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The Order of Odd-Fish
JO LAROUCHE HAS lived her 13 years in the California desert with her Aunt Lily, ever since she was dropped on Lily’s doorstep with this This is Jo. Please take care of her. But beware. This is a dangerous baby. At Lily’s annual Christmas costume party, a variety of strange events take place that lead Jo and Lily out of California forever—and into the mysterious, strange, fantastical world of Eldritch City. There, Jo learns the scandalous truth about who she is, and she and Lily join the Order of Odd-Fish, a collection of knights who research useless information. Glamorous cockroach butlers, pointless quests, obsolete weapons, and bizarre festivals fill their days, but two villains are controlling their fate. Jo is inching closer and closer to the day when her destiny is fulfilled, and no one in Eldritch City will ever be the same.
From the Hardcover edition.
From the Hardcover edition.
416 pages
First published August 12, 2008
50 people are currently reading
1514 people want to read
About the author
James Kennedy
3 books224 followersJames Kennedy is the author of the adult horror thriller BRIDE OF THE TORNADO, the sci-fi novel DARE TO KNOW, and the YA fantasy THE ORDER OF ODD-FISH. James is also the founder of the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival, an annual video contest in which kid filmmakers create short movies that tell the entire stories of Newbery-winning books in about 90 seconds, with yearly screenings in New York, Chicago, Boston, and 10+ other cities. In addition, he co-hosts the Secrets of Story podcast with Matt Bird. He lives in Chicago.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 258 reviews
August 25, 2013
It's difficult to decide what I should say about this book. If I could sum the novel up in one word it would be, well, odd. Or absurd. Or peculiar. And I mean this in the best possible way. The Order of Odd-Fish is a young adult fantasy that drips with the absurdist humor of Monty Python or Douglas Adams. Naturally, this secures me as a fan.
The novel is about Jo Larouche, an orphan who was found with a note that said, "This is Jo. Please take care of her. But beware--this is a DANGEROUS baby." For that alone, Jo received notoriety, but interest in her quickly fades when it appears that she will be a normal child after all. Jo is raised by Lily Larouche, an eccentric and absent minded former Hollywood starlet who, despite being in her 80's, still parties like she did in her heyday. Through a few twists and turns, Jo and Lily find themselves in Eldritch City, a bizarre land of cockroach butlers, flying ostriches, and the Order of Odd-Fish--a knighthood dedicated to researching bizarre and useless facts when not defending the city. Lily, it seems, was once a member of Odd-Fish. However, after being accused of treason, her memory was wiped and she was exiled to the desert. Now that Lily is home and has her memory back, Jo learns of the circumstances surrounding her birth and a prophecy in which she plays a role in the destruction of the world--finally, Jo realizes just how dangerous she can be.
In the beginning, I wasn't crazy about the novel. I thought it was trying too hard to be bizarre, but once the characters find themselves in Eldritch City, the bizarre quality feels right. I would highly recommend the novel to young adult fantasy fans.
Cross posted at This Insignificant Cinder
The novel is about Jo Larouche, an orphan who was found with a note that said, "This is Jo. Please take care of her. But beware--this is a DANGEROUS baby." For that alone, Jo received notoriety, but interest in her quickly fades when it appears that she will be a normal child after all. Jo is raised by Lily Larouche, an eccentric and absent minded former Hollywood starlet who, despite being in her 80's, still parties like she did in her heyday. Through a few twists and turns, Jo and Lily find themselves in Eldritch City, a bizarre land of cockroach butlers, flying ostriches, and the Order of Odd-Fish--a knighthood dedicated to researching bizarre and useless facts when not defending the city. Lily, it seems, was once a member of Odd-Fish. However, after being accused of treason, her memory was wiped and she was exiled to the desert. Now that Lily is home and has her memory back, Jo learns of the circumstances surrounding her birth and a prophecy in which she plays a role in the destruction of the world--finally, Jo realizes just how dangerous she can be.
