Blue Skin of the Sea

by Graham Salisbury

Eleven interlinked stories tell the tale of a boy coming of age in Kailua-Kona, a Hawaiian fishing village. Sonny Mendoza is a little different from the rest of the men in his family. Salisbury explores characters like Aunty Pearl, a full-blooded Hawaiian as regal as the queens of old; cool Jack, from L.A., who starts a gang and dares Sonny to be brave enough, cruel enough, to join; mysterious Melanie, who steals his heart; and Deeps, the shark hunter.

But the most memorable character is the sea inviting, unpredictable, deadly. Mendoza men are brave men, but Sonny's courage is of a different kind. Why can't he love and trust the water as the men of his family are meant to do?

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Short Stories, Coming Of Age, Middle Grade, Novels, Childrens

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 1992

About the author

Graham Salisbury comes from a 100-year line of newspapermen, all associated with Hawaii's morning paper, the Honolulu Advertiser. Although a career as a newsman could have been possible, Salisbury chose to imagine rather than report. "I enjoy writing about characters who might have been. To me, exploring fictional themes, situations, and lives is a quietly exhilarating experience. There are times when completely unexpected happenings take place as my fingertips walk the keyboard, things that make me laugh or get all choked up or even amaze me."
Salisbury's drive to write about the emotional journey that kids must take to become adults in a challenging and complicated world is evident throughout his work. Says the author: "I've thought a lot about what my job is, or should be as an author of books for young readers. I don't write to teach, preach, lecture, or criticize, but to explore. And if my stories show characters choosing certain life options, and the possible consequences of having chosen those options, then I will have done something worthwhile."

His books -- Eyes of the Emperor, Blue Skin of the Sea, Under the Blood-Red Sun, Shark Bait, Jungle Dogs, Lord of the Deep, Island Boyz and his short stories, too -- have been celebrated widely with praise and distinguished awards. Graham Salisbury, winner of the PEN/Norma Klein Award, grew up on the islands of Oahu and Hawaii. Later, he graduated from California State University, Northridge, and received an MFA degree from Vermont College of Norwich University. In fact, he was a member of the founding faculty of Vermont College's highly successful MFA program in Writing for Children, now the Union Institute & University.

Other important things to know about this author: He worked as the skipper of a glass-bottom boat, as a deckhand on a deep-sea charter fishing boat, and as an Montessori elementary school teacher. His
rock-and-roll band, The Millennium, had a number one hit in the Philippines, which he composed. He once surfed with a shark, got stung by a Portuguese man-of-war (several times!), and swam for his life from a moray eel. Believe it or not, he didn't wear shoes until the sixth grade and never saw snow until he was nineteen. Graham Salisbury now lives with his family in Portland, Oregon.

Reviews

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hey, a book about Hawai'i that's a celebration of the land, not the sea. This isn't the greatest book ever, the most touching, or the most beautifully written, but it is a gentle and honest portrait of childhood - cruelties, contradictions, loyalties, adaptations. Sonny is a normal kid - he's not a prodigy or abuse victim, he doesn't have fourteen siblings or magic powers - and that's nice. His mother's dead and his father is somewhat removed, he's afraid of the water and struggles with racial identity - but he has a lot of love and some good sense. The stories are smooth, quiet, readable, but not dry or antiseptic.

[JS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eleven short stories follow Sonny’s life from age six to about 19. In the first, he is just learning to swim (after being called a pantie by his cousin Keo for not yet being able to swim). Through each story there runs a common thread—Sonny’s strange fear of the ocean. He does not understand it, and it bothers him immensely (as his family’s livelihood depends on the water). As he grows, he learns many things about himself, but he learns little about his father, and even less about his mother, who died when he was a baby. Sonny encounters bullies, dating, the outside world, and fear of loss, among other things; eventually he realizes the source of his fear and comes to grips with it. Though I cannot define why, I thought these stories were beautiful. Sonny’s family is close, and they love each other deeply—despite occasional annoyances and tiffs (and a scary mother-in-law). He lives life and enjoys it.

[Atomicgirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

The word that comes to mind most when I try to describe this book is "sedate." The tone and the plot are gentle, like floating on the Pacific Ocean on a calm day. So, I wouldn't recommend this book to readers who appreciate thrillers and adventure stories.

Sonny is afraid of the water, and struggles to find his identity where the ocean features strongly in his and the lives of people around him. The author presents a story that urges the readers to go beyond the author's words and think about the family dynamics and identity.

This will not be a book that children will reach for first. The topic and the fact that the book is set back in the 1950-60's may limit its appeal to many young adults.

[Kacky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this! Definitely more for high school age, than for middle school. It just sweetly broaches first love and first kiss from a boys' pov, very nice. I love the setting, Hawaii!

[Jared N · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a slightly biased opinion of this coming-of-age story because I grew up in the small town it was based in. Not only that but my first reading of this book was when I was around the same age as the protagonist, Sonny boy, so was going through similar emotions/experiences.

Many of the situations Sonny and his cousin get into throughout the book could have easily been taken from my childhood (or any person who grew up in a small beach town). The book could also fall under the historical-fiction genre as some events (one in specific that was a real natural disaster that actually impacted Hawaii in a big way) impact the story.

In conclusion, Blue Skin Of the Sea holds a special place in my heart. I resonated with many of the main character's experiences because I was going through those same life events at that age. It was also the first book I read that described many of the locations I frequented, which was not common growing up in small-town Hawaii.

[Ryan Posthumus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blue Skin of the Sea was one of my favorite stories growing up. As Sonny says of his time with Melanie, reading it takes me to what feels like a long lost island, back to a time of youth and carefree abandon. I know this book will be on my shelf for a long time because it is one of those special texts that takes you not to the time and place described within the pages of the book, but back to a time and place within one's own life in which the escapades of Sonny and Keo, Melanie and Shelley, Rudy, Billy, Raymond, and the rest of the crew played such a meaningful part. Just a lovely, lovely read.

[Tom Gase · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great set of stories about one kid who grows into a man near the waters in Hawaii during the 1950s and early 1960s. Sonny, as well as his father, his friend Keo, his uncle's, as well as some enemies, make for some great characters in this book about coming of age and innocence lost. The writing is beautiful and the stories (11 of them, each of them a different year in Sonny's life) are page-turners. A quick read as it's only 215 pages, but Salisbury has quite the gem in this book. Looking forward to reading more by this author my friend helped me discover.

[Malia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this.

The book has a gentle overtone, as if I was reading it while listening to the shorebreak at sunset. It gives a beautiful, realistic snapshot of Hawaii in the 1950s and 60s that is true to culture and still accessible to those who've never visited the Big Island.

If I teach American Literature again, I would like to introduce chapter 5 "Get Mister Red a Beer" to students. It shows the grip of tourism and development on Hawaii's economy and contrasts that advancement with the islands' natural beauty.

[Caroline Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is the first young adult novel that graham salisbury wrote and I have to say it shows. 3.5 rounded to 4 because I love him. If I hadn’t read his other books already I would say this is excellent but he definitely grew as an author. I still loved the story and the relationships and how it was kinda a book of short stories with the same characters but I still felt like I got to know them so well.

[Melinda Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intricately portrayed coming-of-age novel about Sonny Mendoza and his cousin Keo, plus a raft of well-drawn characters of Hawaiian descent. It takes a disturbing event in the lives of Sonny and his dad to help them find each other, and themselves. This book is best for high school students and above.

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really vivid stories from the big island in hawaii. i love the main character and his internal struggles. I love the cast of characters from around his little fishing village. but mostly I love diving into the world of hawaii, the jungles, coasts, and ocean.
My friend lent me this book when we were in high school, and I didnt read it until just now, 15 years later.

[Janice Sheufelt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting novel, set in Hawaii before the massive tourist development. Characters felt very real.

