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by Katsura Suzuki (Author), Dee Dedeloy (Illustrator)
What if you discovered you had a secret power? This enchanting middle-grade novel reveals the strengths that lie in our differences.
The Birdfish and the Secret of Crystal Island is a children's story about feeling in between two different worlds. The author tackles the experience of growing up in both Eastern and Western countries, as well as the feeling of twoness and not fully belonging, through the lens of Staraku, who can both swim and fly, but is rejected by both birds and fish. After attempting to blend in with the birds and ending up rejected once more, Staraku sets off from the island she calls home to find somewhere else to live. She meets a creature called Agumus during her travels, who gifts her a magical protective crystal and takes the role of her teacher. With him, she learns to embrace the light, how to talk to trees, and begins to wonder about her purpose. She returns to her island to find the birds and fish fighting. Staraku braves intervening, and by helping the birds and fish overcome disaster, teaches the two groups how to work together and appreciate their differences. Together, they rebuild the island and Staraku meets other misfits like her. She and Agumus teach together, and Staraku has found her purpose.
