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Blue

by Lou Aronica (Goodreads Author)

3.64 of 5 stars 3.64 · rating details · 858 ratings · 202 reviews

Chris Astor is a man in his early forties who is going through the toughest stretch of his life. Becky is Chris's fourteen-year-old daughter, a girl who overcame enormous challenges to become a vibrant, vital young woman - and now faces her greatest obstacle yet. Miea is the young queen of a fantasy land that Becky and Chris created when Becky was little, a fantasy land th...more

Paperback, 400 pages

Published January 8th 2011 by The Fiction Studio (first published December 3rd 2010)

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Mar 09, 2013 Jay Phillippi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-fiction-fantasy

Lou Aronica is a man with a serious pedigree when it comes to science fiction. Author, editor, publisher he has worked with Avon and Bantam. When I saw the description of these books I knew I had to have them. The story revolves around a father and daughter and the world they created as part their going to bed routine when the daughter was small. And then the daughter discovers a link that allows her to travel between those worlds. Not only is it a GREAT idea for a book (Blue is the novel, Unti...more

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Feb 13, 2013 K Orion Fray rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone

My father was first introduced to Aronica’s work through a Free Book Friday for the Nook, and as soon as he’d finished reading Blue, he urged me to do the same. I was a little more hesitant, my shelves already filled with books I hadn’t read yet and no time to pick up another one. But finally, as I started into book reviews and being serious about this side of my life, I finally took my father’s advice and had him LendMe the two books from his Nook.

I can’t say as I’ve ever been more pleased abou...more My father was first introduced to Aronica’s work through a Free Book Friday for the Nook, and as soon as he’d finished reading Blue, he urged me to do the same. I was a little more hesitant, my shelves already filled with books I hadn’t read yet and no time to pick up another one. But finally, as I started into book reviews and being serious about this side of my life, I finally took my father’s advice and had him LendMe the two books from his Nook.

I can’t say as I’ve ever been more pleased about a choice of reading material.

Aronica takes two very different worlds – the “real life” view of Connecticut and a family that’s falling apart, and the “fantasy” world of Tamarisk with a queen seated too young facing over a catastrophe too big – and meshes them together seamlessly. The narrator switches between Chris, an aimless man divorced (badly) from his wife and estranged from his daughter; Becky, Chris’ daughter who has more imagination than the next six people combined and is dealing with not only all the troubles that come with being a fourteen-year-old but also the remission of her leukemia; and Miea, the queen of Tamarisk by her early twenties and faced with the largest disaster her kingdom has faced in decades.

With so many plot lines, it seems like it would be easy to lose track of the narrative and what is happening where – but Aronica’s storytelling never lets you get lost. You wander with Chris, desperate to save his relationship with Becky even after his divorce sent a monkey wrench into its gears. We relive high school with Becky, who still after four years doesn’t understand what happened with her parents and just wants to make her way through her freshman year without remark. We mourn with Miea, as she grapples with the difficulties of being queen and making decisions she doesn’t – and can’t – entirely understand. And we flip between the three with ease.

And as the paths begin to intersect in ways that no one would have expected, it’s easy to sit in your armchair with a grin on your face, cheering them on every step of the way. I know that I did.

The fact that I personally sat down and devoured Blue whole in a matter of hours is testament to how superb the writing of this book is, and how well it draws the reader in and makes the world real in their mind. And though I can’t “darken” like Chris and Becky do in the book and find myself in one of my own fictitious worlds (or possibly not so fictitious…), I can certainly imagine how that might feel.

Definite five-star rating for both Blue, and its prequel, Until Again. Must-read, on both counts.

Until again, Mr. Aronica. I’ll be waiting for your next book.(less)

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Mar 15, 2012 Nikki McCarver rated it 4 of 5 stars

Chris is an amazing dad in the story. It begins with him trying to put back together his life and relationship with his daughter after the divorce. His ex-wife, Polly, had come to terms that their lack of a relationship needed to end, child or no child. No one explained to Becky why the divorce happened, just that her dad had to move out of the house. It was a really sad introduction to a typical people dealing with the ravaging that divorce causes. Polly had remarried and moved on while Chris s...more Chris is an amazing dad in the story. It begins with him trying to put back together his life and relationship with his daughter after the divorce. His ex-wife, Polly, had come to terms that their lack of a relationship needed to end, child or no child. No one explained to Becky why the divorce happened, just that her dad had to move out of the house. It was a really sad introduction to a typical people dealing with the ravaging that divorce causes. Polly had remarried and moved on while Chris seems to be stuck and unable to move forward. It isn't due to any lingering feelings for Polly, more the inability to connect with anyone since his daughter was ripped from him. Even though I can understand Polly's need to feel love, she continuously acts very selfish and spoiled throughout the entire story. She caused a major rift between Becky and Chris, that felt like it was motivated by jealousy than anything else. Becky loved her father and throughout Becky's struggle with cancer, Chris basically lived and breathed for his daughter. Maybe Polly should have taken lessons. Through Becky's sleepless nights dealing with the horrors of cancer treatment, the stories of Tamarisk were born. Chris had begun the stories as a way to take Becky's mind off of the treatment and impending dangers the cancer prevented. Together they created this fantastical world ruled by the beautiful princess Miea, who was everything Becky longed to be. This world became her way of escaping the pain and it was laid out in great detail between the two storytellers. The connection was severed by the divorce and Becky swore to never again revisit the realm of Tamarisk. But all of that changed one night as Becky lay sleeping.

