For the child grappling with overwhelming sadness or the desperate hope for a miracle, this story explores finding strength and belief in the face of uncertainty.
A parent might reach for this book when their child is facing the overwhelming sadness of a family illness and is clinging to a desperate, magical hope. This gentle story follows ten-year-old Birdie, who believes she can save her gravely ill father by making a bargain: if she can find the legendary giant fish in the local pond, he will get better. The book honestly explores anticipatory grief, the limits of a child's power, and the strength found in family and friendship. For readers 9 to 12, it is a poignant and supportive read that validates a child's impulse toward magical thinking while guiding them toward resilience and acceptance.
The book deals directly and unflinchingly with a parent's terminal illness and the process of anticipatory grief. The approach is secular, though it deeply explores personal faith, prayer, and the idea of making bargains with the universe. The resolution is realistic and sad, not a magical cure. The ultimate hopefulness comes from Birdie's resilience and the love of her family and friends, not a miraculous event.
Ideal Reader
A sensitive, introspective child aged 9 to 12 who is experiencing anticipatory grief for a sick loved one. It is also perfect for a child who struggles with feeling powerless and resorts to magical thinking or private rituals to try and control difficult situations.
Parent Prep
Parents must be prepared for the fact that the father does not recover. This book is a tool for processing grief, not for fostering false hope of a miracle. The value is in its honesty. No specific pages need previewing, but a parent should be ready to have conversations about death, grief, and the fact that some things are out of our control. A parent notices their child seems fixated on an unrelated, difficult goal, seeming to believe its success will fix a much larger family problem. Or, they overhear their child making a promise or bargain to the universe about a sick relative or another difficult situation.
Age Experience
A younger reader (9-10) will connect deeply with Birdie's quest, her hope, and her friendship with Martin. An older reader (11-12) will better grasp the complex themes of magical thinking as a coping mechanism, the family's financial and emotional strain, and the bittersweet nature of finding strength in the face of loss.
What Makes It Special
This book's unique power lies in its focus on anticipatory grief, the difficult waiting period before a loss. It validates a child's internal world of bargains and magical thinking as a normal response to trauma, treating it with respect and empathy rather than dismissing it.
Read plot summary
Ten-year-old Birdie's father is in the hospital with a serious illness. Feeling powerless, Birdie makes a private bargain that if she can see the legendary giant fish in a local pond, her father will live. The story follows her determined quest, which she keeps secret from her mother and older brother. Along the way, she befriends a boy named Martin, who understands her connection to the pond. Birdie grapples with her personal faith, immense hope, and the encroaching, difficult reality of her father's condition.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Birdie makes a bargain that if she sees the giant fish, her dad will get well. Have you ever made a bargain like that, promising to do something in exchange for something you really wanted? Why do you think people do that when they feel helpless?
2
Birdie keeps her bargain a secret from her mom and her brother, Billy. Why do you think she chose not to tell them? How do you think they would have reacted if she had?
3
Martin becomes an important friend to Birdie. How did their friendship help her during this difficult time? What did he understand that maybe her family didn't?
4
At the end of the book, Birdie doesn't get the miracle she bargained for, but she seems to have found a different kind of strength. Where do you think that strength comes from?