In the beginning, I wasn't crazy about the novel. I thought it was trying too hard to be bizarre, but once the characters find themselves in Eldritch City, the bizarre quality feels right. I would highly recommend the novel to young adult fantasy fans.
Cross posted at This Insignificant Cinder
February 3, 2011
I wasn't quite sure what I was getting into with this one, but I ended up throughly enjoying it, and now I want to meet other people who enjoyed this odd, quirky story as much as I did.
The trade paperback artwork was just fabulous and if I had to pick a favorite character I would have to say it would be Ken Kiang. With sarcastically funny dialogue like: "No man calls me a boobly-boobly-boo-boo and lives!" You can't help but liking this complex character. Also, something quite intereseting and unexpected happens to him at the end, but you're going to have to read the story to find out what it is. I'm not telling.
I don't want to give too much of the plot away but I was very impressed at how James Kennedy could sustain his story and have it end well in 400 plus pages. I honestly didn't want this imaginative story to end and when I came to the last page I was kind of sad this adventure was over. However, I do look forward to reading Mr. Kennedy's next book, whatever that may be.
The trade paperback artwork was just fabulous and if I had to pick a favorite character I would have to say it would be Ken Kiang. With sarcastically funny dialogue like: "No man calls me a boobly-boobly-boo-boo and lives!" You can't help but liking this complex character. Also, something quite intereseting and unexpected happens to him at the end, but you're going to have to read the story to find out what it is. I'm not telling.
I don't want to give too much of the plot away but I was very impressed at how James Kennedy could sustain his story and have it end well in 400 plus pages. I honestly didn't want this imaginative story to end and when I came to the last page I was kind of sad this adventure was over. However, I do look forward to reading Mr. Kennedy's next book, whatever that may be.
July 23, 2012
Lily Larouche was a famous (and famously notorious!) actress. Her exploits made her a legend right up until the day she disappeared.
Forty years later, she awakens in her bed with no idea how she got there, or what she's been doing for all that time. In her laundry room, in the washing machine, she finds a baby and a note that reads, "This is Jo. Please take care of her. But beware. This is a DANGEROUS baby."
Thirteen years after that, the mysterious Colonel Korsakov arrives to bring Jo a gift. And, to protect her...
And so it begins, this epic fantasy/adventure featuring not one, but two of the most delightful villains I've ever encountered. One is a secret, so I'll save his charms for you to discover, but the other...
Well, let's meet Ken Kiang, an easily bored millionaire, who once gave "postmodern, yet easy-to-manage" hairstyles to underprivileged school children, before toddler-proofing the entire city of Baltimore. Now he's out to prove he is the most stylishly evil man who ever lived!
"Enough," said Ken Kiang. "Although there is a rich tradition in villainy of pointlessly toying with people before killing them, I'm finding it tiresome. Well, nobody can say I'm halfhearted at being evil, for I have done all the required toying. You will die in thirty seconds."
Now that's a stylishly evil villain!
In the meantime, our "dangerous" baby, Jo, has just hit her first teen year, and has turned out to be "disappointingly ordinary." But things are about to change as Jo and Aunt Lily venture to Eldritch City and meet the mysterious Order of Odd-Fish. We gradually find out Jo's origins, and just where Lily was during her "missing years." There are plenty of secrets to discover, and one BIG secret that must be kept...or else!
The entire book is a great deal of fun and well, massively silly at times. Come for the villains, stay for the flying ostriches, squid rides, and of course, the giant bugs wearing pantaloons.
Forty years later, she awakens in her bed with no idea how she got there, or what she's been doing for all that time. In her laundry room, in the washing machine, she finds a baby and a note that reads, "This is Jo. Please take care of her. But beware. This is a DANGEROUS baby."
Thirteen years after that, the mysterious Colonel Korsakov arrives to bring Jo a gift. And, to protect her...
