Amphibian

by Carla Gunn

Shortlisted for the 2010 Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best First Book (Canada and Caribbean region); Shortlisted for the 2011 Ontario Library Association Evergreen Award; A Globe and Mail Top Five First Fiction Title of 2009; A National Post Best Books of 2009 selection.

Phineas William Walsh has an encyclopaedic 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, and he knows that dolphins can sleep half a brain at a time. Far from being just idle information, though, Phin draws parallels between the humans in his life and other animals and uses his vast knowledge to try to adjust to and make sense of the confusion in his world – like his parents’ divorce and being bullied at school. But when an event unfolds in his fourth grade classroom that offends both his logic and sensibilities, Phin has had enough and he and his best friend, Bird, are spurred to action.

In a voice that has been compared to Salinger’s Holden Caulfield, Phin reflects on the complex and troubled relationship between humans, animals and the environment all the while struggling to maintain his innocence. Is there really any evidence that the human animal is more good than bad, more compassionate than cruel? Is there any reason to hope for a kinder world?

Genres: Fiction, Canada, Animals, Young Adult, Novels, Humor, Book Club

216 pages, Paperback

First published April 14, 2005

Reviews

[Carolyn Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I became aware of this book (first published over a decade ago) when it was longlisted this week for the CBC Canada Reads 2020. It has been translated into French and German and was shortlisted in 2009 for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best First Book. This was the debut novel by Carla Gunn, a psychology professor at the University of New Brunswick, and who is greatly concerned with environmental issues.

The story is compelling and thought-provoking. The book deals with important issues about the degradation of the earth caused by humans and the possible extinction of many species of endangered animals. The book is told with a light touch, sometimes presenting heartbreaking facts, and in parts is hilarious. The story focuses on 9-year-old Phineas Walsh. Phineas has an encyclopedic knowledge of endangered animals and the burden placed on the earth through pollution and clear-cutting. He is a sensitive, precocious child, highly intelligent and imaginative. His goal in life is to save at least one species of animal from extinction. He is preparing for the task by extensive reading and watching hours of documentaries on the Green Channel.

His compassion for the plight of animals and his fear for them has overwhelmed him with stress, anxiety and anger. He is suffering from insomnia. He does not understand why adults do not seem to care about and ignore the present condition and future of our world. Adults are becoming exasperated with him and worry about his emotional wellbeing. His mother takes him to a psychotherapist and he is forbidden to watch Green Channel programs. Phineas is also dealing with his parents' upcoming divorce, missing his father who is working abroad, hates that his mother is dating, dealing with the death of his grandfather, and is targeted by the school bully.

When his teacher presents the 4th Grade class with an endangered White’s Tree Frog an endangered animal, Phineas with a friend plan to steal it from its cage and return it to its normal habitation. Despite careful preparation, this rescue does not go as planned. After much sadness and lashing out verbally against his mother and others, the story ends on a hopeful and positive manner, with Phineas learning that he can make a difference starting within his community.




,

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book, yay. It has a frog on the cover, yay.

Okay I read this book specifically because of the frog, he is adorable. I like him. His name is cuddles, I did not name him, Phin did, it was a joke, you cannot cuddle a frog.

I am giving this book five stars. This book is not a book that was written for me. I don't like precocious little boys they annoy me. For example I hated that book about the kid with the maps soooo stupid. Also I don't like books whining about the environment. I know I loved the Foer book, but that was different it was about his experience of the environment, totally different than the actual environmental, palm oil kills orangutans crap. I mean to be honest I am now considering checking if food has palm oil in it, but I don't want propaganda in my novels. This book gets five stars because if anyone explained the plot of this book to me I would be annoyed and would not read the book. However, I actually liked the book. I even felt a little bad when the mom told phin that he couldn't watch the green channel because it was propaganda that was making him sad. I mean I totally agree with his mom, although since the channel is fake I can't be sure but really all tv is propaganda so she is likely right. I hated the therapist in the book, but hell he was true to life.

