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Rainfish
‘You don’t kill them rainfish ’cause they’ll bring trouble. Rainstorms and floods and bad things.’
Aaron lives with his mum and older brother in a small town on the edge of a rainforest in tropical Far North Queensland. He’s sick of being the little brother, left out of all the interesting stuff the older kids get up to.
So when he meets Damon he’s keen to impress him. It’s all going well, until Damon suggests they break into the church. Aaron’s nervous and uncomfortable. But he can’t back out now—he’s only just beginning to be accepted.
When the theft is reported in the local newspaper and the police knock on the door, Aaron finds himself hiding the truth in a tangle of lies. And before long his deep sense of guilt and fear of being found out overwhelm him.
And then, when he discovers that the mudcod in the old bath in the backyard—the fish he’d caught in the river in the rainforest—are the rainfish of local legend, he becomes convinced that he is responsible for the terrible rainstorms and floods that devastate the town.
Rainfish is a delightful middle-grade novel exploring childhood innocence—a warm and humorous portrayal of a young boy trying to undo an impulsive mistake.
Aaron lives with his mum and older brother in a small town on the edge of a rainforest in tropical Far North Queensland. He’s sick of being the little brother, left out of all the interesting stuff the older kids get up to.
So when he meets Damon he’s keen to impress him. It’s all going well, until Damon suggests they break into the church. Aaron’s nervous and uncomfortable. But he can’t back out now—he’s only just beginning to be accepted.
When the theft is reported in the local newspaper and the police knock on the door, Aaron finds himself hiding the truth in a tangle of lies. And before long his deep sense of guilt and fear of being found out overwhelm him.
And then, when he discovers that the mudcod in the old bath in the backyard—the fish he’d caught in the river in the rainforest—are the rainfish of local legend, he becomes convinced that he is responsible for the terrible rainstorms and floods that devastate the town.
Rainfish is a delightful middle-grade novel exploring childhood innocence—a warm and humorous portrayal of a young boy trying to undo an impulsive mistake.
- GenresMiddle Grade
256 pages, Paperback
First published July 2, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 22, 2022
You can get into trouble when you want to impress your big brother's cool friend, and this is exactly what happens to Aaron. They steal from the church and hide the loot in a field. But Aaron is riddled with guilt and torment. This is particularly problematic when his big brother decides to mount an investigation into who stole the stuff.
Set in a small Australian town where the isn't much to do, Aaron's mum is a battler and is just keeping her head above water. Aaron feels a responsibility to be good and not get into trouble, and now he has gone and done this terrible thing. Mix this up with Mum's increasingly weird boyfriend and a meddlesome big brother who looks like he is getting closer and closer to solving the crime, you've got guilt coming from every pore.
This book is just a little bit slow, I'd have liked it to move more quickly along in the middle. It felt a little bit like the story didn't quite hang together in places. It is an enjoyable read but I'm not sure that it will engage readers immediately. I did enjoy reading about the Aboriginal myth of the rainfish and I wish it and it's storyteller could have played a bigger part in the story.
Thanks to Text publishing and NetGalley for the access to this book
Set in a small Australian town where the isn't much to do, Aaron's mum is a battler and is just keeping her head above water. Aaron feels a responsibility to be good and not get into trouble, and now he has gone and done this terrible thing. Mix this up with Mum's increasingly weird boyfriend and a meddlesome big brother who looks like he is getting closer and closer to solving the crime, you've got guilt coming from every pore.
This book is just a little bit slow, I'd have liked it to move more quickly along in the middle. It felt a little bit like the story didn't quite hang together in places. It is an enjoyable read but I'm not sure that it will engage readers immediately. I did enjoy reading about the Aboriginal myth of the rainfish and I wish it and it's storyteller could have played a bigger part in the story.
Thanks to Text publishing and NetGalley for the access to this book
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March 10, 2023The following book reviews have been shared by Text Publishing – publisher of Rainfish
'I could really relate to Aaron's feelings of guilt in this story. The writing really made you feel like you were there.'
