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Bluefish

3.93 of 5 stars 3.93 · rating details · 818 ratings · 195 reviews

Travis is missing his old home in the country, and he’s missing his old hound, Rosco. Now there’s just the cramped place he shares with his alcoholic grandpa, a new school, and the dreaded routine of school. But that’s before Travis meets Mr. McQueen, who doesn’t take "pass" for an answer—a rare teacher whose savvy persistence has Travis slowly unlocking a book on the natu...more

Hardcover, 240 pages

Published September 13th 2011 by Candlewick

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Aug 11, 2011 April rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, for-review, ya

Bluefish by Pat Schmatz is an understated contemporary novel. I haven’t actually seen any reviews for it so far, so it seems very under the radar, or at least it did until I checked goodreads and realized it doesn’t come out until September 13. However, we still see advance reviews for most books, and I really do think Bluefish is going to be one of those that will be under the radar.

Read the rest of my review here

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Dec 05, 2012 Patricia Hruby Powell rated it 5 of 5 stars

In Pat Schmatz’s “Bluefish” (Candlewick 2011), Travis, 13, has to move into town and live with Grandpa. Travis’ heart is broken over his lost hound, Roscoe. And school is painful.
Grandpa has stopped drinking, but Travis knows it won’t last.
The only bright spark in his life is classmate, Velveeta, who is the liveliest, flirtiest girl, who wears old lady scarves—different colors every day—with her hoody.
Velveeta inherited the scarves from Calvin, the old man who lived in the next trailer, the o...more In Pat Schmatz’s “Bluefish” (Candlewick 2011), Travis, 13, has to move into town and live with Grandpa. Travis’ heart is broken over his lost hound, Roscoe. And school is painful.
Grandpa has stopped drinking, but Travis knows it won’t last.
The only bright spark in his life is classmate, Velveeta, who is the liveliest, flirtiest girl, who wears old lady scarves—different colors every day—with her hoody.
Velveeta inherited the scarves from Calvin, the old man who lived in the next trailer, the one who bought her school supplies each year, who helped her build confidence, but now he’s died. Actually, the scarves belonged to Calvin’s wife, but she’s been gone for years.
Travis and Velveeta’s stories alternate. Taciturn Travis is voiced in the third person, which is perfect for his strong silent character. Vivacious Velveeta, in the first person, writes to Calvin. So we get to see what Travis is feeling and Velveeta shows her feelings. Perfect.
Travis and Velveeta like each other—really like each other—but relationship is complicated between two eighth graders, especially when each has a big secret. Can they trust each other? Help each other? You want it for them. They are both so likeable. And believable.
If Velveeta goes home to her own trailer, she must suffer her selfish alcoholic mother, so she moves into Calvin’s empty trailer. Until she gets kicked out by Calvin’s grown daughter.
Travis cuts class and sets out on foot to the country to find his dog. When the trip goes wrong, Travis acts like a kicked dog. Back at school he snaps at Velveeta.
Velveeta, clever girl, figures out Travis’ big secret just as you, the reader, will. She tries to help him, but she’s just a kid and maybe a little awkward in helping. Travis snaps again.
Now Velveeta is no longer Travis’ friend and his dog Roscoe hasn’t been found. School gets worse. He longs for some bully to start a fight with him so he could “blow loose all over them” and it wouldn’t be his fault. But the bully won’t start and Travis won’t start it.
Thank heavens for McQueen the reading teacher. With his help and Velveeta’s smarts, maybe Travis will break out of his self-made prison of anger and loneliness.
I loved these characters and the writing. I bet Schmatz follows through on Velveeta’s story in her next book.

Patricia Hruby Powell is a nationally touring speaker, dancer, storyteller, occasional librarian, and children’s book author. She has books coming out with Chronicle books. talesforallages.com

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Sep 19, 2012 Victorf rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: bluefish

Bluefish Book Review

An Eigth grade boy named Travis moved to town with his alcoholic grandfather. His school year started out baldy. The reason was because he skipped classes. Travis’ teacher offered him to teach him how to read. Travis wasn’t too convinced about that offer. But when Travis found out that he also got to choose his book he changed his mind and accepted the offer. He now got assistance on how to read properly. Travis would always circle the words he didn’t know and always erased t...more Bluefish Book Review