This is not a dirty Canadian book. There is no sex and the closest you get is a 9 year old who knows that fucker comes from fucking which is a mean word for sex.

This book had the same great thing that Sitting Practice has. Everyone is depressed and angry the entire novel and nothing changes but at the end everyone seems a little bit happier. This is the thing that I refer to as watered down british, which bothers Karen but that is because she is french canadian and not watered down british. The french canadians are probably the really dirty ones. I think carla gunn is probably more british. In british novels people are super depressed and then super depressed and it ends with them super depressed. Who needs a god damn resolution when you could become a nihilist and believe that all relationships are mostly terrible and you stay in them for the ten minutes that are good, yes nick hornby I am talking about you. But Canadians are more fun first they are depressed, then terrible things happen, then they are more depressed, then more terrible things happen and nothing gets resolved and magically they are no longer depressed, or they just get too sleepy or cold to bitch about it anymore. That is what happens in this book. No resolution just like the Brits but everyone pretends there was one. I think I like this more perhaps.

Frogs are harmed in the making of this novel.

[Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺ · Rating 3 out of 5]

What to say about this book? It improved near the end, but most of it just wasn’t enjoyable to read. It reminded me somewhat of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time or Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend, but without the urgency of those plots and with a much more annoying narrator. Sorry, Phin, I know you’re a kid who is having a hard time, but how did you even get to this dark place in your young life? I try not to judge other parents, but fictional ones are fair game right? What was his mother doing while he was glued to the Green channel and its message of doom and gloom? Doing right by Mother Earth is a wonderful thing, but it was difficult to relate to this little boy and his intense ecoanxiety.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVE this novel. Reading it for the second time was every bit as enjoyable as the first. Why the heck it has failed to get any recognition in the Canadian literary scene is beyond me. Critics have compared it to "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time", and I'd agree.

The protagonist of the novel is 9-year-old Phineas William Walsh - a boy whose encyclopedic knowledge of environmental issues, and his resulting anxiety over the plight of Earth's animal kingdom, has the adults around him very worried. In fact, they're baffled: only his grandmother seems to understand Phin's refusal to accept that 'everything is going to be okay'. In addition to his eco-anxiety, Phin is dealing with a school bully, his parents' separation, and the recent death of his grandfather . It's no wonder that when his teacher (an oblivious drone) purchases an Australian White's tree frog as a "class pet", Phin's conscience spurs him to action.

If you love to read books in which you get to spend time inside the mind of a fascinating, unique protagonist - if you wonder why it is that our natural compassion towards animals vanishes when we reach adulthood - if you want to be inspired by a kid who refuses to be soothed by the lies we all tell ourselves - then I highly recommend this wonderful first novel by Canadian Carla Gunn.

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book. A fabulous voice in the child narrator. Although the blurb on the back compares it to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, I wouldn't go so far as to say this child's quirky personality has to do with a disability. I saw him as an extremely bright child with some anxiety, and since I've got one of those in my life it was a delight to read his adventures trying to save the world. Written for adults and probably most appreciated by them, this book would also be great for teens.

[Magdelanye · Rating 4 out of 5]

He wants me not to worry at the very time I should be most worried - when I don't know what the crap's going on in the world. p74

Phin, at nine, may be a precocious pain in the ass, but he's my kind of guy. His anxiety for the world is my anxiety, and Carla Gunn expresses it perfectly in this unsentimental but entirely sympathetic look at how the social climate is affecting those who are growing up in it's toxic cloud.

Yes, the more I think about it, the more I realize....happiness might be the whole problem-everyone, including my own mother, wants to be happy all the time and nobody wants to be worried, even though they...should be. p119
basically we're destroying the the very things that we need to heal us. p196
Don't people want to know when they're wrong? p13

Phin endures a lot, from being bullied at school to being dragged off to a psychiatrist and forbidden to watch the Green Channel. He is devestated when he blames himself for not being able to save the class frog. How can he save the world?