Amelia (Age 11)
'I could relate to the moment when Aaron's brother got sick. I have felt that kind of worry before.'
Eva (Age 11)
'I love the description and flow of the story. Full of adventure and guilt – a totally relatable tale.'
Elaina (Age 11)
'I love how Aaron feels guilty – it puts a bit of realism into the story.'
Vicky (Age 11)
'I really enjoyed the descriptions of how Aaron was feeling. I also really liked all of the characters.'
Zahli (Age 11)
'I liked the colour and the cover art. I also liked the creativity of the book and the way it used newspaper articles to help tell the story.'
Kara (Age 12)
'I was swept away by this stunning, swampy tale of the loneliness that comes with a guilty conscience. An absolutely unforgettable book.’
Carly Nugent, author of The Peacock Detectives
'A wonderful gutsy story about boyhood teeming with tenderness and heart.’
Robert Newton
'Rainfish is one of those books you don't want to end but at the same time do, only to be sure the story concludes the way you hoped it would.'
Books+Publishing
‘Rainfish is one of the most impactful middle-grade novels I’ve read. It authentically demonstrates the realities of conformity and trying to fit in as you’re discovering who you are…a delightful middle-grade novel exploring childhood innocence, and a warm and humorous portrayal of a young boy trying to undo an impulsive mistake. I was drawn to the way Paterson portrays the complex in a beautifully simplistic way, making it impactful yet digestible for readers aged 10+. I couldn’t recommend it more.’
Better Reading Kids
‘Rain-sodden…lively…wonderfully backgrounded with water…unprecedented…vivid…sweaty…macho…fantastical…dangerous.’
SA Weekend
‘Andrew Paterson writes with a light touch. There is plenty of humour in Aaron’s observations, real, exaggerated or imagined…A satisfying read.’
Magpies
'Tender and funny… [Aaron’s] dilemmas have a universal quality.’
Booklist
‘Paterson’s novel explores the trials and tribulations of growing up, friendship and coping with adversity in an authentic and engaging way.’
SAETA
'I could really relate to Aaron's feelings of guilt in this story. The writing really made you feel like you were there.'
Amelia (Age 11)
'I could relate to the moment when Aaron's brother got sick. I have felt that kind of worry before.'
Eva (Age 11)
'I love the description and flow of the story. Full of adventure and guilt – a totally relatable tale.'
Elaina (Age 11)
'I love how Aaron feels guilty – it puts a bit of realism into the story.'
Vicky (Age 11)
'I really enjoyed the descriptions of how Aaron was feeling. I also really liked all of the characters.'
Zahli (Age 11)
'I liked the colour and the cover art. I also liked the creativity of the book and the way it used newspaper articles to help tell the story.'
Kara (Age 12)
'I was swept away by this stunning, swampy tale of the loneliness that comes with a guilty conscience. An absolutely unforgettable book.’
Carly Nugent, author of The Peacock Detectives
'A wonderful gutsy story about boyhood teeming with tenderness and heart.’
Robert Newton
'Rainfish is one of those books you don't want to end but at the same time do, only to be sure the story concludes the way you hoped it would.'
Books+Publishing
‘Rainfish is one of the most impactful middle-grade novels I’ve read. It authentically demonstrates the realities of conformity and trying to fit in as you’re discovering who you are…a delightful middle-grade novel exploring childhood innocence, and a warm and humorous portrayal of a young boy trying to undo an impulsive mistake. I was drawn to the way Paterson portrays the complex in a beautifully simplistic way, making it impactful yet digestible for readers aged 10+. I couldn’t recommend it more.’
Better Reading Kids
‘Rain-sodden…lively…wonderfully backgrounded with water…unprecedented…vivid…sweaty…macho…fantastical…dangerous.’
SA Weekend
‘Andrew Paterson writes with a light touch. There is plenty of humour in Aaron’s observations, real, exaggerated or imagined…A satisfying read.’
Magpies
'Tender and funny… [Aaron’s] dilemmas have a universal quality.’