[Avery Vance · Rating 1 out of 5]

NO

[Ohia Kauhane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is good beyond words

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

best book of all time

[K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wholesome and culturally-rich story. Reminiscent of Hemingway’s Old Man and The Sea, but with more depth. Really good if you just want a simple book to take your mind off things.

[Devin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blue Skin of the Sea
 
Reviewed by: Devin Boxey
(Posted to Good Reads)
I have to admit, Graham Salsbury is one of my favorite authors, but I was pretty disappointed when Blue Skin of the Sea turned out to be a downer. Honestly, the only point I got from the book was to tell the story about a young boy’s life that lived in Hawaii. The funny thing is, is that this boy is a fictional character, so no one really cares how he lived because he never did live! Compared to Graham’s other books that were based on a true event and people, this one was definitely my least favorite.
Blue Skin of the Sea takes place in a small fishing village in Hawaii where almost everyone there has a boat and is involved with the fishing industry. Another reason I didn’t like the book; I don’t like fishing! Sonny Mendoza and his cousin, Keo, are the two main characters that, and I quote, “grow up in a world of dazzling beauty, family ties, and vivid characters.” Yah right! I didn’t see any of that anywhere in the book! This book follows Sonny and Keo through 11 stories that all together tell the stories of their lives living in Hawaii.
Although this book sounds all bad, I guess there were a few redeeming moments. Sonny’s Uncle Raz and Uncle Harley make a bet on who weighs more; Aunty Pearl or Uncle Harley’s obese pig! One of the other stories talks about people who were shooting a movie, but Sonny and Keo think that the sharks they were using looked too fake. So, they tell the director to go to the fishing yard and use one of the real sharks instead of the “imposter” sharks! But, just because there were a few humorous moments in this book, it was still not entertaining enough for me to give it a higher rating.
I can’t even tell you what kind of personality Sonny has or how he looks. The only characters Salsbury described at all were Aunty Pearl, and Keo. Aunty Pearl is supposed to be a HUGE lady (which I am even surprised she was still living) who can barely walk, but had a soft and caring heart. Keo is a small, but a tough person who is envied by Sonny. Apparently, the ocean surrounding the island is supposed to be the most “memorable character” out of everyone. Maybe I just don’t understand it as well as some people, but, as far as I can understand, the sea had NOTHING to do with the story except for being a “house” for the fish!
If you are like me and don’t care for books like this one, don’t bother reading it. However if you are retired and have a lot of time on your hands, than maybe, just MAYBE, you can read this book. I gave Blue Skin of the Sea two out of five stars for a reason. This book contains typical characters, living in a typical village in Hawaii, that experiences absolutely NO excitement what so ever! Sorry Graham Salsbury, but this is NOT one of your best books by far!

[Tawny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author: Graham Salisbury
Title: Blue Skin of the Sea
Genre: coming of age novel
Publication Info: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers, New York, 1992.
Recommended Age: 12 and older. There are a few spots where language is inappropriate and subject matter is deep, so I would not recommend the book to anyone still in grade school.
Plot Summary: Sonny Mendoza, a white boy living in a Hawaiian fishing village, goes through different experiences which lead him to understand and overcome his fears. He is a very sensitive boy, perhaps as a result of his mother’s death. He learns more about his distant father and tries to strengthen their relationship. Sonny struggles with issues of race, and then realizes he belongs in Hawaii just as much as anyone else. He stands up to bullies and rises above his suspicion of the sea. He begins to have feelings for girls. Sonny becomes strong through learning how to swim long distances, helping catch and kill a shark, viewing death and destruction, and learning a great deal about humanity and life in general. He grows apart from his best friend and cousin, Keo, because their interests, beliefs, and maturity levels differ.
Personal Notes: I would definitely read this book again. It is captivating and motivating. Sonny is a good role model for any young boys and girls. He demonstrates how to successfully work through problems with family and friends. Salisbury does a phenomenal job making the characters likeable and the plot believable. I would most likely recommend the book to individuals, especially if a particular student did not like reading. If we were doing a unit on family or racial differences, I would have the class read it together.
Evaluation: There is a recurring phrase which says, “Don’t ever do that again, boy.” Sonny hears this in his head and in his dreams, but does not know where he got it from. The phrase draws readers in and requires that they finish the whole novel simply to find out what that quote is really referring to. What makes this book unique is that each chapter moves on to a new experience. Sonny’s life appears to readers like a sequence of film strips. It is a series of stories which could truly stand on their own. Together, they form a wonderful description of what it is like for a boy to come to maturity. The novel reminds me of other coming of age stories. It was refreshing, however, to read one about a boy. It seems that most novels like this are written for and about girls. This one is good for both genders to read.
Other Comments: This would be a good book for anyone who comes from a broken home, feels like they do not fit in, is afraid of being alone, is having difficulty maturing, or does not have good self-esteem.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't really looking forward to this one. I had been putting off reading it (I have to teach it this upcoming year) to the point where it is now late back to the library, but at least until about page 134 (when the story ‘The Boy in the Shadow’ started) I loved it! But then it all got a bit too morose for me.

