The Boy Who Swam with Piranhas

A buoyant, delightfully Almond-ine coming-of-age novel about fish, fate, and family; moonlight, madness, and myth; runts, Rackanruwin and, finally, redemption. - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

When Stanley Potts’s guardian, Uncle Ernie, develops an unhealthy obsession with fish, Stan has no choice but to strike out on his own. Far from the life he knows, he’s welcomed by a carnival of eccentric characters, including the legendary Pancho Pirelli, the man who swims with piranhas. Will Stan, too, be bold enough to dive into the churning waters and choose his destiny? Full of wry wordplay and visual whimsy, David Almond’s quirky tale is richly matched by Oliver Jeffers’s black-and-white illustrations.