An Eigth grade boy named Travis moved to town with his alcoholic grandfather. His school year started out baldy. The reason was because he skipped classes. Travis’ teacher offered him to teach him how to read. Travis wasn’t too convinced about that offer. But when Travis found out that he also got to choose his book he changed his mind and accepted the offer. He now got assistance on how to read properly. Travis would always circle the words he didn’t know and always erased them after he went over the words with his teacher. Travis also had decided to do his school work every day no matter what obstacles stood in his way. One day at lunch Travis met a girl named Velveeta. It turned out that they both meet with the same teacher and also started to hang out more. Velveeta was a very kind person who helped Travis with the reading and explaining the context and words to him that he did not know. On another day, a third person had joined the two named Bradley. He was a kind of guy who always wore nice, and fancy clothing. He was a very smart kid. Velveeta and Travis let Bradley join. Together they decided that they would overcome all the obstacles that happened at school and even at each of their homes.

I really liked the story of Bluefish. It gives a reader an opportunity to imagine what it would be like to be an eigth grader who doesn’t know how to read. It is very well written and gives the reader a lot of detail. I really thought that this book is interesting because it has two perspectives. One is Travis’ perspective which I get to real a lot. But then at the end of each chapter the author gives the reader a chance to read Velveetas’ perspective. Which I find very cool. I have never read a book where the reader gets a chance to read two perspectives in one book. Although I think that the author should have included a third perspective which would have been Bradley. If the three of them each had a perspective in the book then that would have actually completed the “ bluefish” itself. I think that because if you read this book then you will find out why this book is called bluefish. I really would recommend this book for young teens.
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Aug 29, 2012 Elizabeth rated it 5 of 5 stars

Bluefish is the fourth book by Wisconsin author Pat Schmatz (rhymes with jots, not cats) who was born in Amherst, WI.
This book is an introduction to two main characters. Travis is new at the middle school. Velveeta, confident and individualistic, attends the same middle school. Inherently, both of them are lonely. Travis is a lover of the outdoors whereas Velveeta has a penchant for colorful scarves.
Travis is suffering from the loss of his dog and Velveeta is sad about the death of a good fr...more

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Jun 04, 2012 Maureen Milton rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: high-school, seniors

It's been a long time since I enjoyed the drama of the cafeteria table, but I've just relived it twice in reading "Bluefish" and "Wonder" by R.J. Palacio. Where do I sit? Who will sit with me? Whom will I court as a tablemate? Will you trade your Doritos for my twinkie?

Bluefish is a quick read focused on the plight of its endearing characters, each with their own secrets and problems. Travis, who lives with his just-recovering alcoholic grandfather, is quiet and intense. Vida, nicknamed Velveeta...more

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May 01, 2012 Steven R. McEvoy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-best-of, read-2011

Few books have as immediate an impact on me as this book. As someone who grew up with a learning disability, a dual form of dyslexia, reading this book was much like reliving some of my own childhood. Schmatz does an amazing job of capturing the feelings, emotions and immense frustration of having a learning disability and being different from other people. She captures the sense of being an outsider at school and the embarrassment of going out to special education classes. She also captures how...more Few books have as immediate an impact on me as this book. As someone who grew up with a learning disability, a dual form of dyslexia, reading this book was much like reliving some of my own childhood. Schmatz does an amazing job of capturing the feelings, emotions and immense frustration of having a learning disability and being different from other people. She captures the sense of being an outsider at school and the embarrassment of going out to special education classes. She also captures how that frustration can lead to physical outbursts as it often seems like the only outlet available.

Our cast of characters includes Travis, a young man with anger issues, and a learning disability who is living with a recovering alcoholic grandfather; Mr. McQueen, who is more than just a teacher, but also an educator; he knows how to reach students that others give up on. He is the type of teacher we all need at one point or another in our life, who really connects with us. And the immensely enjoyable Velveeta, a young woman in the special education class also who is an outsider but one with a big heart.

As these characters and their stories start to intertwine, we have a story that unmasks us as readers. With such strong believable characters this story is driven both by the action and the silences between the characters. As Travis and Velveeta begin to trust each other, they make a connection to one another, and that connection is the beginning of their own process of growth and healing. This book was an amazing read, and I know that it is one I will read over and over again.

Schmatz has written a book that should become a classic in Children's literature. It should really be required reading for all middle school children to help them see the people and world around them differently. This book was so amazing that I bought and read two other of Pat Schmatz's books in under a week. Get it! It will not disappoint.

...