I feel terribly sad and angry at the same time. p115
I'm worried that my head will get full of the wrong things. p156
I could start to lose my perspective or something....Some things just sink into your brain without you even trying. p157

CG effectively presents all sides of the issue, and manages to pull this off without moralizing or demonizing his mother. Phin is an endearing, reliable narrator; I only wish that it hadn't taken me so long to warm to him, and I fervently hope that he's doing okay with this current crises.

What's the point of acting normal...? If they think you're crazy you may as well act crazy. It's way easier. 155

[Jennifer Bourque (ButterflyReader77) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

"Amphibian" was first published in 2005 by author Carla Gunn and I cannot believe it took me this long to finally read it. I absolutely loved this book. It was very well written, thought-provoking, educational, and laugh out loud funny. It immediately caught my attention and kept me engaged from start to finish.

The story focuses on Phin, an elementary school student who loves animals and the environment and he will do anything to protect them and preserve their importance. His only problem is that nobody else has the same thought process. He spends his time reading books and watching The Green Channel learning how humans impact the lives of animals and our surroundings. Humans are slowly ruining everything and Phin is having great difficulty showing others the consequences of their decisions.

The story is told through the perspective of Phin in a heartwarming manner. "Amphibian" is incredibly well written and reminds readers that we are never too young to change the world. It also reminds us that one person can truly make a difference when they believe and work to show others how their decisions can be damaging in other ways.

"Amphibian" was shortlisted for the 2010 Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best First Book (Canada and Caribbean region); Shortlisted for the 2011 Ontario Library Association Evergreen Award; A Globe and Mail Top Five First Fiction Title of 2009; A National Post Best Books of 2009 selection. This book is very well deserving and well worth the read.

[Patryx · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una persona sola non può cambiare il mondo.
Questa l’ho aggiunta alla mia Lista delle Bugie perché il dottor Barrett dice che non possiamo cambiare il mondo. Mrs. Wardman e il poliziotto, invece, dicono che una persona sola può cambiare il mondo. Credo che sia più probabile che il dottor Barrett si sbagli, perché credo che ognuno cambi il mondo ogni giorno. Per esempio, se Gordon uccide il ragno che ha fatto la sua ragnatela nell’angolo della finestra, allora quel ragno non potrà mangiare tutti i moscerini della frutta che girano attorno alla banana mezza marcia sotto al banco di Kaitlyn e questo significherà molti più moscerini della frutta nel mondo. Vorrebbe dire che Gordon ha cambiato il mondo da solo. E anche che ogni cosa succede per un motivo.

Cosa accadrebbe se, invece di limitarci a registrare meccanicamente la maggior parte delle notizie che ascoltiamo o leggiamo, magari distrattamente tra un boccone e un altro, riflettessimo costantemente sulla portata e sugli effetti che hanno sulle nostre vite o su quelle delle persone a cui vogliamo bene? Come ci sentiremmo se non riuscissimo a trovare conforto nell’illusoria affermazione che andrà tutto bene, che quello che abbiamo ascoltato volgerà per il meglio quasi magicamente? Ebbene, questo è proprio quello che accade a Phineas Walsh, nove anni e assiduo telespettatore dei programmi di Green Channel, un canale tematico che trasmette documentari sullo stato di salute del pianeta terra e degli animali che lo popolano.

