Blue

by James DeVita

Morgan is bored with his life. Nothing exciting ever happens in his house. He can calculate his parents' daily routine to the exact minute. He feels old before his time, with nothing to look forward to but more boredom. Then one dreary Sunday, Morgan has a vision of a magnificent fish, a leaping marlin wild in the sea, a creature so free that it would rather die than be tamed. The dream (if dream it is) is so vivid, Morgan feels a shocking rush of strength and speed racing through his veins, smells the salt air, and tastes the electricity of an impending ocean storm. For one brief exhilarating moment, sitting in a cramped apartment on a city block where every building looks exactly like the next, Morgan is that marlin, and from that moment on, he begins to change. A comic Metamorphosis for kids, this poignant, gently humorous, and highly original tale by actor, playwright, and first-time novelist James DeVita is a tender testament to following one's heart. Through a series of miraculous and sometimes ridiculous events, Morgan comes to understand that he has the power to be whatever he wants to be -- even a fish -- as long as he believes in himself.

288 pages, Library Binding

First published April 1, 2001

About the author

James DeVita, a native of Long Island, NY, is an author and playwright. Along with his novels, The Silenced, A Winsome Murder and Blue, he has also written more than sixteen plays and adaptations of classics for young audiences. He is the resident playwright for First Stage Theater for Youth. His plays have been awarded the Distinguished Play Award by the American Alliance of Theater and Education; the Intellectual Freedom Award by the Council of Teachers of English/Language Arts; and he is a recipient of a Literature Fellowship for Fiction by the National Endowment for the Arts. James lives in Spring Green, Wisconsin with his wife and two children.

Reviews

[Torry · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read Blue for the first time, I felt something happen and I didn't know what it was. When I read it the second time, I felt nothing. I asked my teacher what was going on in the book, and she said "the moral of that story is 'you are what you think you are.'" That was very good advice, but I don't know why I could barely read this book for the second time. I still wish I could un-read it just to read it again for the first time. That is how to tell a true masterpeice- - You can only read them once.

[Kyra Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading this book in fourth grade, or maybe fifth grade. I remember that I was absolutely amazed with the story and ever since I have been trying to find out what it was called. Finally, I found it! I absolutely need to find this book again and read it over and over again.

[Ryan Lum · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is actually pretty kicking.The author James Devita actually put alot of imagination into this story and it was one of the most interesting stories I ever read. Story begins with a regular boy named Morgan whos just a little bored with the way things are going for him. One Saturday evening I think it was, Morgan fell asleep watching the fishing channel on Tv and had one of the best dreams of his life. he dreamt of fishing on a huge lake and got a huge catch of a Marlin fish. Morgan then woke up from all the excitement and was hooked to the idea and couldn't get over the idea. Before he knew it, he was changing. At first it was air problem and then gills then I though that was funny as hell. Morgan started to change so much that doctors started getting interested. The Doctor actually wanted to cut off any fishy parts that Morgan was growing. Morgan could have died but then met a bunch of people who were exactly like him but had doctors stop there process of growing. They set Morgan free into the wild and then Morgan grew into a huge fish. I thought this was truly creative and interesting.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

You have to suspend your disbelief but what a great book for youth to really connect with the idea that if you believe someting hard enough - anything is possible. A teenage boy, Morgan lives a rather boring life. Enter the dream where he meets a Marlin and decides that he is going to be one. The book continues with the trials and tribulations of being in the hospital where the doctors all tell him it's impossible to become a fish - 'cuse me - a Marlin, and his own belief that it really is happening to him.

[Benjamin Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boy dreams of turning into a fish and one morning wakes up to find that it is starting to come true. He is quarantined by scientists, but is able to escape with the help of people this had happened to before who couldn't make the transition all the way from man to marlin and are stuck in various midstages of the metamorphosis.
I'm sure that there is supposed to be some deeper meaning behind what's going on, but I have no idea what it is. I thought it was a neat idea (if not very plausable or explainable) and really enjoyed it at face value.

[Brenda Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

James DeVita's first book about a boy who is turning into a large fish. Very whimsical and funny, but with a good theme, too. This book would work well for middle school students as well as some high school students.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this like 3894758945 times in elementary school and junior high. I loved it for some odd reason.

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

very imaginative, writing not impressive