About This Book
"The Language of Goldfish" is a poignant middle grade novel that delves into the internal world of 13-year-old Carrie Stokes, who is experiencing a mental breakdown fueled by an intense fear of growing up and the changes adolescence brings. The book sensitively explores themes of anxiety, the difficulty of communicating deep emotional struggles to family and friends, and the solace found in creative expression, as Carrie is a talented artist. Her older sister, Moira, serves as a constant reminder of the future Carrie dreads, while her parents struggle to understand her passion and her pain. This novel offers a "quietly powerful" and "hauntingly real" portrayal of mental health challenges in young people, making it an excellent resource for opening conversations about emotional well-being and the pressures of adolescence.
Thirteen-year-old Carrie, clinging to memories of her idyllic early childhood, struggles to communicate with family and classmates.
mental_health_themes
sadness_grief
Discussion Prompts
1
How does Carrie's art help her express feelings she can't put into words?
2
What are some of the changes Carrie is afraid of, and why are they so scary to her?
3
How do Carrie's parents and sister react to her struggles, and what could they do differently to support her?
4
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by change or worried about growing up? How did you cope?
5
The book is called "The Language of Goldfish." What do you think goldfish might symbolize in Carrie's story?
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