What Do Fish Have to Do With Anything?

What techniques does Avi use to make familiar places (e.g., ordinary settings like schools, backyards, or apartments) feel unsettling or strange?

Many of the stories involve a power struggle between two characters. How does Avi use dialogue and body language to illustrate who has control in these moments?

How do key objects (or animals) serve as symbols or turning points in the narratives?

Choose at least two stories and explain how Avi creates pointed contrasts between children and adults. What are the author’s underlying messages about misunderstanding, authority, and emotional vulnerability?

How does Avi connect natural imagery to human emotions and craft strategic shifts in tone?

How do different characters respond to fear? What do their reactions imply about their core personalities and flaws?

Why are some stories told in the first person, while others are told in the third person? Compare and contrast two stories with different points of view.

How do the stories simultaneously critique and celebrate the young protagonists’ agency? Which characters make wise choices, and which ones have hard lessons to learn?