There are signs throughout the first few chapters of Becky's illness returning. No one seems to notice but her best friend, since Becky is able to hide it pretty well. The strange thing is that a terrible disease is back on Tamarisk, destroying the animal and plant life. Will they be able, with the combined efforts of both worlds, to save Becky and her magical land?

I enjoyed this book even though it had a lot of pain within its folds. I hate imagining anything happening to a child, being a mother myself. It always makes you take the parents perspective and wonder what you would do in such a situation. I would have shoved my personal life under the bed and completely concentrated on Becky getting better, much like Steve did. But even though there is pain in this book, there is also beauty and wonder. I can't imagine being able to see with your own eyes a world in which you so lovingly created. How the landscape and the animals changed as Becky got older and out-grew somethings. It truly was a treasure trove of creative genius!! This is one of those books that makes you believe in magic again!! I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read it!
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Jan 07, 2012 Grace rated it 2 of 5 stars

Description: Becky is 14 and splits her time between her squabbling divorced parents. Chris, her dad, regrets that they have grown apart, but isn’t quite sure how to heal the widening gap between them. He recalls how years ago, when Becky was undergoing treatment for childhood leukemia, the two of them would make up stories every night about a fantasy world called Tamarisk. One night, Becky actually travels to Tamarisk and meets Meia, the young queen. Tamarisk is facing an environmental disaster...more Description: Becky is 14 and splits her time between her squabbling divorced parents. Chris, her dad, regrets that they have grown apart, but isn’t quite sure how to heal the widening gap between them. He recalls how years ago, when Becky was undergoing treatment for childhood leukemia, the two of them would make up stories every night about a fantasy world called Tamarisk. One night, Becky actually travels to Tamarisk and meets Meia, the young queen. Tamarisk is facing an environmental disaster, which Meia hopes Becky and Chris can help her solve. Meanwhile, is Becky’s leukemia returning?
Review source: this was a free book from Amazon for the kindle.
Plot: The plot moves back and forth between earth and Tamarisk and the narrative is from various points of view: Becky’s, Chris’s, Meia’s, and even some secondary characters. For me, this made the novel uneven and sort of “jerky.” There were several plot points that were not cleared up (not sure if that means there will be a sequel or not).
Characters: The main character issues are that Becky is a teenager and has difficulties getting along with both of her parents, who have major problems getting along with one another. Meia had to abandon a romance when she became queen and now struggles with loneliness and isolation. On the whole, the reader is told about a lot of personal difficulties, but the story doesn’t really support them. For example, why do the parents hate one another so much? Polly, Becky’s mom, announced she wanted a divorce, but we’re never really told why. Why can’t they just get along better? Why did Meia have to give up a romance? There’s no law against the queen being married. Etc.
Writing style: As you might have sensed, I had some problems with the writing style. I’ve already mentioned the abrupt shifts in point-of-view and narrative. Then there are the Tamariskian features. So Becky and her dad made up all these weird animals, foods, substances, etc. for Tamarisk, and we’re introduced to a bunch of them. Way too many. All these made up words just to show us that things are different there. Yawn.
Audience: The book doesn’t appear to have been written for the YA audience, but that’s how I’d class it. There’s no graphic anything.
Wrap-up: I did finish the book, but I was underwhelmed by it. 2.5/5*
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Dec 15, 2011 Sue rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction-fantasy

Before I read Blue, I read the prequil, Until Again. While it's not necessary to read Until Again, it gives some good background for the events up to the time the main story, Blue, begins. Until Again is very short, a quick read.

These are my thoughts about the story, taking both books into account (duplicated in my notes for Until Again):

I don't know Lou Aronica, and I haven't read his bio, so I don't know anything about him. That said, this man writes as though he has faced the unthinkable - t...more

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May 05, 2011 Jessica Billings rated it 5 of 5 stars

I found Blue by looking at the top-selling fantasy ebooks on Amazon. When I started it, I thought it might have been miscategorized. It follows the story of Becky, a 14 year old survivor of childhood leukemia and her father, who struggles to re-bond with his daughter after her mother divorced him. However, it is definitely a fantasy. To help Becky deal with her illness, she and her father created a make-believe world called Tamarisk and spent the evenings making up stories about it. As Becky gre...more

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Mar 11, 2011 Patty rated it 4 of 5 stars

My thoughts…

I just finished reading this most beautiful and unusual novel. It sort of reminds me of the movie Avatar. Nothing specifically, just sort of the aura of it. When I was first reading it I thought that it was a father’s story. Then a few chapters later I thought it was a daughter’s story. A few chapters after that it became an amazing fantasy. And then three quarters of the way through I realized it was all of the above. Chris, the father, was mourning the loss of being with his daught...more My thoughts…

I just finished reading this most beautiful and unusual novel. It sort of reminds me of the movie Avatar. Nothing specifically, just sort of the aura of it. When I was first reading it I thought that it was a father’s story. Then a few chapters later I thought it was a daughter’s story. A few chapters after that it became an amazing fantasy. And then three quarters of the way through I realized it was all of the above. Chris, the father, was mourning the loss of being with his daughter Becky due to the break up of his marriage. Becky was confused about the situation and was fourteen and was spending her allotted time with her father but separating from him, too. They had been very close and Chris was at a loss as to how to get this closeness back. When Becky and Chris made up the world of Tamarisk it was to help Becky get through a difficult time. Becky needs Tamarisk back again and Chris helps her to achieve that goal. Becky begins to go to Tamarisk and interact with the people there. She especially loves being with Miea who was the Princess when Becky was little but now Miea is the Queen. On one of her trips to Tamarisk Becky learns that there is trouble in Tamarisk. Plants are dying and no one knows why. Becky enlists her father…who is a botanist…to help her.