Phin è, quindi, un esperto di desertificazione, di animali a rischio di estinzione, di consumo responsabile, di buchi nell’ozono e di scioglimento dei ghiacci. La sua conoscenza dei rischi di disastro ambientale è esacerbata da una sensibilità fuori dal comune che porta Phin a interrogarsi (ma anche a interrogare gli altri) sul perché gli uomini continuino a distruggere l’ambiente in cui vivono e senza il quale sono condannati alla morte. La situazione è per di più peggiorata da altre questioni: la separazione dei genitori, la lontananza del padre giornalista, la morte del nonno, alcuni episodi di bullismo di cui è vittima, l’incapacità degli adulti di prendere sul serio le sue preoccupazioni liquidandole come esagerazioni di bambino dall’immaginazione troppo vivace. La sensazione di essere impotente di fronte agli eventi che accadono intorno a lui, crea in Phin uno stato di ansia costante che alimenta le sue preoccupazioni in un circolo vizioso difficile da spezzare. La decisione della maestra di tenere in classe, chiusa in un terrario, una raganella di White è la goccia che fa traboccare il vaso: Phin sente che è giusto liberare Cuddles (questo il nome della raganella) per riportarlo nel suo ambiente naturale (l’Australia) e, aiutato dal suo amico Bird, passa all’azione.

Il personaggio di Phin è un ibrido tra Oskar di “Molto forte, incredibilmente vicino” (J. S. Foer) e Marcus di “Un ragazzo” (N. Hornby). Tutti e tre sono ragazzini di nove anni, con una sensibilità notevole e una saggezza non comune che li rende diversi da tutti i loro coetanei e, per questa ragione, diventano spesso vittime di compagni prepotenti o francamente violenti. Phin trasferisce le incongruenze della realtà che lo circonda nelle vicende di Reull, un pianeta abitato dai Gorachs, esseri insensibili che manipolano i loro stessi simili e usano gli animali per la loro vanità, nonostante questi siano indispensabili per la loro stessa sopravvivenza. Le parti del libro dedicate ai Gorachs sono, secondo me, le più interessanti e originali; rappresentano per Phin l’unico modo per intervenire su una realtà che non lo soddisfa.
In comune con Oskar, Phin ha la capacità di interrogarsi sulla realtà, ponendo domande scomode che la maggior parte delle persone preferisce ignorare; come Oskar, anche Phin ha una nonna a cui rivolgersi quando le sue ansie rompono gli argini e tracimano rischiando di sconvolgere l’equilibrio faticosamente raggiunto. Con Marcus condivide, oltre alla sensibilità, una madre depressa e poco empatica: la separazione dal marito e la morte del padre sono il principale ostacolo all’ascolto, autentico, del figlio.
Tutti i personaggi appaiono cristallizzati e non c’è una reale evoluzione dei loro pensieri. Il personaggio di Phin non è riuscito a coinvolgermi del tutto nel lento dipanarsi dei suoi pensieri che, pur essendo ben scritti (l’autrice conosce il meccanismo ed è brava a riprodurlo con le parole), diventano dopo un po’ monotoni: non c’è una grande struttura nella trama ma un lungo elenco dei disastri ambientali che vengono sciorinati nel corso di uno dei tanti litigi tra Phin e la madre oppure dettagliati a beneficio dello psicoterapeuta che ha in carico Phin o ancora descritti all’esasperata (e anche poco simpatica) Mrs. Wardman, la maestra.
Gli adulti, ad eccezione della nonna di Phin, sono insensibili e centrati su se stessi: a nessuno, psicoterapeuta incluso (per inciso, uno dei personaggi più odiosi del libro), viene in mente di chiedersi cosa c’è sotto la preoccupazione di un ragazzino di nove anni che non riesce a dormire a causa della distruzione dell’ecosistema dell’orangutan. La mia sensazione è che l’autrice abbia volutamente estremizzato creando una dicotomia quasi manichea: da un lato l’estrema sensibilità verso la natura, la creatività e l’incapacità di trasformare queste potenzialità in azione, dall’altro la normalizzazione, il rispetto delle convenzioni sociali senza alcun senso critico, la scarsa empatia (intesa come capacità di assumere punti di vista diversi dal proprio), il desiderio di risolvere i problemi semplicemente ignorandoli.
Il risultato a me è sembrato artificioso, soprattutto perché verso la fine vi è un’accelerazione improvvisa e il dipanamento della matassa non ha lo stesso spazio dedicato alla descrizione della situazione problematica. Semplicemente a un certo punto gli eventi prendono altre direzioni ma i meccanismi che hanno contribuito a creare il cambiamento sono solo accennati ma non svolti nei dettagli come invece accade per quelli che sono la causa del malessere di Phin.
L’elemento principale che innesca un cambiamento nella vicenda è la rinnovata capacità di ascoltare della madre di Phin che, di fronte a una delle tante reazioni del figlio (Phin butta nella spazzatura tutti i cosmetici e i cibi confezionati che non riportano chiaramente nell’etichetta la loro provenienza ecosostenibile), decide di ascoltarlo e di porsi, finalmente, alcune domande: la separazione dei genitori influisce negativamente sull’equilibrio psichico del figlio? La morte del nonno ha un peso in tutta la vicenda? Da qui tutta la storia inizia a volgere, direi a correre a perdifiato, verso il lieto fine: Phin, sua madre e Bird (il migliore amico) cominciano attivamente a impegnarsi in attività di salvaguardia dell’ambiente e, come conseguenza, Phin smette di sentirsi impotente rendendosi conto che non deve aspettare di diventare adulto per agire poiché sin da subito può cercare di rendersi utile; inoltre acquista fiducia in se stesso e decide anche di parlare sinceramente con il padre della difficoltà che gli provoca il loro rapproto a distanza, fatto di email e rare telefonate.
Un altro fattore di cambiamento è il nome che la nonna dà all’ansia di Phin: si tratta di “ecoansia”, uno stato di preoccupazione ossessiva verso l'ambiente, un disturbo scaturito dai vari stravolgimenti del nostro pianeta che (almeno secondo alcuni psicologi americani) interessa un numero crescente di persone. Sapere che quello di cui soffre ha un nome, aiuta Phin a non sentirsi più isolato ma parte di un gruppo di persone che condividono le sue stesse preoccupazioni: si rende conto che se i singoli si uniscono possono fare molto di più che da soli. Questa intuizione lo aiuta anche ad attuare la giusta strategia verso il compagno bullo che lo maltratta.