And so it begins, this epic fantasy/adventure featuring not one, but two of the most delightful villains I've ever encountered. One is a secret, so I'll save his charms for you to discover, but the other...
Well, let's meet Ken Kiang, an easily bored millionaire, who once gave "postmodern, yet easy-to-manage" hairstyles to underprivileged school children, before toddler-proofing the entire city of Baltimore. Now he's out to prove he is the most stylishly evil man who ever lived!
"Enough," said Ken Kiang. "Although there is a rich tradition in villainy of pointlessly toying with people before killing them, I'm finding it tiresome. Well, nobody can say I'm halfhearted at being evil, for I have done all the required toying. You will die in thirty seconds."
Now that's a stylishly evil villain!
In the meantime, our "dangerous" baby, Jo, has just hit her first teen year, and has turned out to be "disappointingly ordinary." But things are about to change as Jo and Aunt Lily venture to Eldritch City and meet the mysterious Order of Odd-Fish. We gradually find out Jo's origins, and just where Lily was during her "missing years." There are plenty of secrets to discover, and one BIG secret that must be kept...or else!
The entire book is a great deal of fun and well, massively silly at times. Come for the villains, stay for the flying ostriches, squid rides, and of course, the giant bugs wearing pantaloons.
November 1, 2011
What a weird book. I mean that in the best possible way, I think.
The Order of Odd-Fish is partly screwball. A quick selection of characters: an aging former actress, a Russian colonel whose actions are dictated by his intestinal tract, a giant and very vain talking cockroach who is stalked by paparazzi, and our main character, Jo Larouche, who was found in a washing machine as an infant with a note warning that she is, in fact, a dangerous baby. There's an order dedicated to writing the appendix to a nonexistent encyclopedia, filled with topics like dithering, unusual musical instruments, and smells. Honestly, sometimes it was almost trying too hard to be nonsensical.
But then there's a fairly straightforward end-of-the-world story in there, and it gets lost in the shuffle. At times, it feels like James Kennedy had written two books, a screwball comedy and a serious fantasy, and squashed them together. Sefino the cockroach was one of my favorite characters, but I have no idea what he, his fellow cockroaches, or his centipede foe were doing in the book, especially when they make jarring appearances in the serious scenes. In the end, the silliness, while taking up much of the book, is not really what the book is about.
That last paragraph makes me sound like I didn't like the book, but I did, a lot. There was just an awkwardness from trying to fit two very different perspectives into one book. I can't help but compare it to the Discworld books, which I feel are much better at achieving the balance between writing a satire and writing a satisfying fantasy. This is Kennedy's first novel, though, so hopefully he'll get closer to achieving that balance next time around. He comes closest with the Belgian Prankster, but it's still not quite there.
Bottom line: The Order of Odd-Fish is essentially a straightforward fantasy with an end-of-the-world scenario that tries very hard not to be.
The Order of Odd-Fish is partly screwball. A quick selection of characters: an aging former actress, a Russian colonel whose actions are dictated by his intestinal tract, a giant and very vain talking cockroach who is stalked by paparazzi, and our main character, Jo Larouche, who was found in a washing machine as an infant with a note warning that she is, in fact, a dangerous baby. There's an order dedicated to writing the appendix to a nonexistent encyclopedia, filled with topics like dithering, unusual musical instruments, and smells. Honestly, sometimes it was almost trying too hard to be nonsensical.
But then there's a fairly straightforward end-of-the-world story in there, and it gets lost in the shuffle. At times, it feels like James Kennedy had written two books, a screwball comedy and a serious fantasy, and squashed them together. Sefino the cockroach was one of my favorite characters, but I have no idea what he, his fellow cockroaches, or his centipede foe were doing in the book, especially when they make jarring appearances in the serious scenes. In the end, the silliness, while taking up much of the book, is not really what the book is about.
