AJ and the Incredible Fish by Paolo Mazzucato is a captivating fantasy adventure that’s perfect for tweens aged 9-14, especially boys who love a blend of excitement and deeper meaning.
MY REVIEW
AJ and the Incredible Fish by Paolo Mazzucato is sure to ignite the imagination of young and old alike. It makes me think this is Paolo Mazzucato’s version of Moby Dick. It’s definitely a fishing tale about the one that got away.
There are fabulous illustrations, poems, and songs woven into the story. AJ and the Incredible Fish is filled with action and adventure and meanings to the story that adds food for thought. AJ had lost the ability to let his imagination run free. No Easter Bunny or Santa Claus. No fairies exchanging money for teeth. No magic left in his life.
I was marking some of Grandpa’s quotes from his journal and I thought it was funny that Paolo had listed them at the end of the book. Things like:
You’re never too old to believe.
The only danger comes from never leaving the shore.
Certainty is the death of imagination.
So let your imagination run wild and you never know what the future can hold for you.
Title: AJ and the Incredible Fish
Author: Paolo Mazzucato
Publication Date: September 10, 2024
Pages: 316
Genre: Fantasy Adventure (Tweens 9-14)
Could a fish hold the key to belief?
AJ and the Incredible Fishby Paolo Mazzucato is a captivating fantasy adventure that’s perfect for tweens aged 9-14, especially boys who love a blend of excitement and deeper meaning.
This story takes young readers on an unforgettable journey that blends the wonders of fantasy with the realities of growing up.
Eleven-year-old AJ is a relatable character who starts off skeptical of fairy tales and grand adventures, but when his Grandpa unexpectedly sets sail on a quest to find a legendary fish, AJ finds himself pulled into a world where anything is possible.
Alongside an eccentric girl named Livvy, AJ faces perilous challenges, encounters extraordinary characters, and discovers that the true adventure lies in believing in the impossible.
This book is more than just an adventure; it’s a story about trust, courage, and the power of belief. It encourages young readers to embrace their imagination, face their fears, and understand that sometimes, the greatest treasures in life are the dreams we dare to chase.
Ideal for parents, teachers, and librarians seeking a fantasy fiction adventure that inspires and entertains.
Don’t miss out—let AJ’s journey spark imaginations!
AJ AND THE INCREDIBLE FISH is available in hardcover for $24.95 and in Paperback for $18.95. It can be found on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BepiBooks.com and other online book sellers. (and at the Orange County Children’s Book Festival, Sept. 22, 2024 https://www.kidsbookfestival.com/
BepiBooks: https://bepibooks.com/aj.html
Publication date: September 10, 2024; Publisher: Bepi Books
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Paolo-Mazzucato/author/B07PHNMF53
Amazon Hard Cover Page: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1737989840?
AJ and the Incredible Fish — Hard Cover: 978-1-7379898-4-4; 316 pages, 24.95
AJ and the Incredible Fish — Paperback: 978-1-7379898-5-1, 316 pages, 18.95
Amazon Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/AJ-Incredible-Fish-Paolo-Mazzucato/dp/1737989859
Book Excerpt
Grandpa straightened up and squared off. “Worse? What could be worse? Worse than giving up without a fight? Worse than surrendering to doubt or taking the easy way out. Believing that you can’t change the world? What kind of lesson is that for my grandson?”
“But Captain,” Marlin started—
“I am NOT your captain!” Grandpa said as he threw his cap down onto the table. Riley and Marlin took a step back, startled. I was stunned too.
I picked up Grandpa’s cap and carried it back to him. “Grandpa, it’s okay. It’s been a lot of fun. I mean…I didn’t really think we’d catch anything.”
With that, Grandpa’s expression changed. The stern look in his eyes faded like the sparkle had earlier. “I see,” he said finally. “Then your adventure really is over.”
– Excerpted from AJ and the Incredible Fish by Paolo Mazzucato, Bepi Books, 2024. Reprinted with permission.
Grandpa straightened up and squared off. “Worse? What could be worse? Worse than giving up without a fight? Worse than surrendering to doubt or taking the easy way out. Believing that you can’t change the world? What kind of lesson is that for my grandson?”
“But Captain,” Marlin started—
“I am NOT your captain!” Grandpa said as he threw his cap down onto the table. Riley and Marlin took a step back, startled. I was stunned too.
I picked up Grandpa’s cap and carried it back to him. “Grandpa, it’s okay. It’s been a lot of fun. I mean…I didn’t really think we’d catch anything.”
With that, Grandpa’s expression changed. The stern look in his eyes faded like the sparkle had earlier. “I see,” he said finally. “Then your adventure really is over.”
Paolo Mazzucato is an American fiction author and screenwriter. He began his writing career as a Chicago playwright and award-winning student filmmaker before moving to Los Angeles where he won awards for screenwriting and scripted various projects for film and television. He is also the author of several children’s books including: “No One Mocks a Panda” (an Amazon #1 Best Seller, Feb. 2019), and “The Absolutely True Story of La Befana” (an Amazon Holiday Top 100 title). He is also the author of the fantasy/adventure novel, “The Gondoliers: The Secret Journals of Fanticulous Glim,” a “recommended” read by the US Review of Books.
Mazzucato’s new book will be launched on Sunday, September 22nd at the Orange County
Children’s Book Festival in Costa Mesa, California.
Find out more about the author on his website: www.writer.mazzucato.org and follow him on his social media (Facebook, X and Instagram).
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