L’autrice stessa, nella postfazione, scrive che la gestazione del personaggio di Phin è stata lunga e che, a un certo punto, ha capito che doveva arrivare alla fine della storia; secondo me questa decisione “a freddo si riflette sulla conclusione frettolosa.
In conclusione, Amphibian è un libro che pone interessanti spunti di riflessione sul modo in cui gli esseri umani si pongono nei confronti della salvaguardia dell’ambiente e se ne potrebbe ricavare la sceneggiatura per uno di quei film che è piacevole guardare perché sin dall’inizio si capisce come andranno a finire.

[Marta M.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me ha encantado de principio a fin. Este libro ha conseguido dos cosas que valoro mucho, la primera es que me ha arrancado más de una carcajada cuando lo leía y la segunda es sentirme (muy) identificada con el personaje de Phineas. Phineas, no estás solo en tú lucha por preservar el planeta, su fauna y su flora. Este es un libro muy necesario, acerca al público de manera amena y divertida datos interesantes sobre animales, conceptos biológicos y se abordan temas espinosos para la mayoría de la sociedad tales como la experimentación animal, la agricultura y ganadería extensiva, etc. El escritor intenta hacer comprender al lector que planetas Tierra solamente hay uno y que es nuestro deber cuidarlo y conservarlo en buenas condiciones para todos los seres vivos, no sólo para el ser humano.

«La gente ha inventado miles y miles de cosas que hacen que la vida de los humanos sea mejor; entonces, ¿por qué no se les ocurren maneras menos destructivas cuando se trata de otras vidas? ¿Por qué las vidas de los animales no les preocupan lo suficiente como para hacer eso? ¿Por qué la gente mata sólo porque puede?»
«...para que la vida esté completa hacen falta todas las formas de vida...»