I cannot even begin to describe what Tamarisk looks like. The descriptions in the book make Tamarisk come alive. I wanted to taste fenigers and drink barritts and ride a waccasassa over the bloat marshes. I want to listen to the music of all the amazing birdlike creatures that Becky and Chris had made up in their stories years and years ago. I loved being able to see Tamarisk. It was magical and lovely and it felt real. I wanted Becky to help Miea and I wanted everyone to live happily ever after.

I won’t tell you if they did or not but I will say that we all have a different idea of happy. I ultimately think that Becky and Chris and Miea are each happy in their own way.

I loved how the author dealt with reality and fantasy in Blue. It is a lovely story and it has stayed with me. The ending was deliciously sweet and I cried…not so much for the sadness but for its purity and beauty.

I truly loved reading this magical novel.

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Mar 10, 2011 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

I thought this book was a little slow to get into but it is so worth sticking through! It was an amazing story!

Becky was five years old when she was diagnosed with cancer. Becky and her father create a magical world, Tamarisk, to help cope with the treatments. Each night they would invent stories about this fantasy world. After Becky gets better (don't worry, this isn't a spoiler), they continue with the stories. When a life changing event alters Becky's life, she quits with the stories. However...more I thought this book was a little slow to get into but it is so worth sticking through! It was an amazing story!

Becky was five years old when she was diagnosed with cancer. Becky and her father create a magical world, Tamarisk, to help cope with the treatments. Each night they would invent stories about this fantasy world. After Becky gets better (don't worry, this isn't a spoiler), they continue with the stories. When a life changing event alters Becky's life, she quits with the stories. However, the stories didn't quit on her. As time went on, so did all the characters in Tamarisk. Then, Becky falls asleep one days and finds herself in Tamarisk. She takes her father back to as well and together they work to save the dying Tamarisk.

The descriptions of the world of Tamarisk are amazing! Who wouldn't love a world that smelled like chocolate? The animals, blue foilage, musical instraments and more were so well detailed. I honestly could see everything Aronica described in great detail! I would love to be able to visit such a fantasy world.

The characters were great and I could easily connect to most of them. Becky is so strong and even while denying her symptoms are back, she is funny and so smart. I loved how she was just a normal kid dealing with her parents' divorce, school, etc.

Chris was just sad but how could he not be? I have never had to deal with a child with such a severe illness (thank goodness!) so I cannot even imagine how that feels but I think his feelings were portrayed really well. His ex-wife, Polly is horrible! She is mean, overbearing, controlling and I could go on forever on how miserable she is. I couldn't stand her!

I loved how the story was told both from Chris's point of view and from Becky's point of view. It kept things interesting and it was fun to read both from a parent's point of view and from the child's point of view.

I think, despite the slow start, this book is worth the read! It had many tearful moments and was an amazing story of a father and his daughter and the magical world they make up. If you like fantasy, you will enjoy this one for sure!
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Mar 04, 2011 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Getting into this book was a tad slow since there was alot of back story to get through before I felt like I understood what was occurring in the present time of the book. Once I got through that, there were a few things that I could easily predict about the plot. First, the plot would very much favor the father over the mother in regards to the relationship shared with the main character, fourteen-year-old Becky. Second, it is inevitable that Becky's leukemia is going to relapse. Third, this fa...more Getting into this book was a tad slow since there was alot of back story to get through before I felt like I understood what was occurring in the present time of the book. Once I got through that, there were a few things that I could easily predict about the plot. First, the plot would very much favor the father over the mother in regards to the relationship shared with the main character, fourteen-year-old Becky. Second, it is inevitable that Becky's leukemia is going to relapse. Third, this fantasy world of Tamarisk would somehow play a part in both Becky's disease and her parent's ugly divorce.
What I could not predict was how absolutely fascinating the world of Tamarisk is. I actually thought about researching all of the made-up names of the plants, animals, and geology before I completely realized the depth of creativity to which Becky and her father Chris went in the creation of this fantasy world. What began as a coping mechanism for a young child going through the rigors of chemotherapy became a world in an alternate universe that existed with its own laws of physics. I was completely enthralled by this unbelievable world of blue foliage, black dirt, microfarming, moldable crystal, smelling of chocolate and raspberries, and featuring transportation in the form of giant flying birds - and that is only the beginning of all that this world holds to tantalize the senses and ignite the imagination. Becky's voyages into Tamarisk alone are enough to fill countless children's stories that would hold any grown adult rapt with wonder.
On the alternate side of this fantastic world is the grievous reality of the ongoing feud between Chris and Polly, Becky's divorced parents. Even though Polly has remarried, she still harbors intensely negative feelings towards Chris. In addition, Chris's whole life is about finding ways to connect with Becky better, as the reader watches him fail at blind date after blind date. Becky wants so badly to hang onto her life that she lives in denial of her increasingly-severe symptoms. My heart went out to all of the characters at different points as I connected with the different emotions and situations. As a mother, I can not even fathom one of my children going through the horrors of childhood cancer, and as a wife, the thought of abandoning my spouse is inconceivable, especially during such a difficult time. My heart broke for Becky's best friend Lonnie, and I felt the awkward sadness of Becky's stepfather Al. These characters are as real as if this story were not fiction, but a memoir or biography.
I could not help noticing the parallels between belief in Tamarisk and the beliefs of Christianity. Polly either could not or would not believe in Tamarisk, and many of her arguments against it matched the common ones against a belief in the existence of God and Heaven.
The ending was bittersweet, but light on bitter and rich on sweet. I shed a tear, but Chris's perspective was very fitting for how I felt about this conclusion. This was a very, very good read that would enrich any reader's book collection. What I gained from this book will stick with me for a long time to come.(less)