That last paragraph makes me sound like I didn't like the book, but I did, a lot. There was just an awkwardness from trying to fit two very different perspectives into one book. I can't help but compare it to the Discworld books, which I feel are much better at achieving the balance between writing a satire and writing a satisfying fantasy. This is Kennedy's first novel, though, so hopefully he'll get closer to achieving that balance next time around. He comes closest with the Belgian Prankster, but it's still not quite there.
Bottom line: The Order of Odd-Fish is essentially a straightforward fantasy with an end-of-the-world scenario that tries very hard not to be.
November 14, 2012
Reviewed by Rebecca Wells for TeensReadToo.com
Jo Larouche has always been ordinary - or as ordinary as you can be when you live in a ruby palace with a highly eccentric retired movie star for an aunt. Though she was found in her aunt Lily's laundry room with a note detailing her as a dangerous baby, Jo has been for all of her thirteen years just about as dangerous as a glass of milk.
Things begin to change when strange events at Lily's Christmas party contrive to send Jo and Lily out of California and into a fantastical land called Eldritch City, where they are taken in by the Order of Odd-Fish, an eclectic collection of knights devoted entirely to the research of useless information. But that's just the beginning, for as Jo finds a new place for herself in Eldritch City, she also becomes entangled in a dangerous game with the Belgian Prankster, a villain who appears to be seeking the downfall of the city Jo has begun to call home.
A rollicking adventure for all ages, THE ORDER OF ODD-FISH has something for every lover of all things ridiculous. From obtuse and elaborate dueling rituals to cockroach butlers obsessed with seeking fame to a villain so sinister he can even make balloon animals terrifying, James Kennedy piles on oddities so fast that you can't help but dive in, and enjoy the stay.
Jo Larouche has always been ordinary - or as ordinary as you can be when you live in a ruby palace with a highly eccentric retired movie star for an aunt. Though she was found in her aunt Lily's laundry room with a note detailing her as a dangerous baby, Jo has been for all of her thirteen years just about as dangerous as a glass of milk.
Things begin to change when strange events at Lily's Christmas party contrive to send Jo and Lily out of California and into a fantastical land called Eldritch City, where they are taken in by the Order of Odd-Fish, an eclectic collection of knights devoted entirely to the research of useless information. But that's just the beginning, for as Jo finds a new place for herself in Eldritch City, she also becomes entangled in a dangerous game with the Belgian Prankster, a villain who appears to be seeking the downfall of the city Jo has begun to call home.
A rollicking adventure for all ages, THE ORDER OF ODD-FISH has something for every lover of all things ridiculous. From obtuse and elaborate dueling rituals to cockroach butlers obsessed with seeking fame to a villain so sinister he can even make balloon animals terrifying, James Kennedy piles on oddities so fast that you can't help but dive in, and enjoy the stay.
October 2, 2011
When I told James Kennedy I'm not yet (still trying) a fan of Neil Gaiman because the books are so layered, thick with prose which slows down the pace, he said, "oh, you won't like mine, then."
Well, James wasn't right. Yes, there were long, rambling descriptions. Yes, it was a deep slow-developing plot. and no, it wasn't one of the roller-coaster mile a minute paces I enjoy. But the same things I typically don't like in a book were the things I enjoyed about this.
I loved the where-did-he-come-up-with-this ludicrousness of the story. Rich, varied, wild descriptions of funky scenes and characters. I found myself surrounded by a strange new world.
And I liked it.
It took a bit before the plot got going, but he kept me entertained and amused while I waited for the train to leave. And once on the train, it took off.
This isn't the kind of book I would write, and it's not necessarily the kind I would read, but this one worked for me.
Norm
http://www.normcowie.com
Well, James wasn't right. Yes, there were long, rambling descriptions. Yes, it was a deep slow-developing plot. and no, it wasn't one of the roller-coaster mile a minute paces I enjoy. But the same things I typically don't like in a book were the things I enjoyed about this.