Read the review and with links to other reviews of books by the authors on my blog Book Reviews and More. And also an author profile and interview with Pat Schmatz.
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Mar 28, 2012 Celina rated it 4 of 5 stars

I actually did not choose to read this book. My mom put it on hold at the library for my sister and when we got it I thought it looked interesting so I decided to read a chapter or two. Obviously, I read a whole bunch more than two. This book has two completely different story plots. One part is about this boy named Travis who lives with his grandfather and is slowly being taught to read by his English teacher, Mr. McQueen. The other story is about a girl named Velveeta who is dealing with the...more

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Mar 20, 2012 Teresa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, young-critics-potential, teen-parent-child, animals

Loved this. Reminded me a little of Okay For Now by Gary Schmidt, since Travis is a kid who could choose to get into trouble but is really trying not to.

He lives with his newly-recovering alcoholic grandfather, and they've just moved out of their home in the country, losing track of their beloved hound dog, Rosco, in the process. In his new school, he meets the irrepressible Vida, aka "Velveeta", who basically forces him to be her friend. And then his English teacher, Mr. McQueen, figures out...more

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Feb 18, 2012 Maggie Desmond-O'Brien rated it 5 of 5 stars

Good YA is the balance between the artsy and the readable. Good YA is also the balance between the story teens need to hear, and the one they want to hear. Good YA requires a connection between author and reader perhaps more than in any other genre; a sort of telepathy, and loyalty. Bluefish is perhaps one of the most crystallized examples of good YA I have ever read, bringing to mind the classics by Judy Blume and Louis Sachar, the ones I read before I even knew what YA was.

We have a rural sett...more Good YA is the balance between the artsy and the readable. Good YA is also the balance between the story teens need to hear, and the one they want to hear. Good YA requires a connection between author and reader perhaps more than in any other genre; a sort of telepathy, and loyalty. Bluefish is perhaps one of the most crystallized examples of good YA I have ever read, bringing to mind the classics by Judy Blume and Louis Sachar, the ones I read before I even knew what YA was.

We have a rural setting, somewhere. One that's quirky enough to be interesting, and one that's just general enough to be there. Anywhere. Mostly on the wrong side of the tracks. This is good, because a setting that became a character would have competed with the fantastic characters we've been given.

The relationship between Travis - withdrawn, sullen, a fighter, embarrassed about a secret that anyone could guess - and Velveeta - bubbly, quirky, trying to make up for something, and we don't know what - is what drives the novel. I cared about these characters. In both, polar opposites, I found shades of myself (and in Velveeta, shades of Juno, if you'd thrown in a teen pregnancy).

In one of my favorite scenes, a friend of theirs that happily takes the role of Third Wheel - an avid videogamer, one of the "gifted" kids, black to their white trash, unimaginably privileged in Travis and Velveeta's eyes - brings lunch to school. I think it's squash ravioli, and his mother made it for him from scratch. And Travis and Velveeta wonder if they, too, had had parents that cared for them enough to make lunches from scratch, would they be the "gifted" kids? It's understated and pitch-perfect, and the kind of moment that I won't be forgetting anytime soon.

Unfortunately, it slips somewhat by the end. There's slightly too much reaching towards a happy ending for my taste, and slightly too much precocious awareness of its quirks. Still, reading this at the same age I devoured Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret and Holes, would I have cared a whit about those flaws? Absolutely not. It's the kind of book that deserves to be checked out again and again from the library, beloved by generation after generation and remembered fondly in college and beyond. While older teens might not find enough grit to hold their attention, it's my go-to recommendation for middle schoolers and new-to-high-schoolers this year. (less)

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Dec 14, 2011 Barbara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: bullies, ncbla, strong-women, literacy, teachers

In many respects, this book is a tribute to teachers who refuse to give up on the kids who pass through their classrooms, no matter how difficult the challenges. McQueen is the caring teacher who realizes that thirteen-year-old Travis has a secret--he is able to read only the simplest words--and creates a tutorial program that helps him gain confidence and improve his reading skills. While McQueen is not the main character in the book, he is an important one, of course, and those teachers among...more

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Oct 27, 2011 Bethany rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, young-adult

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Oct 21, 2011 Kelly rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fiction, read-in-2011

2.5.

