The Magic Fish

Reading Check and Short Answer questions on key plot points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Pages 1-117

Reading Check

1. Who takes care of Alera in the fairytale?

2. Why does Tiền think his jacket is tacky?

3. What name does Alera give to Prince Maxwell?

4. On whom does Tiền have a crush?

5. From what did Vinh have his and Hiền’s rings made?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What do the three different color panels in the graphic novel mean?

2. Why does Hiền feel a growing gap between her and her son?

3. Why are Tiền and Hiền able to see Hiền’s mother when they hadn’t been able to before?

4. Why did Tiền ask the librarian for help looking for a word in Vietnamese?

5. Why does Hiền want Tiền to go to the dance at school?

Paired Resource

“About the Author”

• This is an information page from author Trung Le Nguyen’s website about his work, conveyed through visual and written elements.
• How do you think that the author views fairytales? What written elements tell you this? Visual ones?

“Our Story”

• This resource from The Matthew Shepherd Foundation provides background as to who Matthew Shepard is and what happened to him and connects to the theme of Trusting in Friends and Family.
• How does hearing Matthew Shepard’s story on the news affect Tiền, specifically his ability to trust in friends and family?

Pages 118-184

Reading Check

1. Why does Hiền go to Vietnam?

2. Why does Tiền think he should skip the dance?

3. Who speaks to Tấm in the garden?

4. What task does Tấm’s stepmother give her to prevent her from attending the party?

5. Who does Tiền dance with?

6. What does the merchant use to find Tấm after the party?

7. How does Cám die?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why had Hiền wanted to introduce her mother to Tiền?

2. What reason does Tiền give for why he doesn’t know how to ask for help?

3. What can we conclude about Mrs. Flynn’s opinion of Tiền dancing with Julian?

4. What does the priest say to Tiền?

5. What does Hiền’s aunt say when Hiền asks if Tấm’s story ended the way she told it?

6. What is the effect of juxtaposing Hiền’s yellow-toned panel against the red-toned panel?

Paired Resource

“The Story of Tấm and Cám”

• A resource from the St. Louis Public Library that recounts the story of Tấm and Cám that can help students understand how Hiền’s aunt is attempting to communicate through fairytales.
• How does this story compare with the one Hiền’s aunt tells her? How might Hiền’s aunt be trying to communicate through the fairytale with Hiền, based on the differences between her version and the version in this resource?

Pages 185-229 and Author's Note

Reading Check

1. How many daughters does the king have?

2. Who does the mermaid initially fall in love with when she first journeys to the surface?

3. What does the witch take from the mermaid in order for her to get to the surface?

4. What role does the mermaid get in the show?

5. Who does the mermaid kiss in the show?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why is Tiền upset when Hiền is introduced to Father Niles?

2. Why does Hiền change the story of the little mermaid?

3. In the author’s note, what is the reason why Nguyen did not want to tell an immigration story that begins with departure and ends with arrival?

Paired Resource

“The Magic Fish Author Trung Le Nguyen Discusses the Heroism of Fairy Tales: ‘It’s a Fantasy of Growth’”

• This interview with the author about The Magic Fish also touches on the symbolism of the importance of water.
• How does this interview help you to understand the author’s goals with this graphic novel?

Recommended Next Reads

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

• This National Book Award-nominated graphic novel tells the story of a young boy grappling with his identity as a Chinese American.
• Shared topics include navigating racial identities and migration.
• American Born Chinese on SuperSummary

Heartstopper: Volume One by Alice Oseman

• This coming-of-age graphic novel focuses on two teenage boys as they fall in love.
• Shared topics include LGBTQ+ coming out stories and a shared theme of Trusting in Family and Friends.
• Heartstoppper: Volume One on SuperSummary