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Feb 15, 2011 Avery rated it 4 of 5 stars

There is a treasure hiding behind this somewhat ambiguous cover. I feel like if you were to mix together "My Sister's Keeper" (or any book written by Lurlene McDaniel), "Bridge to Terabithia", with a little dash of "The Time Traveler's Wife" and "The Lovely Bones" and you would end up with this book. It is a beautiful story of the rekindling of relationships which should not have been lost- that of father and daughter and that of imagination and everyday life.

Though this book is intended for you...more There is a treasure hiding behind this somewhat ambiguous cover. I feel like if you were to mix together "My Sister's Keeper" (or any book written by Lurlene McDaniel), "Bridge to Terabithia", with a little dash of "The Time Traveler's Wife" and "The Lovely Bones" and you would end up with this book. It is a beautiful story of the rekindling of relationships which should not have been lost- that of father and daughter and that of imagination and everyday life.

Though this book is intended for young adults I sort of feel like this book has a bit more of a heavier storyline/ subject matter than most teens are accustomed to. That is not to say that young adults will not like this book by any means, I think that many will, but I think that adults will more so enjoy this book. Furthermore, I do believe that some teens will have a bit of difficulty relating to this story due to the fact that it is written out of a father's fear that his daughter is outgrowing him and as such he will no longer play such a prevalent role in her life.

Becky was such a strong character and entirely likeable. I loved the way that she interacted with all of the secondary characters like her best friend Lonnie and her stepfather Al. Furthermore her reconnecting with her father was extremely touching. Tamarisk was such a beautifully created world and Miea was extremely interesting to read about, she is unlike any character I have come across before. As mentioned, it was a bit difficult to connect to Chris because being a young adult I have yet to experience all of the emotional turmoils that he has, but that was one of his greatest contributions to the story- that he was so realistic and I could easily imagine him being one of my neighbors or a person I always see at the grocery store. Though the plot might be somewhat predictable but that doesn't make the anticipated outcome of the novel any easier to swallow when it does occur.

If you like fantasy I think that you will love this book, and if you don't like fantasy? Well, I still think that you will love this book as it touches upon so many other aspects of fiction in it besides just fantasy. (less)

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Feb 09, 2011 Julie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult-books

When Becky was five years old, she was diagnosed with leukemia. To help her deal with the pain and the treatments, her father, Chris, suggested they create stories about a fantasy land they called Tamarisk. They spent each night coming up with new details and stories about the people and the land, and continued to do so even when Becky was well again. Several years later, Becky's parents divorced and the stories ended.

But Tamarisk lived on. Princess Meia and the other people and animals living i...more

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Jan 02, 2011 Cheryl rated it 5 of 5 stars

Fourteen year old Becky just wants to be a normal teenager. Becky’s father, Chris knows that sending as much time with his daughter is very important to him. That is why, when Becky starts visiting the magical world of Tamarisk, while at his home, he does not care. Tamarisk is a place that Chris and Becky made up a long time ago. There in the land lives a Queen named, Mina. Some thing is wrong in Tamarisk. Mina needs Becky’s help. Can Becky help Mina save Tamarisk before it is too late?

Blue is t...more

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Mar 23, 2011 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I won a copy of this book on goodreads.

This book is part reality and part fantasy. We get to meet a family who has struggled through illness and divorce.

The book tells us about Becky’s childhood illness and the fantasyland (Tamarisk) that her and her dad Chris created to help her get through it. Four years later her parents are now divorced and we see Becky struggling with her health again. This is a story about Becky’s reconnection with her father and their reconnection to Tamarisk (which Becky...more

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Feb 26, 2012 Sheila rated it 4 of 5 stars

Once I heard about Blue, I knew that I needed to read it. Little did I realize what a well-rounded and emotional journey I would be going on. I thought I would be reading a fantasy novel, but soon found this book was more than that. Blue is a story of love, courage, relationships, faith, imagination and hope.

