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Amphibian Carla Gunn 9781552452141 Books

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Amphibian Carla Gunn 9781552452141 Books

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Tags : Amphibian [Carla Gunn] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. <div><BR><B>Shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best First Book (Canada and Caribbean region)</B><BR><BR><B>A <I>Globe and Mail</I> Top Five First Fiction Title of 2009</B><BR><B>Shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best First Book (Canada and Caribbean region)</B><BR><BR>Nine-year-old Phineas William Walsh has an encyclopedic knowledge of the natural world. He knows that if you wet a dog's food with your saliva and he refuses to eat it then he's top dog,Carla Gunn,Amphibian,Coach House Books,155245214X,Literary,Canada,FICTION Coming of Age,FICTION General,FICTION Literary,Fiction,Fiction - General,Fiction-Literary,GENERAL,General Adult

Amphibian Carla Gunn 9781552452141 Books Reviews

I loved this book. It is written from a young person's perspective and although I am many years older, I thoroughly enjoyed this trip into Phineas' mind. His idiosyncratic behaviour was entertaining and his character very very likable. I would highly recommend this book for its plot, character and humour. The book also has an environmental theme, but that theme is far from contrived; it's a story involving a kid who grew up with environmentalism an everyday concern. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

- Rik
Original, and beautifully crafted in the voice of 9 year old Phineas William Walsh, Gunn's novel tells the story of a child dealing with the inconsistencies of human relationships.

"How do people who love each other one day, no longer love each other the next", asks Phin? "Where does all the good stuff go, the happy times, when somebody dies?" And why do teachers prefer "their" answers to the "right" answers?

Phin is a supremely engaging bright child; at turns adorable, frustrating, irritating, sensitive, and demanding. He grieves for a world being destroyed by careless human beings, and he wants desperately to engage other children and adults in the importance of making change while there is still time, and still animals to save. He keeps a list of endangered species and is worried that by the time he grows up, it will be too late.

I found myself fearing for Phin, for this intense child overwhelmed with the seeming impossibility of getting adults to pay attention. He is bullied at school and is hurt and angry at the loss of his father through his parent's separation "Some male primates don't stick around to look after their kids but human fathers are supposed to be more like the marmoset, who does. What the heck's wrong with my father," he asks?

The sometimes somber mood, the sense of impending catastrophe as Phin's behaviour becomes more and more difficult is lightened by wonderful bits of Phin curiosity. "Once you are in heaven, do you get stuck wearing the clothes you were buried in for eternity?" His relationship with his sensitive, caring, frightened out of her mind for Phin mother is a lesson in creative and meaningful parenting.

Kudos to Carla for creating such a wonderful authentic story. I only hope she follows this book with a "Book of Phin Curiosities' geared for other children.

Johanna Bertin
Author of Don Messer the Man Behind the Music, Goose Lane Editions, 2009
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