I loved the where-did-he-come-up-with-this ludicrousness of the story. Rich, varied, wild descriptions of funky scenes and characters. I found myself surrounded by a strange new world.
And I liked it.
It took a bit before the plot got going, but he kept me entertained and amused while I waited for the train to leave. And once on the train, it took off.
This isn't the kind of book I would write, and it's not necessarily the kind I would read, but this one worked for me.
Norm
http://www.normcowie.com
January 5, 2009
Was randomly sent this book for a Book Club review and am blown away by how awesome it is. It's Lemony Snicket, Lewis Carroll, Roald Dahl, and Norton Juster all rolled into one with some Monty Python sprinkled on top. This may go down as one of my favorite reads of the year. You can read my full review here.
June 25, 2021
This book is really amazing! It’s great for if you like whimsical books like Alice in Wonderland! Fair warning is that it’s harder to follow if you are reading it while you are sleepy
November 25, 2008
one of my co-workers arranged for james kennedy to visit our library in january. somehow the book had escaped my radar, perhaps because we had it in the 'youth middle school' section, but when i found out kennedy would be coming, i grudgingly decided to read his book. and i am so glad i did, FOR IT IS SCRUMPTIOUS!!
jo is 13, living with her batty aunt lily in a red palace in the desert outside los angeles. at aunt lily's christmas costume party, many mysterious occurrences occur, and the next day jo finds herself vomited from a giant fish onto the shores of eldritch city with aunt lily, the mysterious colonel korsakov, and his butler, a giant cockroach called sefino. (hands down my favorite character in the book.) They have come to rejoin the Order of Odd-fish, a group of knights researching useless information in a lodge filled with secret rooms and twisty passageways. The secrets of jo's real family and strange birth are contained in eldritch city, and it is up to her to uncover the secrets as she desperately tries to change her fate.
meanwhile, the writing is brilliant, colorful, and hilarious, and eldritch city is a fantasy world unlike any other. i laughed, i cried, and was thrilled to the core. definitely one of my top reads this year.
jo is 13, living with her batty aunt lily in a red palace in the desert outside los angeles. at aunt lily's christmas costume party, many mysterious occurrences occur, and the next day jo finds herself vomited from a giant fish onto the shores of eldritch city with aunt lily, the mysterious colonel korsakov, and his butler, a giant cockroach called sefino. (hands down my favorite character in the book.) They have come to rejoin the Order of Odd-fish, a group of knights researching useless information in a lodge filled with secret rooms and twisty passageways. The secrets of jo's real family and strange birth are contained in eldritch city, and it is up to her to uncover the secrets as she desperately tries to change her fate.
meanwhile, the writing is brilliant, colorful, and hilarious, and eldritch city is a fantasy world unlike any other. i laughed, i cried, and was thrilled to the core. definitely one of my top reads this year.
June 17, 2011
I picked up this book because it just looked like it was made for me. I got to reading it and it freakin' rocked my socks. Kennedy's style of humor is so hilarious and random and it was just the sort of book I needed at that time. Since this is sort of an adventure fantasy not everything can be hilarious at every moment and the serious parts of the book were done very well. By page 120 I was so thoroughly pulled into the story that I didn't want to stop reading.
And also may I add that I have never read a book with it's own mythology that was so original and creative as this one. Eldritch City has 144,444 deities, all of them as zany and unique as fingerprints. It was equal parts delightful and mystifying to read the escapades of the main characters and see how the action of the story ties into the mish-mashy legends of the City.
to conclude, I hope Mr. Kennedy writes another installment of this wonderful, inspired, and uproarious story because quite frankly, it's just too good to only be one book.
And also may I add that I have never read a book with it's own mythology that was so original and creative as this one. Eldritch City has 144,444 deities, all of them as zany and unique as fingerprints. It was equal parts delightful and mystifying to read the escapades of the main characters and see how the action of the story ties into the mish-mashy legends of the City.
to conclude, I hope Mr. Kennedy writes another installment of this wonderful, inspired, and uproarious story because quite frankly, it's just too good to only be one book.
