buoyant despite the harsh realities of fleeing on foot through an inhospitable landscape. When Tiger's feet are rubbed raw and bloody from walking, he/she observes, "I was pleased that the damage was so impressive. You know how much something can hurt, but there's nothing to show for it, sometimes." The fact that the specific war-torn country is not named creates several awkward moments ("...we didn't come from the country we were living in now"). Otherwise, Fish, Matthew’s first book, is the riveting survival story and thoughtful coming-of-age tale of the brave, likeable Tiger, who proves to be as tough as his/her name. (Ages 9 and older) --Karin Snelson

From School Library Journal
Grade 4-8–Tiger's Mum and Dad are aid workers in a remote unnamed country that has been devastated by drought, flooded by rains, and besieged by political conflict. The villagers have fled across a neighboring country's border as war looms. Tiger has just rescued a fish from an evaporating pond-turned-puddle on the morning that his family and their Guide are preparing to evacuate. So begins a staggering journey of indomitable odds across a hostile land. The simple innocence of Tiger's first-person narration enriches this tale. His perspective reduces the insurmountable perils of war and famine into believing in a foreseeable future. The travelers' tenacious will and perseverance are dramatically emphasized against the threatening landscape. Tiger's care for Fish is instinctive and unfaltering. As water and supplies dwindle to nothing, there is never a question about saving the creature. To compromise its survival is to question the travelers' own. The pace is exciting and filled with crises and adventure. Readers learn to love and respect the Guide and his faithful donkey for their skills in scaling the treacherous mountain paths. They will be compelled to read on, mystified, worried, ever watchful, and willing for a righteous triumph. This novel has multiple dimensions that balance hardship with unwavering faith and gives hope within the darkness. Graced by a child's vantage point, it is a story that celebrates the human spirit and inherent kindness.–Alison Follos, North Country School, Lake Placid, NY
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L. S. Matthews is a first-time author, and the winner of the Fidler Award for her book Fish, an award given for a first novel for children. She lives and writes in England.