
Reach for this book when your child is facing a major life transition, or when you want to build empathy for families experiencing displacement. Based on the real-life events of the Bosnian War, the story follows a young boy and his family who must flee their home as conflict approaches. Before leaving, they release two golden fish into a pond, hoping they will survive. This beautifully illustrated narrative explores themes of resilience and the enduring power of hope. While it touches on the heaviness of being a refugee, it is handled with a gentle touch suitable for children aged six to ten. It serves as a bridge to discuss difficult world events through a lens of family love and the metaphor of nature's survival.
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Sign in to write a reviewThe book deals with war and the refugee experience directly but through a secular lens. While houses are burned and people are displaced, the violence is kept off-page. The resolution is profoundly hopeful, focusing on the reunion of the family and the miracle of the fish.
A child in grades 2-4 who is beginning to ask questions about global news or a child who has personally experienced the loss of a home or a major move and needs to see that beauty can grow again after destruction.
Read this with your child. The images of the burning village in the background are striking and may require the parent to explain that the family is now safe. No specific previewing is required for most children, but be ready to talk about what a refugee camp is. A parent might see their child expressing anxiety about 'bad things in the world' or showing sadness over a loss of stability. The trigger might be a child asking, 'What happens to the pets if people have to leave?'
Younger children (6-7) will focus on the survival of the fish and the safety of the family. Older children (9-10) will pick up on the political reality of war and the deeper symbolism of the fish as a metaphor for the human spirit.
Unlike many refugee stories that end with the arrival in a new land, this one focuses on the return to the old land and the unexpected way life continues even in the ruins.
Set during the Bosnian War, the story follows Viktor and his family as they flee their village. Viktor's father leaves first to join the resistance, then the mother and children must go as the house is threatened. Before leaving, Viktor and his sister Marina release two pet goldfish, Gleam and Glow, into their pond. After time in a refugee camp, the family returns to find their home destroyed but the pond teeming with hundreds of golden fish, symbolizing life's persistence.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.