December 23, 2021
This book was very strange and random in a good way. It’s a crazy ride into the bewildering world of the Odd Fish, but it was a fun casual read that made me laugh. I wouldn’t say it sucked me in but i was really interested and enjoyed reading about jo’s adventures. it was light hearted and goofy without being meaningless, and i loved james kennedy’s vivid and colorful world.
February 22, 2008
When I first started Odd-Fish, all I wanted was to do was drink the blood of a kitten, but by the end this book had me feeling as coy and cute as The Silver Kitten of Deceit.
April 2, 2022
favorite book, from the day my mom brought it home for me when I was ten.
December 29, 2025
I've read this book 3 times. if I could give it six stars I would.
December 16, 2024
This is a book I've been revisiting for minimum 8 years if not longer. I come back to the book when I'm craving a little bit of whimsy and nonsensical fun. The story is rich and vivid and the characters even more so. Tying so many components into one story helps extend the lifetime of this book and keeps me entertained no matter how many times I've visited these characters.
March 16, 2011
Jo is 13 when she discovers that her Aunt Lily is really a knight of the Order of Odd-Fish whose memories were stolen from her when she was banished from Eldritch City after Jo’s cataclysmic birth (which destroyed her parents’ neighborhood). Jo is supposed to be the incarnation of a terrible deity known as the Icthala, or the All-Devouring Mother, and Lily and several of the other knights had secreted her away to keep her safe from the terrified (and vengeful) citizens of Eldritch (as well as the cult of Silent Sisters – who have been working to bring about the return of their god). The Belgian Prankster (also a former knight of Odd-Fish) working in conjunction with the Silent Sisters, forces Jo and her aunt to return to Eldritch City, intending to reunite Jo with her Icthala blood and heritage, and awaken the vengeful god within her , causing her to end the world. Jo comes to love her new home, but she hates having to lie about her identity – especially since she doesn’t really know who she is or understand how she could be so dangerous (she certainly doesn’t *feel* like destroying the world). As the secrets of her identity begin to come to light, Jo knows that she has to do something to fight back. She may be the Icthala, but she doesn’t have to have the Icthala’s destiny.
James Kennedy has populated this strange world with colorful, bizarre characters, secret societies, and odd goings-on. The details may dizzy, initially, but ultimately, Eldritch City and its denizens (which include vain cockroach butlers, Eelmen, flying battle ostriches, and more) delight. There are hundreds of other Eldritch stories waiting to be told (it would be a crime to let all of that glorious world-building go to waste). Their whispers will sneak into the corners of your dreams until you, too, take up the banner of Odd-Fish and enter the dome of Doom. Imaginative, suspenseful, and entertaining.
James Kennedy has populated this strange world with colorful, bizarre characters, secret societies, and odd goings-on. The details may dizzy, initially, but ultimately, Eldritch City and its denizens (which include vain cockroach butlers, Eelmen, flying battle ostriches, and more) delight. There are hundreds of other Eldritch stories waiting to be told (it would be a crime to let all of that glorious world-building go to waste). Their whispers will sneak into the corners of your dreams until you, too, take up the banner of Odd-Fish and enter the dome of Doom. Imaginative, suspenseful, and entertaining.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2011
During my senoir year at high school i volunteered to help out at the Missouri Lit fest at UCM. i spent the whole day in a ballroom full of books ,paradise to be put simply. i had a little bit of money for lunch that i of course blew on books. Order of the Odd Fish kept jumping out at me , though i had no idea why. The description on the back seemed at the time a ok book , a little screwy but good. before i knew it i had already bought it. it was a few months before i read it , school distractions ya know but all the while i knew that what i had sitting on my shelf was going to be my new obbsession. i met James Kennedy at the fair and got him to autograph my copy. he showed us pictures and art work for the book and even did a reading ( Which was amazing , seriously if he wasnt such a gifted writer i say he should be a actor!). i was the oldest person in that room ( the rest were middle school age and lower) and they all looked bored out of their minds. i was on the edge of my seat , i hadnet been that engrossed in a book since the first time i read Harry potter when i was 10. to needless to say when i was asked what my favorite book was for a while there i immediatley said O.O.T.O.F and i hadnt even read it yet. So when school ended and i could finally sit down and give every inch of my attention to O.O.T.O.F , i was in heaven . a crazy , nonsinsical , pyschotic heaven. there comes a time when a reader picks up a book and without even reading the description KNOWS that there is something magical in their hands and probably will be their own new special kind of crack. Order of the Odd Fish is my kind of crack.
