Jake and Ava: A Boy and a Fish

Educational and somehow emotionally educational as well.

A little boy learns how to fish with his grandfather but something happens after they catch a fish.

How the story ended is so satisfying. You just have to read this with the kids.

The art is amazing!

Thank you, author/artist, for the advance reading copy.

I had thought this would be another grandpa fishing story, but it turned out to be a whole other kettle of fish, and being a lifelong vegetarian myself, I fully approved! It's a great book to be reviewing as the COP26 goes on right now.

I admired the stance taken here, because it's a very hard sell in the USA where everyone grows up feeling they have the innate right to rape and pillage nature and the hell with the consequences, and very few people ever truly question it - not really question it. But the fact is that life doesn't work the way most Americans like to comfortably think it does. The world isn't our oyster. Nature isn't here for us, and it isn't endlessly resilient. Now this self-centered 'I own it' attitude is coming back around to bite us, and we're starting to learn some hard lessons.

Fortunately Jake learns an easy lesson when he goes on the traditional fishing trip with grandpa. I never did go an any trips with any grandpas, but I would definitely have been Jake had I done so! They find a nice creek to set a lure and sit there waiting for a bite. This is how we mimic the manly man 'conquering' nature. Sad, isn't it? Meanwhile we get the underwater story too, as an uncle and his niece - archer fish - go out hunting themselves, and Ava is the fish who mistakenly bites on Jake's lure.

Jake chooses compassion for the fish and lets her go. He will never know it was Ava, and she will never know it was Jake, but that was decidedly a magical moment! I fully commend this book as both a worthy read and an unexpected and unusual bonus. And I wish it all the success in the world.

What an interesting book! It, certainly, adds an interesting perspective to going on a first fishing trip with your grandpa. I found the plot fascinating, expecting a heartwarming story of the strong bond between a grandfather and grandson, which the author beautifully conveyed. Yet, the idea that the fish experience pain and discomfort is sure to provide discussion. The explanation at the book's conclusion provides a different perspective and is bound to be quite thought provoking. Well done!

Jake and Ava : A Boy and a Fish is an interesting story and not at all what I was expecting. I was pleasantly surprised with the subject matter and myself and my 5 year old son enjoyed it and continued to discuss it long after we finished reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for my ARC.

4 Stars

Jake goes on his first fishing adventure with his grandpa. He learns how to fish, while Ava, the archerfish, is learning how to hunt from her uncle. What happens when Jake catches Ava in his first-ever fishing adventure?
The story is about empathy towards the marine life and how fishes also feel pain when caught. Jake is a sweet little boy who is worried about worms being hurt when used as bait and then happily lets go of the little fish he caught.
There’s full-page information at the end of the book about recreational fishing and its ill effects on marine life. The illustrations are in watercolors with tiny text to take the story forward. While the setting and the feel were real-like, something felt lacking in the overall narrative. I can’t put my finger on it, sorry.
Yet, the book is a good way to teach kids about treating insects and animals with love.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and BooksGoSocial and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Jake was a kind little soul who hated to see other living things get hurt, even the very fish he went to catch with his grandpa. I think that character about Jake makes him a better person. An interesting and enlightening kids’ book.

I really appreciated the dual perspective of this tale. The illustrations are gorgeous. As a teacher I wouldn’t be comfortable sharing this book with the suggested age range (book recommended for 3+) and instead would use it with older children to support learning about ethics associated with the fishing industry.