Spotlight on The Magic Fish: NYPL Books for All Pick

By Kate McManus | July 25 2025 | GeneralCommunity Reads

Featured in New York Public Library’s “Books for All” nation-wide community reading program, The Magic Fish is “a lyrical masterpiece” (BuzzFeed) from “a gifted storyteller” (The New York Times) that has received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books. In this award-winning graphic novel, one teen boy’s coming-of-age story is told through fairy tales drawing upon the author’s own Vietnamese heritage. Now adapted to audio, featuring a full-cast narration.

Download The Magic Fish discussion guide.

Watch The Magic Fish book club event.

The Magic Fish
The Magic Fish
(A Graphic Novel)
Trung Le Nguyen
9780593125298
In this gorgeous graphic novel that Entertainment Weekly called "one of the most astounding . . . of the year," fairy tales are the only way one teen boy can express himself to his parents, who are Vietnamese immigrants. But how will he find the words to tell them that he's gay?
Hardcover
Age 12 and up
Grade 7 & Up

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