December 2, 2021
“People will put up with being terrified but no one will tolerate being bored.”
.
Read The Order of Odd Fish by James Kennedy with my eighth-grade students. I had read this before (many years ago after we had the author in for a signing at Read Between the Lynes), had forgotten a lot of the key plot points but remembered how great it was and wanted to share it with the class. I’m thankful I did because they absolutely loved it!
.
The story is a twisting, turning, absolutely crazy one (with hints of Douglas Adams and Neil Gaiman and a dash of Lemony Snicket) with a great arc. The characters are all just incredibly lovable (especially Sefino) and Kennedy’s writing style allowed me to run the gamut in doing my “voices” for each individual character.
.
If any teacher is looking for a kind of hidden gem that will keep the students attention, lead to great discussion, and will make them laugh outloud, dig this one up and get to reading!
.
Read The Order of Odd Fish by James Kennedy with my eighth-grade students. I had read this before (many years ago after we had the author in for a signing at Read Between the Lynes), had forgotten a lot of the key plot points but remembered how great it was and wanted to share it with the class. I’m thankful I did because they absolutely loved it!
.
The story is a twisting, turning, absolutely crazy one (with hints of Douglas Adams and Neil Gaiman and a dash of Lemony Snicket) with a great arc. The characters are all just incredibly lovable (especially Sefino) and Kennedy’s writing style allowed me to run the gamut in doing my “voices” for each individual character.
.
If any teacher is looking for a kind of hidden gem that will keep the students attention, lead to great discussion, and will make them laugh outloud, dig this one up and get to reading!
April 7, 2021
I picked this up when I was a kid, can't quite remember how young - and the absolute chaos was beautiful to me. The language the characters used - not heightened, but sophisticated, perhaps? It struck me. It's supposed to be a children's book, I believe, but it didn't read like that to me, which I adored. And the descriptions of the scenery, as I have a very vivid imagination, helped paint the world. This is perhaps my favorite book. I always come back to it when I'm looking for wild inspiration, or just need a splash of color on the brain.
July 15, 2009
I generally don't review YA, but in the case of this particular book I will say this much. If Douglas Adams spawned with Hunter S. Thompson and the resulting lovechild was raised by Eddie Izzard, the result would be a close approximation of what you'll find here. I don't get to use the word "depraved" enough in my reviews, but this book is an example of sweet mind-boggling depravity that marks the debut of an author to watch. I will say no more.
November 2, 2008
Though at times it deviates from the childish Dr. Seuss fantasy it leads on to be, The Order of Odd-Fish is a quick-paced, wildly original story that I'd suggest to any Harry Potter fan looking for a bandaid now that the series is over.
January 30, 2009
Best book I read all of last year. I laughed out loud on the subway several times reading this book. The plot and the writing are utter perfection.
June 30, 2009
Truly one of the best books I've read in a long time! A must read for any Harry Potter fan. You'll quickly get engrossed in this twisted and seriously fun world.
September 28, 2008
This is one of the nuttiest books I've read in my life, and I absolutley adored it. Bravo, James Kennedy!