I’m not a big fan of short stories (with the exception of Anthony Doerr’s collection called ‘The Shell Collector’ – which is a work of art) because as soon as I start to like a character or feel something it ends. Blue Skin of the Sea alleviated that by following Sonny Mandoza from the age of about 6 until he graduates high school and it is set right here in Hawaii, during the 1950s/1960s so that was quite fun. The author’s sense of place is spot on.

To superficially summarize each story:

1.Deep Water – learning how to swim
2. Malanamekahuluohemanu – does Aunty Pearl weight more than the pig? (this one was hilarious)
3. The Old Man – a crew comes to film Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea
4. The Year of the Black Widows – terrorizing teachers and a new ‘tough’ kid from California
5. Get Mister Red a Beer – helping out on a charter boat for tourists. Interesting themes of tourism/economics v. reef sustainability
6. You Would Cry to See Waiakea Town – tsunami strikes
7. Uncharted Waters – kissing and exploring lava tubes
8. The Boy in the Shadow – friend from school is abused and beaten by his father
9. Blue Skin of the Sea – blowing holes in sharks with explosives (I rooted for the shark in this one)
10. Rudy’s Girl – rescuing a girl you love from an abusive relationship and getting beat up in the process
11. Islanders – coming to terms with losing your parents

So – point is, you can see how this collection takes a sharp turn towards the dark. I’m eager to see how my students react to these stories and to get their take on some of the more ‘grown up’ themes.

[Lila Marantz · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love the Big Island of Hawaii, read this book. This is a story of how a young man conquers his fear. Each chapter of Blue Skin of the Sea is a short story within itself and could be read alone. Don't do this though, you will miss the richness and beauty of Salisbury's opus. Through his imagery we can see the blue sea lapping on the Hawaiian shores as time passes. Our protagonist grows from scared teenager to confident young adult. Although this book is about boys, girls can enjoy it as well. Thankfully the Big Island is still much like Salisbury describes.

[Eli Terrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book turned out to be fantastic! I would recommend to readers who enjoy short stories and coming of age themes. At first, I thought this book would be way under my reading level, but as the stories of Sonny compiled, I found myself able to relate to him in many ways.

Blue Skin of the Sea by Graham Salisbury shows life on the Big Island of Hawaii through the eyes of Sonny. Sonny and his cousin Keo grow up in Kona and come from a fishing family. Despite this, Sonny has a fear of the ocean. Each of the 11 short stories in the book tell a lesson that Sonny finds useful in the end. As the book goes on, I was able to have a character that I could relate to and care about. I loved how Salisbury captured the feel and imagery of Hawaii. The writing was very descriptive and created a sharp image in my mind.