This novel centers on Becky, and her divorced parents, Chris and Polly. Being divorced myself, I know how hard it is on the children. Becky feels torn between her parents. I could relate t...more

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Jul 25, 2011 Donna rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone

Shelves: fantasy, favorites, read-in-2011, 2011, ya

I was sent a copy of Blue by Lou Aronica for review.Blue is a YA fantasy that introduces us to a family that's been broken by a child's serious illness, divorce, and a loss of communication. Becky, daughter of Polly and Chris, battles her way through a horrible illness as a young child. Her father, Chris helps her through this time by helping her to create a fantasy world, Tamarisk, to mentally escape to. The details of this world they build together is amazing and I loved watching Becky discove...more I was sent a copy of Blue by Lou Aronica for review.Blue is a YA fantasy that introduces us to a family that's been broken by a child's serious illness, divorce, and a loss of communication. Becky, daughter of Polly and Chris, battles her way through a horrible illness as a young child. Her father, Chris helps her through this time by helping her to create a fantasy world, Tamarisk, to mentally escape to. The details of this world they build together is amazing and I loved watching Becky discover all the games, creatures, smells, and sounds that she and her father created once she discovers that she can actually go to Tamarisk, that it, in fact, exists. Sadly, however, the real stress of dealing with this illness has caused Becky's parents' marriage to reach its breaking point and somehow Becky and her father lose that connection they had with each other as well as Tamarisk.I didn't like the parents, Polly and Chris. Polly was an overbearing, hypocritical, controlling toad of a woman and Chris was a weak, pathetic, clueless mess of a man. These two were such perfect caricatures of so many divorced couples that I've seen, the power and control games that get played and nobody bothers to notice that the child gets caught in the middle and ends up lost and confused. Polly and Chris couldn't have been more true to life, and while I didn't really like either of them, I understood them and their place in this story. Their one redeeming quality was that they did genuinely love their daughter. Becky was such a brilliant character. The depth of friendship she shared with Lonnie, the easy relationship she had with step-father Al, and the hope she was always willing to reach for made me really connect with her. I loved reading the slow process of Becky's reconnection with her father and the surprise and delight Chris felt at having that communication with his daughter back again. It was beautifully written.I absolutely loved this story. I was hooked from the very beginning and there wasn't a single point where I ever lost interest in what I was reading. The novel flows easily from one chapter to the next, the plot is clearly laid out, and while I figured out long before the ending where it was headed, it didn't take away from how much I enjoyed getting there.I found only one fault with Blue, there were a couple of chapters about Gage, seemingly some sort of God-like being maybe. These chapters were a little awkward and confusing and personally I just didn't get it. But they were a very small part of the story and overall I loved this book so much that it didn't even matter that I didn't understand Gage.Blue is definitely an emotional roller-coaster, with flawed realistic characters, an extraordinary elaborate fantasy world, and a plot that will tug at your heart strings, this novel is one that I will certainly read again. I hope that Lou Aronica returns to the world Tamarisk for future novels. Rating 5- Amazing, beautiful touching story.(less)

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Apr 06, 2011 Suzanne rated it 5 of 5 stars

I downloaded this book from Amazon because 1) It had a pretty good rating and 2)It was free, and I am a big fan of free.

Based on those two things, I figured I would like it enough to read it when I was bored, with my phone kindle app (I am too much in love with paper books to make the permanent crossover to kindle). I was not expecting, however, to be so addicted to it that putting it down became a painful process.

This story follows Becky as her world is turned upside down, her father, and Meia...more

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Jun 28, 2012 Melissa (TheBibliophilicCat) rated it 4 of 5 stars

I almost gave this one 5 stars, so maybe it is really 4.5 stars.

This novel was absolutely beautiful to me. It dealt with so many real world issues that people struggle with from day to day, while injecting in an entire fantasy plot. Some of the issues Lou Aronica delves into are divorce and its effects on everyone involved, father daughter relationships, terminal illness, grief, dating after divorce, adolescent friendships and so much more. This novel tells the story of Chris and his daughter Be...more I almost gave this one 5 stars, so maybe it is really 4.5 stars.

This novel was absolutely beautiful to me. It dealt with so many real world issues that people struggle with from day to day, while injecting in an entire fantasy plot. Some of the issues Lou Aronica delves into are divorce and its effects on everyone involved, father daughter relationships, terminal illness, grief, dating after divorce, adolescent friendships and so much more. This novel tells the story of Chris and his daughter Becky who have been having a hard time in their relationship with each other recently. Becky's parents have been divorced for 4 years and her mother has remarried Al who is a carefree and goofy guy. When things seem to be at their worst between Becky and Chris, she discovers that she can travel to and from the fantasy world "Tamarisk" that they have invented when Becky was younger.

As Becky begins to convince her father that Tamarisk is real and he struggles with whether to believe her, Tamarisk itself is in real trouble. The queen of Tamarisk, Miea, has learned that a blight on the local vegetation is beginning to take hold of her kingdom and that it could threaten their survival. Joining forces with Chris and Becky, the three of them embark on a mission of trying to save Tamarisk and rid the land of the pestilence.

(view spoiler)

I didn't have many complaints about this novel, but just two I want to mention here. The ending did start off very slow and was a little difficult to get in to. I stuck with it though and was glad that I did. After reading the entire novel I realized that the whole plot wouldn't have been as relevant without all of the slow beginning chapters. My other issue was that there really was no climax. We of course learn about the cause of the blight and how the characters can live happily ever after, but I was expecting more adventure to be had while Becky and Chris were in Tamarisk.

I also wanted to comment on how much I LOVED the details and descriptions given about Tamarisk! Everything was so unique and strange that it really made it feel like a world created from imagination. On that note, I think some who read this book may interpret it that Tamarisk really isn't real, and that it was a joint-delusion brought on by circumstances, as Polly believes in the novel. I found that very interesting and I appreciated it being a topic that could be debated. The author left the reader to form their own opinions about who or what Gage is, the character who makes some appearances giving sage advice and offering gifts. I gathered that the world of Tamarisk and the extent of imagination was a "gift" from Gage to bring father and daughter together, which is why some might take that to mean the it truly was all just imagination fueled visions. You decide!!