[JennieWithTheBooks☮️(◕‿◕✿) · Rating 4 out of 5]

If we all only had half as much passion about,(empathy for,understanding of, sensitivity towards)the things that matter to this extremely bright 4th Grader, we'd all be “living the dream” in a better world.

Amphibian by Carly Gunn, was an easy, quick, and at times comical read, with a good-natured heartwarming story by the end.

One kid trying to do his part to help save the world from Global Warming, ONE FROG AT A TIME!! This novels strengths lie in a fine understanding of the confused inner monologue that marks young Phin's growth.(hell, I'm 51 and still trying to figure out my inner monologue in order to help with my own soul's growth, if not by leaps, than at least by little steps) He is developing a true and sure sense of himself. Perhaps not always believable in some of today's real world youths, but still in this young adult book, it works wonders.

I liked it alot and because it proved to be a good book to momentarily help forget the realities of our 2020 World in the last couple of weeks, I bumped it up to
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐'s because I’m in mighty good spirits today! Stay healthy folks! Wash your hands! Don't touch your face! Keep well and carry on with the reading!

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this novel, and was quite surprised to learn that it is the author's first book. I enjoyed the character development of Phin -- an intelligent nine-year old boy with an exceptional knowledge and passion for the environment, and an brutal honesty that reveals the hypocrisy of adults. There are few plot developments, but the interest lies in watching Phin's character unfold as he deals with his parents' divorce, the class bully, the clueless teacher, the well-intentioned but bumbling best friend -- and of course, the plot's central arc -- freeing the class' tree frog from captivity. Although the book contains serious themes, I found myself laughing out loud in many places; there is a good dose of humor that unfolds in Phin's verbal and inner dialogues and the healthy doses of irony throughout. I'm glad that this novel was long-listed for Canada Reads 2020 but wish that it had been shortlisted. Well-written, thought-provoking, and humorous with an optimistic message.

[Mary Jane Hele · Rating 5 out of 5]

If we all only had half as much passion about things that matter that Phineas has! This is a book to hand your best friend for a quick, can't put down read.

[Laurie Burns · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this a hard book to read. Might be because I saw a lot of myself, especially my kid self in Phineas. The way his brain was worried at night and couldn't sleep and all that stressed me out.
I still can't fall asleep half the time worrying about everything. Then I got more worried while reading, due to all the animal facts.

That said, the book was well written and I thought Gunn did a great job with the voice of an 11 year old narrator. It was a moving story and I liked reading from his viewpoint, especially trying to understand the actions of adults.

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phineas is an amazing kid. One that comes to life right infront if you and will not leave. The adults in his life do not understand why he is upset. They keep trying to insulate him from the world. He refuses to let them.

Way to go Phineas, and Carla Gunn for letting us meet him.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute story. I love Phin and I love all the people in his world. This was just a good heartwarming story about a kid trying to save the world from global warming one frog at a time. This book was a nice escape from reality.

[Connie Paradowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love Phin a quirky, environmentally passionate 9 year old. This fun to read novel entertained while making me care about some very real issues facing our world. Bonus the author lives only a couple hours from me.

[Denise Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Canada Reads 2020 long list book.

[Brian]

What makes Phineas Walsh, at the age of nine, heroic is mainly naiveté and good-fortune. His creator, Carla Gunn, exercises a deft hand in Amphibian in balancing, on the one hand, the insight into environmental problems that children see much more clearly than adults with, on the other hand, a seductive dose of extraordinary precociousness that captivates her reader and illustrates perfectly the imbalance of power that exists in environmental conflicts. Might, it seems, has always trumped right. No matter how “right” an articulate nine-year-old might be, the deck is stacked against him. The well-meaning educators, parents and physicians of the novel appear as nefarious as the criminals in government and industry that profit from eco-disaster. But in the end Phin tames his dragons. In the end he is able, plausible or not, to make his voice heard above their indifference, their frustration and anger. At the age of nine he has the courage to keep trying when the outcome looks impossible. As the son of concerned and intelligent parents, he has the good luck of dealing with people who are capable of eventually listening to reason. Amphibian is, at once, compelling and uplifting. I found it hard not to take it personally, not to get angry and worried. A different conclusion surely must have tempted the author, yet I slept better last night with the one she gave us.