This was...an interesting read. Definitely read young for young adult and it reminded me a lot of a middle grade novel (though it's not - it's definitely ya). Half of the story is in third person and the other half is in first person. The third person is Travis, who can't read, and the first is Velveeta, who has no family. They meet when Travis moves with his grandfather to a new school -- his grandfather's an alcoholic and fairly worthless as a human being. The two outcasts forge a friendsh...more

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Oct 09, 2011 Nicole Politi rated it 4 of 5 stars

“You know how sometimes you don’t know something is stupid until it falls out of your mouth and then it’s too late?”
Travis didn’t have an answer for that one, since he usually kept his stupid thoughts in his own head (p 57-8).

One fish. Two fish. Red fish. Travis. The stupid bluefish. In a new town, Travis hopes to escape his label, but he doesn’t expect to. His Grandpa, a recently recovered alcoholic, is difficult to live with. There’s not much Travis cares about now his dog Rosco is missing. Th...more

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Sep 28, 2011 Reading Teen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Out of the dozens of un-read ARC books on my bookshelf, for some reason, Bluefish was the book that stuck out to me a few days ago. I picked it up one night before going to bed… And had finished it by breakfast the next morning. I got very little sleep that night. This book was just so great. It literally left me speechless.

I will admit that Bluefish was one of the extremely rare books that made me cry. In fact, it was the second. The first was Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. But, that’s...more Out of the dozens of un-read ARC books on my bookshelf, for some reason, Bluefish was the book that stuck out to me a few days ago. I picked it up one night before going to bed… And had finished it by breakfast the next morning. I got very little sleep that night. This book was just so great. It literally left me speechless.

I will admit that Bluefish was one of the extremely rare books that made me cry. In fact, it was the second. The first was Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. But, that’s beside the point. The point is that Bluefish was so beautifully written that there were parts that not only brought me to tears, but made me insanely happy. The description of the book gives very dramatic information about the main character – the fact that he has a secret. And it’s this secret that

The characters of this book were, very simply, authentic. By which I mean that I had no trouble at all imagining that these people were actually real. There was Bradley, who is a nerd. He loves video games, Halo specifically. He isn’t great athletically but he is insanely knowledgeable. The thing that makes Bradley so authentic is that none of this was over-done. He isn’t the cliché type of nerd seen in movies. He’s simply his own person. That’s what made him so believable. And there was Vita. She was given the nickname Velveeta in the second grade and stuck with it ever since. She’s this really outgoing girl, almost too outgoing. But the way she was written makes it not at all hard to (I seem to be repeating myself here) believe that this person could actually live in reality. And this is one of the things that amazes me about Bluefish.

Bluefish is an extremely recommended book for lovers of good reading material. I know, that's kind of a vague statement but it's true. This book was way out of my usual reading zone - no paranormal, no sci-fi fantasy, no mythology. I honestly cannot tell you why I decided to read this book that night. All I can say is that I am very glad that I did.

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Sep 13, 2011 Kathleen Hagen added it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-audio-books, 2011-general-fiction

Bluefish, by Pat Schmatz, narrated by Luke Daniels and Kate Rudd, produced by Candlewick on Brilliance Audio, downloaded from audible.com.

Pat Schmatz has created for us again a totally engrossing young adult novel, and this time it has been recorded and can be purchased through audible.com. In this book we have three outsiders in a highschool. Travis has just moved to a new town with his grampa, the only family he has. This move coincided with the loss of his dog, who took the place of friends a...more

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Jul 20, 2011 Rene Kirkpatrick rated it 5 of 5 stars

Again, another amazing book- We're lucky that there are so many great books out there this year, especially books for boys.

Bluefish is about a boy who is having a really bad time in his life right now. His grandfather is raising him, he's been moved to town, his dog died, he has to go to a new school, and he can't read. His grandfather is harsh, an alcoholic, and is unable to show Travis any kindness or softness at all. It's all Travis can do to just show up on the steps of the school.

And then h...more

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May 28, 2011 cecilia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: blue-covers

Travis has spent his high school years with his head down and staying off everyone's radar. When he moves to a new school in a somewhat small town, it seems that he attracts attention like a flame does for a moth. The town bullies see a new threat; the basketball players see a new ally; the rejects see a possible savior; the girls think he's cute but dumb; and the English teacher see a boy who somehow got left behind. Travis succeeds in keeping everyone away except for the colorful Velveeta who...more

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Dec 07, 2012 Cathy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: realistic-fiction, teen-book

The characters in Bluefish make the book; they're vividly drawn and real with their idiosyncrasies. Travis misses his old house in the country and he especially misses his dog, Roscoe. He and his grandpa, a recovering alcoholic, have recently moved to town taking him from the woods where he liked to disappear. He's started 8th grade at a new school. The first day he walks out after 2 classes, and starts to walk out of town, but his grandpa goes after him. He doesn't talk in class, or anytime els...more

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Dec 06, 2011 Lanica rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: audiobooks, favorites, read-alouds-middle-school, read-in-2011, recommend-for-middle-school-book-cl, recommend-for-middle-school-boys, reviewed, young-adult

PERSONAL REVIEW: I LOVED this book!