Booklist
‘Paterson’s novel explores the trials and tribulations of growing up, friendship and coping with adversity in an authentic and engaging way.’
SAETA
June 14, 2022
This book didn't have your romance, but I still enjoyed it. I am usually (always) a sucker for a good romance and at the start, I was wishing that there would be a good romance. but there wasn't. Even though there wasn't any romance at all, I still loved this book. I did not enjoy it to the fullest, but still loved it. I would most likely not read again but it would stay with me forever. I do love the characters and what happens, the ending was quite- well an ending.
July 19, 2021
A tbook for tweens set in Cairns. Very well written, descriptive and sets the tone of the harsh climate in Australia and the devastation of floods. Covers the themes of bullying, stealing, family relations.
June 10, 2021
Absolutely captivating! Loved it
November 7, 2021
This was a quick, sweet, compelling read. Aaron lives with his mother and brother in Far North Queensland, in a seaside town surrounded by farms and rainforest. At the beginning of the book, Aaron and an older boy get into some trouble, and the book follows Aaron as he fears the consequences of his actions.
The plot is a little slow-going, but will be appreciated by younger readers as Andrew Paterson takes a bit of time to build the story and introduce the Aaronson family. The titular rainfish first appears a bit too far into the book; as I read, I wondered if it would have benefited from a brief prologue that included the fable on which Aaron bases many of his concerns.
Where this book succeeds is twofold. First, it captures the wonder and rambunctiousness of preteens. Second, Paterson builds a fascinating, beautiful world around his characters. There are times where you can practically smell the scene. He deftly describes the thrum of cicadas and the late-afternoon migration of flying foxes toward banana farms outside the town. Paterson also drops in small bits of actual history about the region, including how sugar mills built large numbers of identical homes for workers.
The ending is somewhat satisfying, although the resolution comes about quite abruptly. As I finished reading, I turned to the next page and the next thinking, “Is that it?” It leaves me wanting more. Perhaps a sequel is in the works? I wouldn’t mind reading more about Aaron and his family.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my review.
The plot is a little slow-going, but will be appreciated by younger readers as Andrew Paterson takes a bit of time to build the story and introduce the Aaronson family. The titular rainfish first appears a bit too far into the book; as I read, I wondered if it would have benefited from a brief prologue that included the fable on which Aaron bases many of his concerns.
Where this book succeeds is twofold. First, it captures the wonder and rambunctiousness of preteens. Second, Paterson builds a fascinating, beautiful world around his characters. There are times where you can practically smell the scene. He deftly describes the thrum of cicadas and the late-afternoon migration of flying foxes toward banana farms outside the town. Paterson also drops in small bits of actual history about the region, including how sugar mills built large numbers of identical homes for workers.
The ending is somewhat satisfying, although the resolution comes about quite abruptly. As I finished reading, I turned to the next page and the next thinking, “Is that it?” It leaves me wanting more. Perhaps a sequel is in the works? I wouldn’t mind reading more about Aaron and his family.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my review.
September 27, 2021
One of the most delightfully surprising books I've read this year, Rainfish is tipped as a middle-grade novel (it has a couple of swear words) but I would happily recommend it to any adult. It's the summer holidays in far north Queensland, and Aaron is about to start year 8. Boredom, loneliness, and a chance to prove himself as one of the cool kids leads him to steal from the local church, even though he knows it's wrong. As his guilty conscience stalks him, and the floodwaters rise in his small town of Fingleton, Aaron wrestles with admitting to his crime like a grown-up, or shirking from it like a little kid.
He reminds me of Trent Dalton's Eli, or Craig Silvey's Charlie - a kid in small town Australia straddling that line between unearthing those things that grown-ups know, but experiencing it through the last lens of childish innocence. Dreamtime stories add a bewitching touch of mysticism to the plot, adding to the contrast of the power of imagination against harsh daily realities.
