Hi-Lo books are always difficult to review because they so often seem to fall flat to readers outside their intended audience. I'm rating this poorly because I, as a reader, did not enjoy it. However I can see how it would be very appealing to readers who want MG content at an elementary reading level. I did find the focus on "boy things" somewhat anachronistic (I mean are there any parents alive now who would object to their son doing Zumba or being interested in knitting?), but perhaps this is a concern for young boys that I am unaware of.

Fish Out of Water by Joanne Levy is part of the Orca Currents series for middle-school students, and it is the first I've had the pleasure to read.

Twelve year old Fish Rosner is not content to have his interests defined by his gender. When his grandmother refuses to teach him how to knit, something he feels very passionate about, he is confused when she instead suggests that he watch sports with his grandfather. When Fish later joins the knitting club at school, it might just cost him the friendship of his bestie, Seth, but Fish soon realizes that pursuing your passion is sometimes the only way to be true to yourself, whatever the cost.

This is an engaging and affecting story that, although brief, speaks volumes about age appropriate issues and concerns, and it will certainly strike a chord with many readers, particularly within the middle-school demographic. I would be very interested in exploring more of this series in the future.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for this ARC.