The Fourteenth Goldfish
By: Jennifer L. Holm
In this quirky children’s novel we meet Ellie, a new middle-schooler who is going through a lot of new changes and trying to find her passion in life. One afternoon her mother shows up with a teenage boy in tow, who is acting a lot like her grandfather whom she most never sees. It turns out Ellie’s grandfather (a scientist) has found the “Fountain of Youth.” They spend the next few months bonding over his love of science. This story is not only about the antics of what can happen when a grandfather turns into a teenager but a story of discovering your passion and having the right mentor in your life to help you do that. This book is filled with fascinating facts about science and scientists from our past and could very well spark the imagination of young readers. This a charming, light read that I would recommend to any later elementary grade or middle grade students with a budding interest in science, especially girls!
About the Author: Jennifer L. Holm is a New York Times bestselling children’s author and the recipient of three Newbery Honors for her novels Our Only May Amelia, Penny From Heaven, and Turtle in Paradise.
Review By: Allison Kartman