The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer Holm

Jennifer Holm is a prolific author of the Babymouse series and multiple other books for middle graders.  This is the first novel of hers that I've read, and I will say it was a bit different than I thought it would be.

This is eleven year old Ellie's coming of age story.  Ellie's best friend and she are drifting apart, and to make matters even weirder her grandfather has found a fountain of youth and turned himself into a teenager.  Now, Ellie's grandpa Melvin is living with her and her mom, she's having to make new friends, and (with prompting from her newly young grandfather) she's learning that she loves science.

That is not the best description of the book, but it was the best  I could do.  While this book does have a science theme, it is really a story about growing up and about loving your family.  It's also a story about taking chances and changing your life in the ways that you want it changed.  I read through the book quickly enough, and I enjoyed the characters, but it was a little bland for me.  I finished the book a few days ago and I had to look Ellie's name up for this review because I'd forgotten it already.  I think that fans of middle grade books, and those that already read Jennifer L. Holm's books will enjoy this thoughtful yet light novel.