Baby Blue

by Michelle D. Kwasney

We sat at the kitchen table, across from each other. In the same spots we sat for dinner up till a month ago. The shadows on the table looked like prison bars again. This time it was Star being caged. Star, who thought leaving made her free. That life would be all hunky-dory shampooing heads and sweeping floors while Mama got slapped around-far enough away so she wouldn't have to hear the screams.
That's when I knew for sure-I couldn't leave Mama. And Star couldn't make me any more than I could make her stay.

A painfully beautiful novel that exposes the haunting world of spousal abuse

Blue's family is coming apart at the seams. After Pa drowned in the river, Mama up and married Jinx, whom Blue and Star know is big trouble. And now Star has run away, leaving Blue behind. It was hard enough to watch Mama get knocked around when Jinx was in one of his "moods," but now, with Star gone, Jinx has spun out of control. It's up to Blue to find Star and get help for Mama, to piece the family back together again. But Blue is running out of time.

With biting realism and poignancy, this compelling young-adult novel explores Blue's struggle to protect her family and stand up against what she knows is wrong.

Genres: Young Adult

208 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2004

Reviews

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the novel Baby Blue by Michelle D. Kwasney Blue’s Pa got swept away in the currents of the water leaving him missing. Blue’s trying to do whatever she can to get her sister, Star, back and stop Jinx, her Ma’s new husband, from beating her Ma out of anger. Blue being young never stopped her.The problem of the story contains abuse, making it an emotional trigger for some people. Even though it contains abuse and heartache there are still funny and happy moments. It’s not all sad. Blue, is trying to make things right and piece back together her family. The characters in this novel are serious and funny. Some are mysterious while some are more open. It’s a mixture of different types of people.

The plot of this novel is more serious while the characters dialogue lightens the mood. The story shows what abuse is like and how you should and should not deal with it. It follows a young girl’s perspective and how she feels and sees it. The stories poetic sense keeps you engaged and wanting to read more.

Michelle may have wrote a realistic-fiction story but it had a sort of magic about it. She’s poetic with her words and her writing and story is creative. Her writing is very detailed, I can picture the scenes and the house clearly. Her writing style is great too.

I think this novel deserves a 5 star rating. I would recommend it to teenagers but young adults could enjoy it too.

[Anna Hardesty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really powerful book that I will always remember.

It's not easy losing a parent, and it's definitely not easy when the parent you are now with re-marries to a drunk, abuser. I have not personally gone through that, but I can just imagine how horrible that must be. I feel like the author of this novel really captured how difficult it really can be, and how most of the time the kids are the ones left to help the mom get out of the abusive relationship and that's exactly what happens in this book.

You really should read it. You will fall in love with Blue.
There are some strange names in here, that's for sure. Blue, Star, Jinx, haha.

[justablondemoment · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book. The message is strong and clear enough for a young reader but holding the attention of a high school child, probably not. It was simplistic and lacked detail. It would be just right for a middle school child.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overcoming domestic abuse. A powerful story.

[Faith Andreasen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What if you went from having a gambling father to a dead father in all but a day or two? Michelle Kwasney writes this tragedy about a girl named Blue in “Baby Blue”. Her father went out taking her mothers waitress tips to New York, leaving just a note. He came back the next day during dinner with $3,000 and carrying 3 shopping bags, one for Star her sister, one for Blue, and one for her mama. Blue made him promise to go to the river for a picnic the next day to keep him home. That day he died in the river trying to save a little boys life. Her mother remarried and the girls, Star and Blue, called him Jinx. Jinx was not very nice to them especially her mama, which made her sister Star leave. Sometimes Blue thought she saw Star but she really didn't. One day the phone rang twice very early in the morning and nobody answered Jinx's hellos when he picked up the phone. That day Jinx took her mama on a mini-vacation to Cape Cod. When they were gone Blue was waiting for her mothers call when the phone rang but it wasn’t her mother. In the backround Blue heard the song she and her sister danced to the night her father returned with money. When she heard it she thought of Star. Then she realized it might be her sister. When she found out who was on the phone she set out to find them. When she found them she brought them to her home. They talked at the dinner table. “That’s when I knew for sure - I couldn’t leave Mama. And Star couldn’t make me, anymore than I can make her stay.”( Page 129) Her mother returned early without Jinx from Cape Cod before her visiter could leave. Who was this girl? And where is Jinx? Why did Blue’s mother return so early? I would strongly recommend this book for young adults who love mystery and a great read because it is such a great book with a some mystery and is realistic. In my opinion I really thought this book was great and very educational about domestic abuse before it was illegal without police seeing. To find out who the girl is and why Blue’s Mama returned early and without Jinx, read “Baby Blue” by Michelle Kwasney.

[Bailey Schroeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book shows how horrible people are in this world especially parents. In this book there was a step father who was very abusive to the mother and the mother's children got scared every time he would abuse her. At the end the police come and arrest the step father and the mother and her two girls started a new life when they moved into a new home.

[D. Friedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very poignant. Well-told story.

[Readersaurus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kwasney's writing had me holding my breath, hoping for this very real feeling family.

[Mackenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heart-breaking fire starting story. Something anyone can relate to.

[Justice Wolbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that this book was really good. It keep me interested and pulled me in right away. Blue is an amazing character and really easy to connect to.

[Fspindel17 · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was amazing!!!!!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful story about a sad family. It was amazing and hopeful, for sure worth a read