Fish Out of Water

When twelve-year-old Fish starts working on a bar mitzvah project to explore his hobbies and interests, he decides he wants to learn to knit and take Zumba and not be pushed by his family and friends into more masculine interests such as sports. Despite opposition and adversity, Fish finds help from some allies, and he stands up for what he believes in. This Canadian novel, suitable as a read-aloud, an anchor book for projects, to launch discussions, and independent reading, explores self-discovery, acceptance, friendship, and fighting against gender stereotypes, and will allow students to gain empathy for people with different interests.