Side note, a backyard swarming with escaped fish is just about my worst nightmare - read it and you'll know what I mean. I'm adding this to the list of Australian fiction that all kids (and adults) should read. It's a deceptively simple story, but a moving and impactful message.
Thanks to Text Publishing for my gifted copy!
He reminds me of Trent Dalton's Eli, or Craig Silvey's Charlie - a kid in small town Australia straddling that line between unearthing those things that grown-ups know, but experiencing it through the last lens of childish innocence. Dreamtime stories add a bewitching touch of mysticism to the plot, adding to the contrast of the power of imagination against harsh daily realities.
Side note, a backyard swarming with escaped fish is just about my worst nightmare - read it and you'll know what I mean. I'm adding this to the list of Australian fiction that all kids (and adults) should read. It's a deceptively simple story, but a moving and impactful message.
Thanks to Text Publishing for my gifted copy!
March 21, 2022
Thank you to #NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital ARC. This middle grade novel will be released in May 2022. All opinions are my own.
Aaron lives with his mom and older brother in a small town on the edge of the rainforest in Australia. He’s keen to grow up and is sick of being ignored by his brother and left out of what the big kids are doing. So, one day, he makes a poor decision and hangs out with an older boy with a bad reputation. He wants to impress the boy, but things go wrong when the boy suggests they break into a church. The other boy ends up stealing several items. Now, Aaron is dealing with the guilt. Things only seem to get worse when he discovers the fish he caught and is keeping in a tub in his backyard is a Rainfish, a local legend.
This book has important messages about loss of innocence, growing up, making decisions, and dealing with guilt. I wanted to enjoy the story, but there was something about it that I can’t quite put my finger on (it could be the narrative voice or that the conflict is primarily internal), but I just couldn’t get into the story. I found that things took longer than they needed to and then the book kind of just felt like it ended abruptly. I feel like I may have also missed some elements of the story as I’m not familiar with Australia slang and colloquialisms.
Aaron lives with his mom and older brother in a small town on the edge of the rainforest in Australia. He’s keen to grow up and is sick of being ignored by his brother and left out of what the big kids are doing. So, one day, he makes a poor decision and hangs out with an older boy with a bad reputation. He wants to impress the boy, but things go wrong when the boy suggests they break into a church. The other boy ends up stealing several items. Now, Aaron is dealing with the guilt. Things only seem to get worse when he discovers the fish he caught and is keeping in a tub in his backyard is a Rainfish, a local legend.
This book has important messages about loss of innocence, growing up, making decisions, and dealing with guilt. I wanted to enjoy the story, but there was something about it that I can’t quite put my finger on (it could be the narrative voice or that the conflict is primarily internal), but I just couldn’t get into the story. I found that things took longer than they needed to and then the book kind of just felt like it ended abruptly. I feel like I may have also missed some elements of the story as I’m not familiar with Australia slang and colloquialisms.
August 11, 2021
Far North Queensland - Innisfail to be exact - is a wonderful place to grow up, but as this story shows, whatever your childhood setting there are rites of passage to be gone through.
This un-put-downable book blends a fast pace with a sense of rural calm; increasing tension with the outlet of family affection.
A true-to-life depiction of childhood, told in the voice of the protagonist, it will draw young readers in and hold them spellbound right to the last page. Adult concepts are addressed with sensitivity and pragmatism.
A wonderful read, and a great achievement for a first novel. I can’t wait to see the author’s next work!
This un-put-downable book blends a fast pace with a sense of rural calm; increasing tension with the outlet of family affection.
A true-to-life depiction of childhood, told in the voice of the protagonist, it will draw young readers in and hold them spellbound right to the last page. Adult concepts are addressed with sensitivity and pragmatism.
A wonderful read, and a great achievement for a first novel. I can’t wait to see the author’s next work!
November 20, 2021
"I just had one more day to get through until it was all over. I could survive one more day."
This book was not only really well told but also had incredibly relatable characters.