(view spoiler)

This book made me cry, which is rare. I cry all the time in movies, but not often while reading. The story and the characters were so heartwarming and relatable. I would recommend this to any age group. I would love to know other people's interpretations after reading this as well!(less)

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Feb 19, 2012 Katharine rated it 2 of 5 stars

Pros: Realistic portrayal of a post-divorce dynamic; fairly accurate (if somewhat glossed-over) depiction of cancer treatment; excellent descriptions of the world of Tamarisk.

Cons: Disappointing (for me) ending; for me, the author's frequent references to real-world personalities and content often knocked me out of the narrative and broke the fourth wall.

Although it isn't specifically labeled as such, as several other reviewers have said, this seems like young adult fiction. I found the story re...more

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Apr 01, 2011 Auriella rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone

Recommended to Auriella by: kindle

Shelves: read-in-2011

I can't really explain what this book has made me feel. It felt more personal to me than anything that I have read in a long time. It almost felt as if this story was written for me. At the end of the story it asks for thoughts to be emailed and for the first time ever I am truly considering writing a response that has nothing more to do with me than perhaps a thank you. I sat and waited for something bad to happen and it did about 69% of the way through. The bad thing, of course I already had p...more

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Jan 29, 2011 Jennifer Jensen (Literally Jen) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: from-author

Blue by Lou Aronica is exactly the kind of book I would love to write. It opens your mind to new possibilities, offers hope in times of despair, and will simply leave you breathless and wanting there to be just one more chapter.

And to think I almost turned down the opportunity to review this gem of a book! I didn’t recognize the publisher, the author, or the title of the book and there wasn’t very much about it out there on the internet. Reviews were few, but positive. The skeptic in me figured...more Blue by Lou Aronica is exactly the kind of book I would love to write. It opens your mind to new possibilities, offers hope in times of despair, and will simply leave you breathless and wanting there to be just one more chapter.

And to think I almost turned down the opportunity to review this gem of a book! I didn’t recognize the publisher, the author, or the title of the book and there wasn’t very much about it out there on the internet. Reviews were few, but positive. The skeptic in me figured they were reviews written by only friends and family of the author. Yes, I realize I’m a big jerk for thinking this way, but I’ve been burned before when giving the benefit of the doubt.

I started the book with a mostly open mind, really wanting to give it a chance because Aronica had dedicated so much time for this story. His writing style flows beautifully, the book is almost perfectly edited (which is hardly the case for most little known publishing presses), and the characters are vivid.

Blue is the story of a broken family that has endured some serious heartache. As a young child, Becky was diagnosed with leukemia. At the age of 14, the disease reared its ugly head once more. Becky’s father Chris has lost the connection he once had with his daughter, achingly reflecting on the fantasy world they created together, the one that eased Becky’s pain and kept her mind off of her medication and her disease. But then Becky discovers that the world they thought had just been pretend really isn’t.

Chris can hardly believe it when Becky tells him she has been to Tamarisk. When Becky takes him there and introduces him to the young queen Miea, his heart and mind are completely open. But all is not well in Tamarisk, and together Becky and Chris must come up with a plan to save the dying land--before Becky’s time runs out.

Blue is an utterly satisfying read that will appeal to fantasy lovers who would give their right arm to be able to travel to another plane of existence. This is one you can share with your whole family, perfect for readers of any age.(less)

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Feb 11, 2012 Tish rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: no one

Recommended to Tish by: Nook daily deal

I couldn't finish this book. There is too much and nothing going on if that makes sense. This is a book about people's lives. Their thoughts and feelings, their arguments, what they're eating, sitting in meetings at work. Mundane, everyday things, that no one really cares about. All in all, it's boring. Once they got to pages and pages of making pot pie, I couldn't take it anymore. The premise is good. A girl and her father create a magical world in stories and eventually the girl travels to thi...more

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Mar 02, 2011 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

I may be the first reviewer who is not over the moon about this book. I loved the concept of this book from the moment I read the blurb. However Mr. Aronica chose to take the story in a completely different direction than the one I imagined. I thought this book was going to be about the fantasy world coming to fruition, when really it's about a family torn apart by pediatric cancer.

Chris is struggling with his divorce and being separated from his daughter while Becky is ignoring signs that she's...more

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Oct 30, 2011 Nicole rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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

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Oct 29, 2011 Terri rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-science-fiction, ebooks-i-own, young-adult, lend-me

I downloaded this as Friday Free Book from Barnes and Noble. I was disappointed that this book was not properly formatted for the ebook format. The print was tiny, unadjustable and ran from the very top of my screen to the very bottom. As a result, I had to read the book in short bursts as I would become exhausted trying to process such tiny print. There were also weird line breaks and hyphenation as a result of the poor formatting.

Once I got past the technical difficulties of the format of book...more

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Apr 23, 2011 Amanda Miller rated it 5 of 5 stars

Where to begin? I'm not really sure that words are going to be enough to capture how amazing this book actually was. Very, very few pieces move me as much as this book did, and for that to come from a YA book is even more amazing to me.

