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Tripping Back Blue
Finn is a 17-year-old full of paradoxes. He's a drug dealer, but he's scoring money to send his twin sister to Harvard. He's desperate to shoot up even though he's the most popular kid in Dammertown. He's a philosopher and orator who's failing all his classes. The only time he finds peace is when he's bird-watching. Finn's life begins to spiral out of control, until he discovers a miracle drug called indigo. Finn is convinced that the drug is the way out of everything broken in his life. But is it really as magical as it seems?
368 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2016
6 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
May 24, 2016
Finn wants his twin sister to succeed. He doesn’t care what happens to his future, as she is the bright one in the family, the one who has the potential to be successful. Finn has taken it upon himself to be the one to help her even though she has not asked anyone for help. There are countless issues with Finn assisting his sister. It was a nice gesture but he is going about it, all the wrong way. Finn is going to finance his sister’s college education selling illegal drugs.
Finn has found a new magic drug that he feels he can make a fortune on. Finn, a drug dealer feels this new drug will be a hot item which will earn him more money. Finding this drug is complicated and it brings about bigger stakes than what Finn has been dealing with previously. The novel becomes intense as I was worried about the outcome of the parties involved. Finn had developed a relationship with an older woman who had this new drug and I loved this relationship. He finally had found someone who he could talk to and be himself. He was a different person when he was with her. She accepted him for who he was and they both found something within each other. Finn is spiraling out of control and he doesn’t see what drugs are doing to his own life, for he only wants to make money for his sister’s future. As the story unfolds, it is frightful to see Finn sink deeper and deeper into his own world, his disregard for his own life and his inadequate choices make me want to scream. He is moving forward, not thinking about circumstances or choices, he is just looking for the next high or the dollar. He is focused and blind, a boy driven yet driving himself over the edge. Finn’s world creates an intense vibe, a powerful adrenaline as he moves throughout the novel staying elated on life and trying to stay on top of this latest drug. He is constantly on the move, constantly being present and his constant state of high produces an air of urgency, an urgency that I felt as I flipped through the pages. Life was good for Finn: he was making money, he had a new friend and he was higher than he had ever been. His sister tried to bring Finn back to Earth but Finn had his sights on her education. When things started to spin out of control, there was no way Finn was letting go of his goal.
I enjoyed reading this novel; I felt the intensity of what was occurring throughout the novel. I felt the power of the drugs as they filtered throughout the novel and the power they possessed. I thought it was a great story; I was captivated by the energy the novel produced and I needed to know what would happened to the characters and their lives. The story of the new drug and its origin was creepy and weird but it worked great with this storyline.
Finn has found a new magic drug that he feels he can make a fortune on. Finn, a drug dealer feels this new drug will be a hot item which will earn him more money. Finding this drug is complicated and it brings about bigger stakes than what Finn has been dealing with previously. The novel becomes intense as I was worried about the outcome of the parties involved. Finn had developed a relationship with an older woman who had this new drug and I loved this relationship. He finally had found someone who he could talk to and be himself. He was a different person when he was with her. She accepted him for who he was and they both found something within each other. Finn is spiraling out of control and he doesn’t see what drugs are doing to his own life, for he only wants to make money for his sister’s future. As the story unfolds, it is frightful to see Finn sink deeper and deeper into his own world, his disregard for his own life and his inadequate choices make me want to scream. He is moving forward, not thinking about circumstances or choices, he is just looking for the next high or the dollar. He is focused and blind, a boy driven yet driving himself over the edge. Finn’s world creates an intense vibe, a powerful adrenaline as he moves throughout the novel staying elated on life and trying to stay on top of this latest drug. He is constantly on the move, constantly being present and his constant state of high produces an air of urgency, an urgency that I felt as I flipped through the pages. Life was good for Finn: he was making money, he had a new friend and he was higher than he had ever been. His sister tried to bring Finn back to Earth but Finn had his sights on her education. When things started to spin out of control, there was no way Finn was letting go of his goal.
I enjoyed reading this novel; I felt the intensity of what was occurring throughout the novel. I felt the power of the drugs as they filtered throughout the novel and the power they possessed. I thought it was a great story; I was captivated by the energy the novel produced and I needed to know what would happened to the characters and their lives. The story of the new drug and its origin was creepy and weird but it worked great with this storyline.
January 17, 2016
Tripping Back Blue is a story that will make its way into your heart! This is the story of 17 year old Phineas Walt and his struggles with drug addiction. As a person and mentally, Finn has sweet and true intentions, we see him battle within himself throughout the book; he wants to be the rock, big brother, guardian, the protector but he keeps using and pulling himself deeper and deeper into the circle of addiction. He's selling and using a range of drugs but his ultimate goal is to sell enough so that he could send his twin sister to the college of her dreams, Harvard. The story is set in a hopeless little town somewhere in New York, the inhabitants of the town either become drunks, wait staff or sales people who make nothing of their lives and live in a trailer park, Finn wants more for his sister Faith. While birdwatching in the cemetery Finn crosses paths with an old woman and a mysterious, new drug which she leaves behind on a tombstone. The mysterious drug, later named Indigo, does exactly as the title reveals, Tripping Back. The drug makes users "trip back" to relive their happiest memories in a magical way. The story takes off from there as Finn tries to find the supplier, starts selling and encounters a slew of problems yet he never forgets his main purpose, to help his sister.
