The Fourteenth Goldfish Audiobook By Jennifer L. Holm cover art

The Fourteenth Goldfish

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The Fourteenth Goldfish

By: Jennifer L. Holm
Narrated by: Georgette Perna
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$8.99/mo. after 3 months. Cancel anytime. Offer ends July 15, 2026 at 11:59pm PT.

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Believe in the possible . . . with this "warm, witty, and wise" New York Times bestselling novel from three-time Newbery Honor winner Jennifer L. Holm. A perfect read about a child's relationship with her grandfather!

Galileo. Newton. Salk. Oppenheimer.
Science can change the world . . . but can it go too far?

Eleven-year-old Ellie has never liked change. She misses fifth grade. She misses her old best friend. She even misses her dearly departed goldfish. Then one day a strange boy shows up. He’s bossy. He’s cranky. And weirdly enough . . . he looks a lot like Ellie’s grandfather, a scientist who’s always been slightly obsessed with immortality. Could this pimply boy really be Grandpa Melvin? Has he finally found the secret to eternal youth?

With a lighthearted touch and plenty of humor, Jennifer Holm celebrates the wonder of science and explores fascinating questions about life and death, family and friendship, immortality . . . and possibility.

And don’t miss the much-anticipated sequel, The Third Mushroom!

"Warm, witty and wise"—The New York Times

"Awesomely strange and startlingly true-to-life. It makes you wonder what's possible." -- Rebecca Stead, Newbery Medal-winning author of When You Reach Me

SUNSHINE STATE AWARD FINALIST!
Growing Up & Facts of Life Science Fiction Family Life Literature & Fiction Witty Fiction Growing Up Science Fiction & Fantasy Multigenerational Family Difficult Discussions Fantasy & Magic Fantasy
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Critic reviews

Publishers Weekly starred review, May 26, 2014:
“This is top-notch middle-grade fiction with a meaty dilemma, humor, and an ending that leaves room for the possibility of a sequel. “

Booklist starred review, July 1, 2014:
"A great choice for book groups and class discussions as well as individual reading."

New York Times Books Review, August 24, 2014:
"“Youth, old age, life, death, love, possibilities, and – oh yes – goldfish all come together in this warm, witty and wise novel.”

The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, September 2014:
"Holm’s writing is crisp, accessible, and well paced, and her enthusiasm for science and its impact emerges clearly and consistently but not overbearingly, with clear, appreciative nods to the world of theater and its purpose in our lives. Indeed, this novel explores weighty elements of human existence with a light touch, allowing readers to engage with the issues at multiple levels; an excellent appendix of recommended readings encourages exploration and dialogue. This novel would make an ideal classroom read aloud, particularly to expose students to the rich and rewarding STEM fields."
Engaging Story • Great Plot • Excellent Narrator • Clever Writing • Touching Message • Entertaining Twists

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Awesome

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Great for a long car ride and the narrator was excellent - very enjoyable and a good family story. Listen to it

Good family story!

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A well told tale that combines non-fiction information with fiction. Very entertaining! A good introduction for middle school science

Excellent story with lots of twists

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The story is entertaining. I like the focus on science and the clever introduction of various scientists and their accomplishments.

Great read aloud for 4th grade.

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This book is great and makes you think differently and look st the world better.

Beautiful story, I recommend greatly.

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