[Sandra Dussault · Rating 2 out of 5]

J'aurais apprécié davantage ce roman si je l'avais lu il y a plusieurs années, à la même période où j'ai dévoré Quand j'avais cinq ans, je m'ai tué et Le Souffle de l'harmattan. Ces trois romans ont comme point commun d'être raconté par un enfant un peu fou, incompris des adultes autour de lui. On ne peut que les aimer et les trouver très drôles malgré les malheurs qu'ils vivent.

Toutefois, j'ai trouvé qu'Amphibien trainait en longueur. J'ai sauté plusieurs passages, surtout ceux où Phin nous parle de l'histoire qu'il écrit. Ça s'étendait souvent sur plusieurs pages et ça ne faisait pas avancer l'intrigue. Aussi les passages où Phin expose ses connaissances sur le règne animal, sur ce qu'il a vu sur le Green Channel. Au début, je trouvais ça intéressant, mais à la longue, c'était lassant.

Bref, un roman sympathique, mais sans plus.

[Barbara Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't want this book to end. Besides being thought-provoking about some major issues that I won't give away, the main character is wonderful.

... my spelling exercises. One of the questions was 'Lions live in the j-----.'

I raised my hand and Mrs. Wardman came over. I asked her if this was a trick question since there's no J word for savannah. She said, 'Phin, the answer is jungle. Just write jungle down.' Then she walked back to her desk.

I thought about not telling her that lions don't live in the jungle because I could tell she was irritated with me. I knew this mainly because when she told me to write jungle, her eyelids fluttered and she took a deep breath.

I thought about it for several seconds. I remembered what my mother had told me about maybe I shouldn't point out to Mrs. Wardman that she's wrong when she's wrong. But then I decided that she should know the right answer.

The only problem I have is that this is Carla Gunn's first novel, so I can't read any more of her work yet.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Phin is a 9 year old boy who loves to watch "The Green Channel". He loves animals and worries a lot about the problems of lost habitat. This knowledge sometimes gets him in trouble at school, and drives his mother crazy. In fact, he worries so much that he can't sleep at night, causing his mother to worry also. When Phin's class gets a White's Tree Frog for a pet, Phin and his friend Bird, hatch a plot to 'save' the frog from its aquarium home.
Throughout the book, Phin's mother tries to alleviate Phin's worries, even forbidding him to watch "The Green Channel" and taking him to a psychologist. Neither works very well.
There are a lot of funny occurrences throughout the story, and it is interesting how Phin reacts to problems that are way beyond what a normal 9 year old would encounter. The story has a lot of information about animals that are endangered, and is very well written. I would recommend it highly.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise is good, and I really really wanted to like the book, but I confess I found Phin's Gorach story to be so tedious that it made the rest of the story equally trying.

I also couldn't quite suspend my disbelief about the bully Lyle, or how the teacher Mrs. Wardman reacted - or how idiotically worded her test questions were.

[S]chool is giving me the wrong answers. For example, I got a right answer wrong on my last social-studies test. The question was 'Before humans knew of Mount Everest, what was the tallest mountain?' I answered Mount Everest. Mrs. Wardman said that was wrong and that the answer is Mount Kangchenjunga. That's just plain wrong.

The sections with the child psychologist were just about as eye-rollingly unbelievable. The only believable part was when Phin finally, in disgust, walked out of the psychologist's office and there were zero dire consequences from Phin's mother.