I almost wish the book was longer. The ending didn't seem to capture the whole essence of the book. Although it was satisfying, the author could have done more with it. Despite this, I really liked the short story format of this book, because it was up the the reader what happened to Sonny and Keo. This was similar to other book I have read by Salisbury, and I would argue that this is his best book yet.

[Gerald Kinro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is of the coming of age of Sonny Mendoza told in eleven interrelated short stories that span 1955 to 1966, one for each year. Its setting is the then little village of Kailua-Kona located on the Island of Hawaii. Unlike the other men in his family, Sonny has a deeply-rooted fear of the ocean neither he nor others understand. In each episode Sonny grows, confronting each fear, seeing and experiencing tragedy, learning how to drive “Kona-style”, falling in love, standing up against bullies, and finally, confronting his root fear.

In this work Salisbury creates memorable characters and situations that kept me reading this non-stop, the both times I read this book. There is Sonny’s cousin Keo and the rest of the men in the family, all of them masculine and seemingly fearless. Then there is Sonny, a very likeable and innocent young man. There is the ocean-- big, powerful and haunting, and when Sonny is near the sea, makes the reader feel its eerie power and, of course, Sonny’s fear. This is a very good read and recommended not only for young adults,the primary audience, but for old ones as well, for it deals with fear, an emotion felt by those of all ages.

[Asenath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of short stories that tells the coming of age of Sonny Mendoza. All the stories have their own moral and life lesson that Sonny learns—the character of his uncle, young love, death, etc. All the stories are tied together by one common thread: bits of memories that continue to flash through Sonny’s mind, even though he cannot remember what the event was. In the end Sonny remembers and is able to come of age and decide on the path he wants his destiny to take. The imagery used in this novel was very powerful—I had dreams about Hawaii after I read this. I would recommend this book

[Aldrin Cedrick]

chapter 1:sonny dont know how to swim then when dad took him to the ocean and dad thought him how to swim and at the middle keo was teasing sonny because sonny don't know how to swim.
chapter 2:is all about the bet auntie pearl and the pig and uncle harley and uncle raz was betting who is weighs more the pig or auntie pearl.and at last they take the weight of auntie pearl and auntie pearl weighs 316 then pig weighs 364.
chapter 3:is all about the old man want to make a movie and they using a fake shark then keo said he want to catch a true shark for the movie because they are gonna use a fake shark......

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A series of interconnected short stories about a boy coming of age in Hawaii. In and of itself, it was ok, but felt at times disjointed and lacking focus. Hawaii sure seems like a hard place to be, kinda rough, lots of machismo and fighting. I'd definitely look for another book by Salisbury, but wouldn't race to recommend this one. Some of the pieces make nice stand-alones, and in fact I think I did hear about this book when I read one chapter as a selection in a Hawaiian anthology.

Incidentally, the more Hawaiian writers I read, the less I want to go there.seems like a harsh culture in a lot of ways. But maybe most boy-comes-of-age novels are like that lately.

[Darlis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this many years ago and really enjoyed it. I liked the short story format that follow the characters as they grow up. I enjoyed the peek into Hawaiian family life and how people changed over their teen years. I even liked the personal reactions to the big events in the Islands. The stories have a flow that feels like being in Hawaii.
As a teacher, I even used some of the stories to show how other teenagers coped with crises in their lives. This is a wonderful book.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book captures the colors, sounds and feelings of the islands. When I read this novel, I long to be walking along side my grandma in old Hilo bay at the farmer's markets, bartering on mangos and papayas.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

A YA book by a well-respected author; coming-of-age tale that takes place in Kona in the 1960s. Very evocative of an earlier era in Hawaii; if you have been to Kona and liked it, you will enjoy this book.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Salisbury put me right in Hawaii. I felt all of the characters. Being too short and softening the portrayal of characters at times leaves this book at a four. But definitely worth a read.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kona, the setting of this "novel in stories", develops into its own character--this book is very much about place and how it shapes us. The stories get better, and I felt more involved with Sonny, as I read on. I look forward to teaching this one, and to visiting Kona.