“Of all the books I’ve read so far this year, this novel surprised me the most. I was expecting a charming adventure tale about a fish (this book has been pitched as Remarkably Bright Creatures for kids), but what I got was so much more.

Told from the point of view of both Cassie and the fish (‘Blue’), this is a sparky, original and moving story about grief, friendship and bravery. A gem of a book, already one of my books of the year.” Age 10+

The Irish Independent

“Alternating between Blue’s amusingly stodgy perspective and Cassie’s sometimes unreliable narrative, Dominy creates a surprising but believable bond of friendship between girl and fish, emphasizing the importance of conservation efforts to protect creatures like Blue. A daring rescue adds drama to the plot’s third act, leading to an uplifting conclusion.”

Booklist

“A warmhearted tale grounded in healing relationships and a love of nature.
New friendships bear rich rewards of more than one sort in this story of a young beachcomber and a fish previously unknown to science.”

Kirkus

 

“It’s a charming middle-grade novel that had me hooked from the very first page. Blue is such an endearing protagonist, and I was rooting for him, Cassie and TJ – and their unique friendship – the whole way through. I loved it!”

Olivia Wakeford

 

“I’ve never been so invested in a fish-out-of-water tale. Absorbing, fun, and wonderfully unique”

Terry Lynn Johnson, author of Ice Dogs

 

“A joyous romp of a novel, as energetic and unpredictable as the sea itself.”

Books for Keeps

 

“The book would make an excellent class story, full of suspense and adventure.”

Through the Bookshelf

 

“A gorgeous story that will enchant readers.”

Bonkers About Books

 

“From the first boisterous pages, to the last heartfelt ones, The Monster Down Deep by Amy Fellner Dominy is a pitch-perfect middle grade. Funny, adventurous, and full of humanity, it turns out, the sparkling necklace the kids are after isn’t the real reward, but rather, reading this gem of a book cover to cover is.”

Gae Polisner, author of Consider the Octopus

 

“A memorable and compelling adventure about facing long-buried fears while standing up to protect an unusual creature… A treasure of a story!”

Lynne Kelly, author of Song For a Whale

MONSTER DOWN DEEP

by
Amy Fellner Dominy

I am trapped. Who am I?

I do not make a habit of introducing myself to humans, but I am in desperation. I am the one they call Monster Down Deep. This is a very not good name for two very good reasons.

Firstly, I am not a monster. I am a fish. A perfectly fine fish, in fact. I have fins for swimming and fins for walking, a mouth full of hooked teeth and smooth scales. I do not look like other fish, but other fish do not look like me. Do I call them monsters?

I had another name once. It was so long ago that all who knew it are gone. My family. My friends. My whole school. Only I have survived.

Since I was a hatchling, I have had a strong sense of survival. I learnt to swim as silently as a shadow; to skim the middle deep without disturbing a grain of sand. I sensed danger when others did not.

Living became my life’s work.

All in all, I have been alive for 2,974 circle moons. I do not know the number in human years. Fish do not count years. We count moons. Moons create the tides. The tides lead us afar and the tides lead us home. If I survive twenty-six more moons, I will reach three thousand moons. I have never heard of a fish who lived so long. If I am careful, I will be the first.

I am always careful.

How, then, did I end up here?

You will be wondering, Where is here?

I am wondering the same thing.

I am trapped in some type of thick green weed. It has formed a net around me and I cannot get free. Now, the net swims with the tide and I must swim within it. Two sliver moons have passed and my fear grows.

Where does the net take me? At first, I was caught in my panic and saw only glimpses of kelp forests, shadows of black eels and deep ocean trenches. I watch carefully now, but what I feel alarms me the most. The water is warmer. I am being dragged into dangerous sun-lit water.

I blame the orange fish. I blame myself.

No, I really only blame the orange fish.

Because of him, this slithery green mass of weed caught me. With each passing breath, it carries me up. Predators live up. Humans live up. Up is very not safe.

That is the second reason why my name is very not good: I am no longer Down Deep. Instead of Monster Down Deep, I am Very Afraid Fish.

Have I seen my last moon?

CREATE YOUR OWN CREATURE

Blue isn’t the only unusual fish in the sea!!

Who else might be swimming in the same waters? Use the guide below to draw your own creature and imagine where they live and how they live. When you’re done? Take a picture and send it to me–[email protected]. Then check back!! I’ll update and add pictures to the page.

Let’s create an ocean of friends (or enemies!) for Blue.

TO START US OFF:  Two fish creations from the launch event on June 2nd. Created by Nate Evans and an amazing audience of kids:

Downloadable PDF: CREATE YOUR OWN CREATURE