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

As in any novel written from a child's POV, there is a suspension of disbelief that must occur in order for the plot to function effectively. Phin writes at a level far beyond his years, and there are a few points in the novel where his reactions seem a little forced and unlikely. But far greater are the novel's strengths; a sure sense of self, beliveable characterizations, a crackling good plot, and a fine understanding of the confused interior monologue that marks a child's growth. Gunn presents Phin as an idealist poised for a great fall, and it would be easy to force Phin into becoming that saintly child who corrects to problems of the world with a few deft words and a dewy-eyed plea for understanding. Good bless us, everyone.

Read the rest of the review here.

[Leo Saumure · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phin, the main character in the book, is an incredibly intellegent and logical little boy. He is obsessed with humanity's impact on wildlife; he absolutely agonizes over it!

Now, think back to when you were a child, and one of the subjects you might have had a penchant for. Do you remember how many thousands of interesting facts you memorized (no, not memorized...absorbed) about that obsession? Well take all of those facts, and liberally pepper them within a lovely narrative, told from the perspective of a nine year old boy. And there you have it.

This book is so absorbing, and it takes you on a believable journey into the life of a little boy.

I thought this was a wonderful book, and is one that adults should read to their children.

[Dylan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The novel had a great beginning. But then it becomes stuck and drones on until finally the mood breaks and the characters become a bit more "pleasant" and you slam right into The End. When I hit the acknowledgement page I had to go back to make sure I didn't accidentally skip over an ending to the book.

Lasting impression? Way too preachy. Who would enjoy the book? I'll get back to you on that one.

How does it fare overall? I don't regret reading it. I didn't sit there wondering when it'd all end so I can forget the book even existed. Will I read it again? Never. Would I have read it having known what it was really going to be like? Only if I was bored and there was nothing else to read.

[Alanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book. I was really disappointed in the constant responses of the adult characters. Phineas was noticing the constant "lies" as in "everything will be okay" when to him clearly it wouldn't be with his knowledge of global state of the environment. It seemed unrealistic that 3 of his adult role models (mother, teacher and psychologist ) couldn't take the time to explain the nuances of language or address the contrasts he was being told about making a difference in the world.
I thought the plot was slow to get going and for this reason, I did something I NEVER do which is to cheat! Just before the rescue mission I skipped to the back to find out about the ending. it was fairly close to what I predicted. I decided to abandon the book.

[Mandy Brouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though published as a novel for an adult market, Amphibian has total teen appeal. Not just because Phineas is nine and he’s dealing with some very nine-year-old issues like bullying, his parents’ divorce and his grandfather’s death. Amphibian is a teen pick because it speaks about that horrible anxiety of being a certain age where you feel out of control, not able to make a difference in the world around you but accutely aware of the problems that need attention.

read the rest here: http://eoseventeen.blogspot.com/2009/...

read interview with author here: http://wwbbookclub.blogspot.com/2009/...

[Sasha Boersma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes you need to read a book where the main character's brain works like yours. And 9-yr-old Phineas is just that. Beyond precocious, his mind just doesn't turn off. He has characteristics of aspergers seeped in anxiety, but it drives him. I especially loved his response to therapy, and in the end just being understood is all he needed to find peace.

The ending is a bit fast and jarring, not uncommon for a first-time novelist. I'm intrigued by the author's background in occupational therapy and psychology, but have had no luck funding interviews or resources to provide insight into her characters and the story's unfurling.

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book completely blew me away. Phin is so much like me (except in age) that it's scary! I've felt all the same things - the anger at complacency, the frustration with those in power, the sadness for the loss of wildlife and habitat, and especially the worry about it all. But I was so proud of Phin for taking a stand and doing what he could to make a difference. Only 10 years old, and he accomplished more in his small way than many people do in a lifetime.

I'd encourage everyone to read this book. It was truly worthwhile reading, and the message ... priceless.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is one of the best I have read in a long, long time. Narrator Phineas had me right from the first few paragraphs, and I could not put the book down until I had finished reading Phin's brave attempt to save the world, or at least his corner of it. I thought it was brilliant. It made me both laugh out loud and fight to hold back my tears. A completely original, thought-provoking story.