LIBRARIAN REVIEW: It's not for everyone. Adults might be bored, unless they are trying to get into the mind of a school aged kid. It's aimed at a high school or middle school audience...or at teachers. It's a feel-good novel about hard luck and hard lives in the school years, which is pretty common these days. But, this book really captures the feel of being an outsider without screaming about the main characters being outsiders.

The great thing about this book...more

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Dec 08, 2011 Ellie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, death

1. NO MORE DEAD DOGS.
2. References to a book (The Book Thief) that you have to have read to get what's going on.
3. THE MYSTERIOUS MYSTERY GIRL WITH PROBLEMS OF HER OWN.
4. Didn't love the way the story was told switching between third and first person in a weird, weird way.
5. I don't want anyone to take this the wrong way because I love library representations in kids books. However, I feel as if sometimes in books, kids find the library and then find themselves/change their life there WAY more o...more

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Jun 03, 2012 Meg Allison rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: vermont-dcf-2012-13, young-adult

Gritty and real. Bluefish started slow for me, but by the middle of the story, Schmatz had me hooked. With a slow and steady hand, she reeled me into her coming of age story and its satisfying ending. She leaves us with a glimpse into the future, leaving much to our imagination. Just like her characters, details are sharp, but the big picture is hazy and mysterious, leaving the readers (and her characters) not inside a black and white tale, but one full of possibilities.

Having read Bluefish on t...more

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Sep 06, 2011 Brenna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

Thank you to Candlewick Press and the Goodreads first reads giveaway for my copy of this book!

Travis seems to think he is a Seussian "bluefish" in more ways than he can shake a stick at. He's the new kid in town. He has a grandpa to raise him instead of two parents. His dog Roscoe has disappeared. Despite all of these facets of his life, when he enrolls in a new school, he meets a girl named Velveeta, or rather, Velveeta meets him. And thus begins a story of middle school friendship that's so mu...more Thank you to Candlewick Press and the Goodreads first reads giveaway for my copy of this book!

Travis seems to think he is a Seussian "bluefish" in more ways than he can shake a stick at. He's the new kid in town. He has a grandpa to raise him instead of two parents. His dog Roscoe has disappeared. Despite all of these facets of his life, when he enrolls in a new school, he meets a girl named Velveeta, or rather, Velveeta meets him. And thus begins a story of middle school friendship that's so much more than girl meets boy.

Travis isn't the only person in the world who feels like he doesn't fit in with the "normal" crowd. Velveeta is loud, quirky and entertaining and marches to the beat of her own drummer. She's immediately taken with Travis, and although their friendship has its ups and downs, what relationship doesn't during the trials of any school year? Pat Schmatz has a way with empathy, making the reader care about not only the protagonist, but his grandfather, his dog, his parents who died before their son even got a chance to know them. The readers are sucked into the lives of Travis and Velveeta, two outcasts who find each other through a simple gesture, rather than a huge, traumatic event. Although Bluefish is no Hunger Games, it doesn't need to be. I had as much anticipation for the two kids opening up their worlds to one another as I did while Peeta and Katniss were being chased down in a murderous rampage. I was drawn to Travis and Velveeta so much more because of their troubled pasts and the fact that neither one was willing to back down about covering them up: Velveeta with her sharp tongue, and Travis with his lack of words. Between the two of them, it could have been like one person talking to a wall, but it felt like the exact opposite; when Travis spoke, I got a silly little smile on my face and felt satisfied, just like Velveeta.

If you've ever felt like you didn't fit in with the crowd, Bluefish is a must read. No matter how ostracized you think you might be, there are always a few bluefish who will want to swim with you.(less)

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Oct 08, 2011 Monica Edinger added it

I agree with those who are calling this a "quiet" book. Because I can't figure out how, I'm not able to rate it and I'm not going to do plot here (you can find that in other reviews here, I'm sure). What I will do is mull a bit about it.

