A Touch of Blue is a chapter book for middle grade readers. It is published by a wonderful little publishing house called Chicken Scratch Books. Their purpose as a company is to publish new books for young people that are (a) good from a literary perspective and (b) adhere to what are called 'traditional values'. I think this means that they aim to publish good quality, interesting adventure stories without any propaganda in them. Just good old stories. They have by now produced a nice selection of books that look worthwhile. I was hoping I would like this book, because I see the value of the mission Chicken Scratch Books have set out to serve.
Indeed, I am glad to say, there is a lot to like about it. It has a nice circular writing style that is almost poetic. It handles its theme with insight: the theme of a tomboyish girl with the need for more feminine in her life is truthfully presented and well psychologised. At the same time, the story is not overly psychological like many contemporary publications. It is more story-line centered (I find that more appropriate for child readers). It strikes a good balance: the reader is given enough 'emotional detail' to get to know the characters, without the book reading like the notes of a stressed-out therapist (as too many new books do!).
In a sense, the writing style is reminiscent of To Kill a Mocking Bird, but it is less nostalgic. Much of the story is similar also: there is the lone man they fear who turns out helpful; the free-range childhood of roaming the local area while loving decent parents exist somewhere in the background; the friend from the less-happy family, less loved and fatherless; the sad social-reality storyline in the background giving depth to the book, and the respectable decent local folk that populate the story. Having said that, you would not call this a copy-cat book. It has its own feel and value even with its many similarities.
The setting of the story is unpleasant, this is not a light story. It is n emotive narrative which deals gently with the story of child who is seriously neglected and beaten by an alchoholic single mom. It is not an overly dark book though. It is made lighter through a poetic emphasis on colours throughout, a parallel story of a happy family, a friendship, and an engaging adventure. It has a happy-ish ending.
Several themes run through the book: the loss of a loved family member; dealing with grief; friendship; wildlife; adventure; and facts about photography. It has a likeable morality; and it gives 'good advice'.
To give you an example, my favourite line in the book comes in Chapter 20. I quote:
'You can sit in the mud but you don’t need to water the weeds.’
´What´? I asked, wondering what she was getting at.
'Go ahead and feel your feelings’ Gerty said ‘but don’t wallow in them’.
An emotive book about life, a wild and free childhood summer, full of action, deeps joys and disappointments. There is a lot to love in this book: an artful writing style, solid content, respectable characters, and 'truthful moments'.