The story is heartfelt, engaging, and for anyone who has ever had a family member, friend, or even acquaintance with cancer, it gives you an amazing sense of hope and peace that is rare coming from a work of fiction.

Tamarisk is a world created by Becky and her fat...more

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Apr 12, 2011 Pauline marked it as to-read

GOOD READS SYNOPSIS: Chris Astor is a man in his early forties who is going through the toughest stretch of his life. Becky is Chris's fourteen-year-old daughter, a girl who overcame enormous challenges to become a vibrant, vital young woman - and now faces her greatest obstacle yet. Miea is the young queen of a fantasy land that Becky and Chris created when Becky was little, a fantasy land that has developed a life of its own and now finds itself in terrible, maybe fatal trouble. Together, Chri...more

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Feb 18, 2011 Chrystal rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 50-book-challenge-2011, young-adult

The first bit of the novel was a little slow going, but after about a quarter of the way through things pick up so quickly and are so magical that you won't be able to put this book down. The part that makes this novel so magical are the trips that Becky and Chris take to Tamarisk - where anything you could possibly imagine could be there - surroundings that are bright and colourful, musically appealing, texturally pleasing, intriguing to touch or intoxicating to smell.

The fact that we get to se...more The first bit of the novel was a little slow going, but after about a quarter of the way through things pick up so quickly and are so magical that you won't be able to put this book down. The part that makes this novel so magical are the trips that Becky and Chris take to Tamarisk - where anything you could possibly imagine could be there - surroundings that are bright and colourful, musically appealing, texturally pleasing, intriguing to touch or intoxicating to smell.

The fact that we get to see Becky's life in two completely different worlds is spectacular - from her time in her everyday life to her time spent in Tamarisk. Once Becky finds that she can travel to the land of Tamarisk, the fantasy land that she created with her father when she was younger and very ill, she does everything she can to spend time there. Who could blame her when all of your senses are tickled at one time.

"They made a left turn and went through a doorway outside. Becky received an immediate sensory barrage. The colors were almost physically overwhelming. Of course, there was blue everywhere — Becky thought having blue leaves in Tamarisk rather than green was a fun twist — but so many other colors were totally new to her. Was this what aquamaroon looked like? Could that lemon-tangerine-melon bloom be the color she named juce?"

Queen Miea, of Tamarisk, sort of becomes like a big sister to Becky while she is visiting the fantasy land. It is interesting to see how the relationship between the two evolves even during times of distress - such as the blight that is killing the plants in Tamarisk or the fact the Becky might be sick again. They lean on one another for support without overwhelming the other. A wonderful new friendship emerges.

Though the story is of the fantasy genre, it is also about love, hope and family. Throughout the story you get to see the love between father and daughter bloom once again - it had withered away for a short time. You will also find hope - that hope is what keeps us going no matter the challenges we are given in life. And family - the knowledge that not all families are alike and none are perfect, but that family must come together to make it through tough times.

I actually cried a few times while reading this book because I was so moved by the scenes unfolding before my eyes. I love it when a book can evoke such strong emotions and can make you invest in the characters to the point of laughing out loud or bringing tears to your eyes. This book is one of the rare gems that was able to do this for me.

I think the best thing to take away from this book is the knowledge that life is a gift to be cherished, it is a gift to be nourished, and it is a gift to be remembered once it's gone. There is nothing more satisfying than knowing that you made a difference in someones life - whether it be giving them hope when they might have lost it, or cheering them on when they need that extra little push. (less)

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Feb 03, 2011 Brandi Kosiner rated it 3 of 5 stars

I really liked Becky and the fantasy part of this book. It was very entertaining how it all connected together. The fantasy in this book is great, and the world building and details are outstanding.
Though for me, the multiple perspectives retracted from the story. I wish that we could have just stayed with Becky, or maybe just her and Miea. I understand I think why Aronica did it, but I felt bombarded with characters and their stories.
There are great themes and things that can be learned from...more

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Feb 09, 2011 Laura (booksnob) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, literature, young-adult

Colors represent emotions and illustrate how we feel. The color of blue could represent illness, sadness, peace, tranquility or hope. Polly, Chris and Becky are a happy family until Becky is diagnosed with cancer when she is around 5. Becky and Chris, feeling blue, decide to create a alternate world called Tamarisk and tell each other stories about this place to take their mind off the cancer. Polly and Chris's marriage falls apart as Becky recovers.

The story of Blue has alternate story-lines t...more

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Feb 10, 2011 Dawn Tevy rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really had no idea what to expect when I picked up this book. I knew Lou had been the senior vice president and lead editor at two of the top publishing companies in this country for many years. I knew he had worked with some of the best fantasy authors in the industry and had even discovered the greatest fantasy/Sci-fi icon of our time. Perhaps you've heard of it, a little series called 'Star Wars' by, George Lucas.

When it came to writing Lou had only written non-fiction, so 'blue' was his fi...more I really had no idea what to expect when I picked up this book. I knew Lou had been the senior vice president and lead editor at two of the top publishing companies in this country for many years. I knew he had worked with some of the best fantasy authors in the industry and had even discovered the greatest fantasy/Sci-fi icon of our time. Perhaps you've heard of it, a little series called 'Star Wars' by, George Lucas.

When it came to writing Lou had only written non-fiction, so 'blue' was his first stab at fantasy. Would it be up to snuff? Would it compare to the novels of the oh so many amazing fantasy authors Lou himself had edited/published over the years? Or would it be a complete flop?

If you LOVE fantasy 'blue' will NOT disappoint. You are drawn into 'blue' from page one.

In this story there are just a handful of main characters and each has his/her own unique personality. Lou's writing pulls out real emotions from the reader. You will have definite feelings toward each of the characters and every emotion you possess will come to the surface at some point while reading 'blue'; joy, annoyance, trust, fear, sadness, surprise, anger, anticipation, and disgust.

Lou does a beautiful job of mixing reality with fantasy as he eloquently blurs the lines that separate fact from fiction. When the human world begins to merge with the fantasy world you have no doubt that it is all very real.

Through all the challenges and adversity that the characters must go through 'blue' leaves you feeling happy and confident that everything happens for a reason and all is right in the world...as right as it can be anyway.

This coming of age story packs a wallop of a punch and I highly recommend it to anyone who's looking for a story with fun adventure, real lessons, and believable fantasy.

I am confident that you will find 'blue' on the New York Times bestseller list very soon.

'blue' is truly a masterpiece and I hope Lou will continue to add many more fantasy novels to his already brilliant portfolio...I want MORE!

Notes: If you'd like to purchase a personalized/autographed copy of 'blue' visit http://angelsandwarriors.org/Books.asp, this is a great gift and keepsake for the reader in your life. And if you'd like to hear the candid interview I did with Lou listen here http://www.blogtalkradio.com/angelsan... (less)

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About Lou Aronica

I have been associated with the book publishing world since August 1979, when I started as an assistant in the Managing Editor’s Department at Bantam Books. Prior to founding The Fiction Studio, I served as Deputy Publisher of Bantam and Publisher of Berkley Books and Avon Books. During this time, I launched the premier science fiction and mystery imprints in the business, and also presided over t...more I have been associated with the book publishing world since August 1979, when I started as an assistant in the Managing Editor’s Department at Bantam Books. Prior to founding The Fiction Studio, I served as Deputy Publisher of Bantam and Publisher of Berkley Books and Avon Books. During this time, I launched the premier science fiction and mystery imprints in the business, and also presided over the largest growth period to date in the history of the #1 single-title romance program.

My earliest publishing experiences were in the field of science fiction and fantasy. I started my first publishing imprint, Bantam Spectra, at the age of 27 and published my first New York Times bestseller with that imprint a year later. My first editorial acquisition, David Brin’s Startide Rising, won the field’s two highest awards, the Hugo and the Nebula. I subsequently published New York Times bestsellers with Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, David Brin, Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, Raymond Feist, William Gibson, Neal Stephenson, Neil Gaiman, and others, while also acquiring five consecutive winners of the Nebula Award. In addition, I created the “Full Spectrum” anthology series, which won me a World Fantasy Award in 1994.

My biggest commercial accomplishment in the field of science fiction and fantasy was my acquisition and design of the Star Wars book publishing program. Started at a time when licensing interest in the movies was very low, the book publications consistently hit the New York Times list (as high as #1) while also jump-starting the entire Star Wars franchise.

In the nineties, I moved beyond science fiction. As Mass Market Publisher for Bantam, I launched the Bantam Crime Line mystery imprint and was closely involved in the development of several bestselling authors, including Elizabeth George, Robert Crais, and Diane Mott Davidson. I launched the Bantam Fanfare romance imprint, which led to the development of bestselling authors such as Amanda Quick, Tami Hoag, and Iris Johansen.

In 1994, I left Bantam to become SVP and Publisher of the Berkley Publishing Group. The two imprints I started there, Boulevard (a media imprint) and Signature (a literary imprint) had New York Times bestsellers within their first year. I also acquired and edited the bestselling futuristic mysteries by J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts).

In 1995, I moved to Avon Books to spearhead a turnaround of that company as SVP and Publisher. I supervised significant changes to the company’s industry-leading romance program, which led to the largest growth period in the program’s history to that point. Committing the company to a profitable path of publishing for dedicated readers, I launched a series of imprints focused on science fiction, literary fiction, mystery, pop culture, health, history, and teen literature. Most of these imprints had bestsellers very quickly.

In 1999, I left Avon after the acquisition of the company by The News Corporation. The creative investment I made in that house continues to pay significant dividends, however, as writers whose publishing programs I developed became breakout bestsellers, including Dennis Lehane, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, J.A. Jance, Stephanie Laurens, Lisa Kleypas, Bruce Feiler and Peter Robinson.

In addition to my current role with The Fiction Studio, I am a novelist and nonfiction writer. My novels, The Forever Year and Flash and Dazzle appeared under the name Ronald Anthony. My nonfiction books include the New York Times bestseller The Element (written with Sir Ken Robinson), the national bestseller The Culture Code (written with Dr. Clotaire Rapaille), Conscientious Equity (written with Neal Asbury), Miraculous Health (written with Dr. Rick Levy) and A Million Thanks (written with Shauna Fleming).

Finding myself missing the publishing side of the business, in 2008, literary manager Peter Miller and I started a small book imprint called The Story Plant. Right now, it’s a tiny opera(less)

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Books by Lou Aronica

Until Again: The prequel novella to Blue

Cast of Characters: A Novelists Inc Anthology

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“Trepidation is either the sign of great weakness or great wisdom.” — 1 person liked it

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