February 6, 2016
This was terrific. I love fish. I love weird stuff. Write more books, James Kennedy!
January 27, 2017
This was one of the best books I have ever read. It is full of surprises on every page.
May 12, 2021
This book is one that I hold near and dear to me. I read it in seventh grade, which was more than ten years ago, and it has held the top spot in 'My favorite books of all time list' since then.
I am incredibly biased, but if you are someone who enjoys the works of Jim Henson such as the "Labyrinth" or "Jim Henson's The Storyteller" and the movies made by the company Laika, then I feel this book is a good fit for you. It's a great read for kids ages 10-14 and I highly recommend this as reading material for elementary and middle school teachers to utilize in their classroom (it's how I got my hands on the book), and maybe some adventurous adults who are willing to embrace their inner child once again.
Order of Odd Fish offers a refreshing take on the chosen one trope, while still sticking to the story cues that make it feel familiar and comforting. I will admit that this book isn't for everyone. There are some scenes in the book that may come off as a little too grotesque for child and adult audiences alike, and the pacing drags in certain areas and can come off as being a little "too" quirky, but I think there is a layer of authenticity and excitement that makes the book very enjoyable.
This book is incredibly special to me, but I know that it is not for everyone's taste.
But, if you're looking for something different to try and are looking for a nice break from most YA or even children's books "The Order of Odd Fish" can fit the bill if you let it.
I am incredibly biased, but if you are someone who enjoys the works of Jim Henson such as the "Labyrinth" or "Jim Henson's The Storyteller" and the movies made by the company Laika, then I feel this book is a good fit for you. It's a great read for kids ages 10-14 and I highly recommend this as reading material for elementary and middle school teachers to utilize in their classroom (it's how I got my hands on the book), and maybe some adventurous adults who are willing to embrace their inner child once again.
Order of Odd Fish offers a refreshing take on the chosen one trope, while still sticking to the story cues that make it feel familiar and comforting. I will admit that this book isn't for everyone. There are some scenes in the book that may come off as a little too grotesque for child and adult audiences alike, and the pacing drags in certain areas and can come off as being a little "too" quirky, but I think there is a layer of authenticity and excitement that makes the book very enjoyable.
This book is incredibly special to me, but I know that it is not for everyone's taste.
But, if you're looking for something different to try and are looking for a nice break from most YA or even children's books "The Order of Odd Fish" can fit the bill if you let it.
April 17, 2019
I found this in the local authors section of After-Words in Chicago when I was visiting last summer and finds like this are why I love independent bookstores. I never would have found this book otherwise and I loved it. It is ridiculous and humorous and full of heart. Be prepared to leave this reality behind and let yourself be fully immersed in the Order of the Odd-Fish and the world of Eldridge City and you will enjoy yourself. I was rooting for Jo and Aunt Lily and their crew the whole time. Kennedy keeps you guessing with the plot and what creatures or crazy traditions are going to be on the next page. A great escape.
May 16, 2024
I can only express my emotions for this book as I almost screamed at the end👍 and almost cried (and did cry at school) during way too many points in this book.
June 25, 2025
My first 5 star book of 2025! I absolutely adored this. It’s beyond weird. Bizarre. Strange. Eccentric. Whatever adjective you want to use: it’s that and more! This book was a wild ride and my only complaint is that the overall plot is a little bit normal.
The Order of Odd-Fish is extremely well written. Kennedy’s writing style is a mix of Douglas Adams and Lemony Snicket. It might not be for everyone, but if you enjoy The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy or A Series of Unfortunate Events (incidentally, I do); the Order of Odd-Fish is the child of those two series.
** Spoilered review below **
The Order of Odd-Fish is extremely well written. Kennedy’s writing style is a mix of Douglas Adams and Lemony Snicket. It might not be for everyone, but if you enjoy The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy or A Series of Unfortunate Events (incidentally, I do); the Order of Odd-Fish is the child of those two series.
** Spoilered review below **
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