Interview with AJ from Paolo Mazzucato's AJ AND THE INCREDIBLE FISH
I’m eleven years old, so, you know, way beyond believing in silly things like…tooth fairies or other crazy stories that adults like to tell. I mean, who do they think they’re kidding, right? I live in the REAL world, and ever since my dad left, I spend my time staying out of trouble (mostly) with my sixth-grade friends at St. Anthony School in Wailuku. That’s on Maui, just in case you weren’t paying attention during Sr. Penguin’s geography class, like Eddie who reads comics tucked inside his textbook, which is something I NEVER do.
Can you tell us about one of your most distinguishable features?
Features? You mean like my nose or something? Well, that’s normal, I guess. I mean my nose is normal. I guess I have messy hair because, you know, combing it would take half the morning so I would definitely miss the school bus. Of course, I wouldn’t mind that so much, ‘cause then I could cut through the sugar cane or pineapple fields to get to Wailuku.
Oh, yeah, Livvy said I had funky breath and mismatched socks. Is that a feature? The breath is from having slightly “funny” milk for breakfast, and the socks…well, I didn’t realize they were different shades of blue until Livvy pointed it out, but I’m thinking now that that’s probably not what you meant by a feature, so…
What would I love the most about you?
Well, unless you’re like goody-two-shoes (and matching socks) Connie, who’s the little miss know-it-all in Sr. Penguin’s class, you’d love everything about me. I’m a pretty likable guy. Although, I’m not sure if Penguin likes me that much. She keeps sending me to the principal’s office. Yeah, Father Pantano gets pretty annoyed by me too. So, unless your like Connie, or Penguin, or Principal P… come to think of it, his secretary doesn’t particularly care for me either. So unless you’re like them, then you’d love everything about me.
What makes you laugh out loud?
Well, I try not to laugh out loud, even when Sammy-Sideways falls out of his seat because Dino and Kiyoshi are playing virtual battleship across the back of the classroom. It’s pretty funny, but, as I said before, I end up in the principal’s office enough as it is without me laughing out loud in class.
What is your most treasured possession?
I don’t really have a lot of “stuff.” My baseball mitt is pretty old and I’d like a new one, but… oh, wait, for my eleventh birthday, Grandpa gave me this really old compass. He said his father had given it to him to help him “chart his course” or something. I didn’t think I’d really use it for anything, but it was fancy and kind of cool, and it was nice that he…remembered, you know?
Are you a loner or do you prefer to be surrounded by friends?
At school, I hang around with Dino, Kiyoshi, Louie, Chet and Sammy. Of course, whenever we pull something in class, I’m the one who always gets caught and in trouble, so… I guess I wouldn’t mind spending time by myself sometimes, kind of like Livvy. She’s a girl I know, or…I don’t know her so much. She’s home-schooled or something, and she’s usually alone when I see her, upcountry wandering or climbing mango trees. She’s odd, but maybe that’s okay.
What is in your refrigerator right now?
There’s probably some leftover dim sum or pizza. Not much though because Mom is always heading off to work some flight so I gotta stay with Grandpa alot.
What is your greatest fear?
Fear? I’m not afraid. Okay, well, maybe I don’t wanna get stuck on Grandpa’s boat for the weekend, and being out on the ocean isn’t fun.
Finn’s pedal-powered flying machine…now that was terrifying. Crash landing in the desert and getting trapped in prison wasn’t exactly NOT scary either. And being chased by Peg Leg the pirate in his nasty harpoon boat shook me up a little. Almost getting trapped forever by Count Quagmire had me worried a bit, and then getting sucked down to the bottom of the ocean wasn’t exactly fun. Of course, facing Old Gussie, the giant, incredible fish was the worst…until it wasn’t. Then it was the best. So my worst fear…? I guess it would have to be the fear of being too afraid to ever do anything, you know…never leaving the shore at all.
If you could change one physical thing about yourself, what would that be?
I really wish I had worn matching socks that morning.
Who is your best friend?
Before my weekend with Grandpa, I would have said definitely NOT Grandpa. But after…well, it turns out he and Livvy are both pretty incredible.
Do you have children?
H’yeah…right.
What is your favorite weather?
Well, Maui weather is always pretty perfect, but you’d be surprised how a little storm on the sea can really shake things up.
Do you like to cook? If so, what is your favorite thing to cook?
Cook? I’m eleven! Even if I could cook, would you eat it? I think, NO!
If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, what would you do today?
Die? I’m eleven! That’s so dark. I bet Grandpa would make you rethink
that question, and even your way of seeing things. He say it’s never too
late to leave the shore and go after something incredible.
Could a fish hold the key to belief?
AJ and the Incredible Fish by Paolo Mazzucato is a captivating fantasy adventure that’s perfect for tweens aged 9-14, especially boys who love a blend of excitement and deeper meaning.
This story takes young readers on an unforgettable journey that blends the wonders of fantasy with the realities of growing up.
Eleven-year-old AJ is a relatable character who starts off skeptical of fairy tales and grand adventures, but when his Grandpa unexpectedly sets sail on a quest to find a legendary fish, AJ finds himself pulled into a world where anything is possible.
Alongside an eccentric girl named Livvy, AJ faces perilous challenges, encounters extraordinary characters, and discovers that the true adventure lies in believing in the impossible.
This book is more than just an adventure; it’s a story about trust, courage, and the power of belief. It encourages young readers to embrace their imagination, face their fears, and understand that sometimes, the greatest treasures in life are the dreams we dare to chase.
Ideal for parents, teachers, and librarians seeking a fantasy fiction adventure that inspires and entertains.
Don’t miss out—let AJ’s journey spark imaginations!
AJ AND THE INCREDIBLE FISH is available in hardcover for $24.95 and in Paperback for $18.95. It can be found on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BepiBooks.com and other online book sellers. (and at the Orange County Children’s Book Festival, Sept. 22, 2024 https://www.kidsbookfestival.com/
BepiBooks: https://bepibooks.com/aj.html
Publication date: September 10, 2024; Publisher: Bepi Books
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Paolo-Mazzucato/author/B07PHNMF53
Amazon Hard Cover Page: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1737989840?
AJ and the Incredible Fish — Hard Cover: 978-1-7379898-4-4; 316 pages, 24.95
AJ and the Incredible Fish — Paperback: 978-1-7379898-5-1, 316 pages, 18.95
Amazon Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/AJ-Incredible-Fish-Paolo-Mazzucato/dp/1737989859
Paolo Mazzucato is an American fiction author and screenwriter. He began his writing career as a Chicago playwright and award-winning student filmmaker before moving to Los Angeles where he won awards for screenwriting and scripted various projects for film and television. He is also the author of several children’s books including: “No One Mocks a Panda” (an Amazon #1 Best Seller, Feb. 2019), and “The Absolutely True Story of La Befana” (an Amazon Holiday Top 100 title). He is also the author of the fantasy/adventure novel, “The Gondoliers: The Secret Journals of Fanticulous Glim,” a “recommended” read by the US Review of Books.
Mazzucato’s new book will be launched on Sunday, September 22nd at the Orange County
Children’s Book Festival in Costa Mesa, California.
Find out more about the author on his website: www.writer.mazzucato.org and follow him on his social media (Facebook, X and Instagram).
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