First of all one aspect of the book's quiet is due to the main character Travis who is incredibly silent on the surface though steaming underneath for many good reasons we learn as the book goes on. There are some lovely scenes through which we get to know Travis...more I agree with those who are calling this a "quiet" book. Because I can't figure out how, I'm not able to rate it and I'm not going to do plot here (you can find that in other reviews here, I'm sure). What I will do is mull a bit about it.

First of all one aspect of the book's quiet is due to the main character Travis who is incredibly silent on the surface though steaming underneath for many good reasons we learn as the book goes on. There are some lovely scenes through which we get to know Travis, say right at the beginning, his first day in a new school, when he subtly gets a shoe back to a bullied boy named Bradley. That incident causes another student, Velveeta, with her own problems to notice Travis and before long the three of them have connected. I definitely appreciate the author's elegant development of characters and plot. You are never hit over the face with the revelations, it is more they just come along, woven in naturally. Travis and Velveeta's separate situations of mourning (both have lost a dear and close friend) are elegantly done as is their connecting. The book is from two POVs, Velveeta's first person letters which alternate with chapters set from Travis's point of view. Both Travis and Velveeta interact with Bradley and there is a sense of them being a sort-of threesome, but since the POVs are Velveeta and Travis, Bradley feels a bit undeveloped. At least he did for me and I'm not sure how I feel about that as he has some qualities that felt, I have to say, stereotypic, designed I suppose to contrast with Travis and Velveeta.

Since I'm a teacher I tend to be particularly hard on fictional educators and have to say I was very pleased with the reading teacher, Mr. McQueen --- one of the best portrayals of a teacher in a kid's book of this sort that I've seen in some time. He stays rightly far off, moving in just here and there to subtly help Travis. Excellently done. At the same time, as a teacher myself, I can't help chaffing a bit at the kid-can't-read trope, one I get tired of (and is another reason I don't think it fair for me to rate this book). But that isn't the fault of the book and the author, it is mine.

Another thing I'm on the fence about is the referencing of other books. I always have very mixed feelings about this, especially if the books are relatively recent ones. That is, it is one thing to reference a book that is sort of in the culture (e.g. Wizard of Oz or Alice in Wonderland) and another to reference books that are less so. There's something a little too didactic to me when I see this. That said, the two that Travis and Velveeta are reading (The Book Thief and Haunt Fox) and movingly woven into the plot as is the one referenced in the title.

So those are just a few random thoughts from me about Bluefish.

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Oct 24, 2012 Heemin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Bluefish
by Pat Schmatz
Realistic Fiction
240 pages

Bluefish is about a boy named Travis and the girl he befriends named Velveeta. Travis is much different from Velveeta in the way that Travis keeps his thoughts to himself and speaks only when necessary. Velveeta is out going and has a very colorful personality. The story is easy to understand on our part because we get both sides of the story and when misunderstandings make them both doubt each other; we wish they would quickly settle it because it...more Bluefish
by Pat Schmatz
Realistic Fiction
240 pages

Bluefish is about a boy named Travis and the girl he befriends named Velveeta. Travis is much different from Velveeta in the way that Travis keeps his thoughts to himself and speaks only when necessary. Velveeta is out going and has a very colorful personality. The story is easy to understand on our part because we get both sides of the story and when misunderstandings make them both doubt each other; we wish they would quickly settle it because it hurts to see them so mad at each other when the other was just trying to help. They also both have something bad and or a secret in their lives during the time period we are in. Travis has no parents and the person looking out for him is his well-meaning grandfather, but he is an alcoholic. The only person he really loved was his dog, who disappeared before the beginning of the book. On Velveeta’s side, her mother and brother are also both alcoholic and the only place she feels safe is in Calvin’s old trailer. Calvin was to her, as Rosco the dog was to Travis, and he has also died. While Travis gradually learns to enjoy Velveeta’s company, the two of them befriend a boy named Bradley, the smartest kid in the school, but consequently the target for many bullies. Among all this, Travis’s grandfather admits that he accidently ran over Rosco in his car while backing out of the driveway. At almost the same time, Calvin’s daughter comes over and kicks Velveeta out of the trailer, locking her out of the only place where she can live in peace. Velveeta and Travis help each other heal from these problems and the book ends when Travis decides that he doesn’t have to be the stupid bluefish as he originally thought, and Velveeta finds another place to be in the public library. Bradley’s problem is also taken care of when Travis confronts the bullies and makes them stop.