The main character, Aaron, is keen to impress one of his older brothers friends so commits a break in with him. The novel deals with Aaron's loneliness being a younger sibling, guilty nature and his overactive imagination which I found very relatable. Not only does it include all these themes but also incorporates the indigenous story of the Rainfish which ties in incredibly well.
I found Rainfish really easy read to get back into reading following exams, definitely a recommendation.
This book was not only really well told but also had incredibly relatable characters.
The main character, Aaron, is keen to impress one of his older brothers friends so commits a break in with him. The novel deals with Aaron's loneliness being a younger sibling, guilty nature and his overactive imagination which I found very relatable. Not only does it include all these themes but also incorporates the indigenous story of the Rainfish which ties in incredibly well.
I found Rainfish really easy read to get back into reading following exams, definitely a recommendation.
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September 2, 2021Rainfish evokes its North Queensland small-town setting beautifully. The heat, the humidity and the unforgiving wet-season all come alive. The characters are relatable and very real. The protagonist is Aaron, a young boy about to start high school, who lives with his mum and older brother. Struggling to find his place in the family and to make friends, Aaron spends one fateful afternoon with the “wrong” person. His action that afternoon haunt him for the rest of the novel. Suitable for upper primary or lower secondary students with some reading perseverance.
December 8, 2021
Thank you so much Tex Publishing for allowing me to read this book early!
Kids can be impulsive and influenced by others, especially middle grade ones. It’s a vulnerable age, on the one hand getting more freedom, on the other hand the first teen hormones starting to kick in. This book was sweet and enthralling and I think kids in middle grade will enjoy this book tremendously. I loved Aaron and I really liked the way the author described the scenery.
The pacing was a bit slow and I’m not sure if I like the ending but overall a great read!
Kids can be impulsive and influenced by others, especially middle grade ones. It’s a vulnerable age, on the one hand getting more freedom, on the other hand the first teen hormones starting to kick in. This book was sweet and enthralling and I think kids in middle grade will enjoy this book tremendously. I loved Aaron and I really liked the way the author described the scenery.
The pacing was a bit slow and I’m not sure if I like the ending but overall a great read!
March 1, 2022
Aaron, in an attempt to appear cool, steals items from a church. Aaron’s guilt grows as the police and his brother, who takes on the role of a private investigator, attempt to solve the crime. The investigation is put on hold when heavy rain falls causing a natural disaster, and Aaron finds a way to appease his conscience. It is written in Aaron’s own voice and set in Australia, allowing the reader to relate to Aaron’s plight.
April 27, 2022
The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Rainfish was an interesting story with compelling characters who're dealing with bullying, innocence, and guilt. I liked how the Aboriginal story of the rainfish was included, really setting the story in Australia, but feel like I missed out on some depth since I'm not from there and don't understand the culture very well.
Rainfish was an interesting story with compelling characters who're dealing with bullying, innocence, and guilt. I liked how the Aboriginal story of the rainfish was included, really setting the story in Australia, but feel like I missed out on some depth since I'm not from there and don't understand the culture very well.
August 18, 2022
This was a bit different than what I was expecting but it kept me reading. The author did a great job catching the essence of a young boy. The setting was interesting to read about as well as the living conditions.
I felt a bit confused about the ending, but it does follow the same flow as the rest of the book.
I felt a bit confused about the ending, but it does follow the same flow as the rest of the book.
February 18, 2022
2.5 stars
April 13, 2022
Beautifully written book.
May 25, 2022
Rainfish is an engaging and fascinating novel about guilt and imagination. Aaron (Year 7) makes a mistake that ties him in knots, and interspersed with this story is the thread of legend about the rainfish - and the bunyip - and rising floodwaters. This is all close to my heart.
There are also some nicely handled family dynamics. I think any age from Year 7 up would enjoy this novel.
The ending is a little inconclusive, causing me to wonder if there will be a follow up. If there is, I will read it.
There are also some nicely handled family dynamics. I think any age from Year 7 up would enjoy this novel.
The ending is a little inconclusive, causing me to wonder if there will be a follow up. If there is, I will read it.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews