Dickens & Rumi

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Saving Fish from Drowing

Amy Tan · 2005

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for Saving Fish from Drowing by Amy Tan. This book is content notes include Death of a character, Frightening scenes, Religious themes; positive qualities include Creativity & curiosity, Diverse representation.

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At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Death of a character4/5
  • Frightening scenes3/5
  • Religious themes3/5

Strongest positives

  • Creativity & curiosity4/5
  • Diverse representation4/5
  • Courage & resilience3/5

What’s in it?

Products & advertising1/5
Why this rating?

Discusses art collecting and wealth, but not promotional for specific brands.

Death of a character4/5
Why this rating?

Deaths occur, including a narrator who is a ghost, and the impact of loss is a central theme.

Graphic injury1/5
Why this rating?

Deaths and injuries occur, but graphic blood, wounds or anatomical detail are limited and not emphasized.

Strong language2/5
Why this rating?

Occasional use of mild and moderate profanity appropriate for an adult novel.

LGBTQIA characters1/5
Why this rating?

Contains passing references to different sexual orientations, but it is not the main focus.

Religious themes3/5
Why this rating?

Buddhist ideas, local spiritual beliefs, ghosts and questions about death and the afterlife are recurring themes, but formal religious practice is not the main focus.

Romance2/5
Why this rating?

Features adult romantic relationships and complicated long-term dynamics.

Frightening scenes3/5
Why this rating?

The journey includes disappearance, pursuit, captivity, political danger and supernatural unease. Tension is sustained, though it is not primarily a horror story.

Sexual content & nudity2/5
Why this rating?

Contains occasional adult references and mild sexual thematic content.

Alcohol or drugs2/5
Why this rating?

Includes depictions of social drinking and occasional substance use by adult characters.

Violence3/5
Why this rating?

Political unrest, armed threats, kidnapping and attacks create meaningful danger for travelers and local people, though violence is not the story’s sole focus.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience3/5
Why this rating?

Characters confront political danger, imprisonment, loss, and uncertainty; courage is mixed with recklessness and privilege.

Creativity & curiosity4/5
Why this rating?

Highly imaginative narrative structure with a ghost narrator and complex cultural interplay.

Diverse representation4/5
Why this rating?

Focuses on the interaction between Westerners and indigenous Chinese tribes, exploring different cultural identities.

Educational value3/5
Why this rating?

Offers insight into Chinese culture, history, and the dynamics of travel and art.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Care and solidarity appear amid exploitation and fear, especially in relationships between travelers and local people.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

The novel explores cultural humility, political oppression, colonial legacies, empathy, privilege, and the consequences of misunderstanding others.

Good role models2/5
Why this rating?

Characters are deeply flawed and undergo character development through struggle.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What was the most imaginative idea in the story, and what would you add to it?
  2. How did the story approach death or loss? What helped the characters cope?
  3. Which choice in Saving Fish from Drowing would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in Saving Fish from Drowing, and what caused that change?
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