BABY BLUE

In a poignant and poetic voice, 12-year-old Blue tells the story of her family. They used to be four: Blue, her older sister Star, their mother, and their imperfect but adored father. Then Pa drowned in the local river, and Mama married Jinx. Jinx moves them out of their house and into his, and he hits their mother, something she refuses to deal with: “Mama’s eyes begged me to come along on the magic carpet ride.” Star runs away and Blue fears everyone will desert her. The sisters’ relationship is tender and fiercely loyal but also full of barbs and fury. Can Blue force Star to come home? Hope arrives at the end when Mama finally realizes she needs to leave Jinx. Mama, Star, and Blue become closer and calmer by releasing old burdens of guilt about Pa’s drowning. Blue’s art hangs in their new house and a peaceful future is believable. Thoughtful and affecting. (Fiction. 10-14)