This book is amazing and one that I will remember for a long time, Travis and Velveeta both have a way of making you laugh and the author has a way of making you feel sorry for what they have to deal with in their lives. You feel happy when they do something for each other and make each other happy. You also understand why they want to keep each other out of their actual lives, but you wish you didn’t. It makes me feel odd that they are ashamed about the lives they live, and they are jealous when they see the way Bradley lives. Living in Dublin, I never really think of these things because no one I know has to deal with this stuff. This puts it in a new perspective. These characters also have a way of making you laugh even when they themselves are not happy with their current situation. Also, the way they deal with each other when they don’t want to talk is hilarious, very blatantly changing the subject. Travis, who almost never talks, and definitely never interrupts someone else to put in his thoughts, randomly asks Velveeta if she wants his cookie. The way Travis uses his cynical personality is funny, and I think this is an overall very good book.
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Jan 09, 2013 Kate rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Kate by: Teen Book Club selection

Shelves: teen-book-club, 2013, age-ya, realistic

Travis is new at school and doesn't want anyone to know his secret: he can't read. He's already trying to deal with his grandfather's new-found sobriety and the death of his dog Roscoe. But one girl in his class, nicknamed "Velveeta," has attached herself to him. Velveeta's got a lot going on too, and slowly they form a friendship.

I can see why this book was so highly reviewed. There is some nice language in here, and I found Travis's quiet and sudden rages to be very believable, and I liked tha...more

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Jul 06, 2011 Keri (The Book Pirate) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, netgalley

One fish. Two fish. Red fish. Blue fish. As a teacher, I find that a cute and witty name for groups in a classroom. Just like any other creative name to keep track of the groups. But never would I have thought of using them as names for kids in certain reading levels. That is just too easy of a way to segregate students and it's down right harsh.

I can see how Travis links his deficiency to the name of a title of a Dr. Seuss favorite. That label has stayed with him throughout his school hopping n...more

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Apr 21, 2012 Erik Wittmer rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: middle-grades

Travis and Velveeta are two students who don't care much about school. Neither one of them has done homework in sometime and don't see why they really need to do it. Only to find about that each have similar things going on outside of school. But, both will not share with each other what these things are that are bothering both during the school day.

I was cheering for both Travis and Velveeta as I read Bluefish by Pat Schmatz. You want everything to work out for each of these characters. You wa...more

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Dec 18, 2011 Karen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: friendship, loss, realistic-fiction, favorites

Travis and Velveeta are both outsiders at their middle school. When they first encounter each other, each of them is privately grieving a major loss and has a secret or two to keep hidden. This short, poignant friendship story is about how these two 8th graders come to slowly trust each other, learn from each other and ultimately gain confidence in themselves. Themes include dealing with alcoholism and parental neglect, illiteracy, the healing power of books and literature, the influence of cari...more

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Nov 19, 2012 Brooke rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 3-star-books

Thirteen year old Travis is a loner in a new town, pining for the home and dog he left behind. Vida, better known as “Velveeta,” is a girl hiding behind scarves and wisecracks. Both have secrets. Why is it that Travis avoids his schoolwork and making friends? Why does Velveeta hang out in the trailer next door and never invite anyone home? Despite the parts of their lives that they try so desperately to keep hidden, both also have a lot to offer – to the world and especially to each other.

Rea...more

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Feb 04, 2012 Ricky Medina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Travis is a thirteen year old boy who has a deep secret that he has been carrying around with him since the beginning of school. Travis is unable to read, and he feels embarrassed about it. Instead of telling people about this secret, Travis takes it out on anger. Travis lives with his grandfather who is an alcoholic. When Travis hears the word "try", he becomes angry. Filled with characters that become important and relatable to Travis, Travis somehow finds a way to connect with each of the cha...more

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About Pat Schmatz

Growing up in rural Wisconsin, Pat's passions were reading, basketball, and the woods. She lived in Michigan, California, and Minnesota before landing back in central Wisconsin. She still travels whenever she can, from Japan to Rhode Island to Vancouver to New Zealand, and anyplace she can get in between.

When she's not traveling, Pat does administrative work for the Legal Aid Society of Minneapoli...more

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“I couldn't eat because that book made me cry so hard, I couldn't even breathe. Connie said to keep reading and keep breathing, like that was easy. Tears and snot just about came out my butt, I cried so hard” — 2 people liked it

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