I would recommend for readers 16 and up.
*I received an ARC via NetGalley & publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I would recommend for readers 16 and up.
*I received an ARC via NetGalley & publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 31, 2020
17 year old Phineas called Finn is growing up in Dammertown in New York. Its one of these small depressing cities which exists mostly through car dealerships, fast food places and there is not much around. He lives in a trailer park with his twin sister Faith. The father is an alcoholic who lets his unpredictable rage out at his son and the mother spends all her money on useless things from the shopping channel.
With Finn the author created an anti-hero or you can see him as one of those "good" bad guy characters. On one side he is this charming, smooth talking player-type character with overflowing confidence who is running his little drug emporium in his small town and even got his female groupies around. He is not afraid to kick a guy down if he doesn't like him and is basically running the show in his small world.
And then there is the other side of Finn. The guy who loves birds and goes to the park to watch them in the early morning. He is full of knowledge and knows all these odd facts about pretty much everything. The guy who would do anything for his sister and tries desperately to make enough money to sent her to Harvard where she got accepted.
One day while bird watching Finn sees Orah-an old woman- snorting a line o af drug. Soon he discovers that this drug brings back the happiest memory of a persons life. He is eager to find this old lady to turn this into a big business opportunity to finally make enough money. But soon he finds himself entangled with the bigger guys and nothing goes as smoothly as he had hoped for. And then there is also Stacey -the new girl at school- that he fell in love with and her dad is a cop.
At the beginning I didn't know what to think about Finn. It took a while but he actually grew on me and I liked him which is good because the author spend a great deal in developing this character and he is the central focus in the book. First it starts out that he is this cool bragging guy, having parties, taking lots of drugs/pills like they are just candy and having fun. But as more the book is progressing as more it becomes clear how addicted Finn actually is and how much desperation he is trying to push away with the drugs.
The book is written from Finns point of view, so there is a lot of explicit language, lots of f-words which might not be for everybody. Sometimes the book reminded me listening to a rap song with short hard beats. Short sentences right to the point. But I also found some humor here and there.
For me his character seemed realistic which I always appreciate in a book. Also the type of book where things are described so well that you can see everything in front of you but without getting bored by too many little details and the book concludes in a great finale.
There is a love story but its not the main focus in the book. Its more like a little side story but it fits. Overall great debut novel. I hope I will see more from this author in the future.
Edit: Just another upgrade from 4 to 5 stars after reviewing all my book ratings for this year.
With Finn the author created an anti-hero or you can see him as one of those "good" bad guy characters. On one side he is this charming, smooth talking player-type character with overflowing confidence who is running his little drug emporium in his small town and even got his female groupies around. He is not afraid to kick a guy down if he doesn't like him and is basically running the show in his small world.
And then there is the other side of Finn. The guy who loves birds and goes to the park to watch them in the early morning. He is full of knowledge and knows all these odd facts about pretty much everything. The guy who would do anything for his sister and tries desperately to make enough money to sent her to Harvard where she got accepted.
One day while bird watching Finn sees Orah-an old woman- snorting a line o af drug. Soon he discovers that this drug brings back the happiest memory of a persons life. He is eager to find this old lady to turn this into a big business opportunity to finally make enough money. But soon he finds himself entangled with the bigger guys and nothing goes as smoothly as he had hoped for. And then there is also Stacey -the new girl at school- that he fell in love with and her dad is a cop.
At the beginning I didn't know what to think about Finn. It took a while but he actually grew on me and I liked him which is good because the author spend a great deal in developing this character and he is the central focus in the book. First it starts out that he is this cool bragging guy, having parties, taking lots of drugs/pills like they are just candy and having fun. But as more the book is progressing as more it becomes clear how addicted Finn actually is and how much desperation he is trying to push away with the drugs.
The book is written from Finns point of view, so there is a lot of explicit language, lots of f-words which might not be for everybody. Sometimes the book reminded me listening to a rap song with short hard beats. Short sentences right to the point. But I also found some humor here and there.
For me his character seemed realistic which I always appreciate in a book. Also the type of book where things are described so well that you can see everything in front of you but without getting bored by too many little details and the book concludes in a great finale.
There is a love story but its not the main focus in the book. Its more like a little side story but it fits. Overall great debut novel. I hope I will see more from this author in the future.
Edit: Just another upgrade from 4 to 5 stars after reviewing all my book ratings for this year.
February 7, 2016
Storti's Tripping Back Blue is a welcome addition to Young Adult literature-- a contemporary novel with fantasy elements featuring a flawed teen boy trying to find his way in a dead-end small town. Finn loves his twin sister fiercly and is too smart for his drug habit and dealing business, but has created his own independent identity from his terrible parents. It can be hard to watch the hero make poor decision after poor decision, but the narrative voice is strong and unexpected. This is no Chosen One narrative and is mercifully free from love triangles. Finn's best qualities come through in the way he gets to know and respect the old woman with a mysterious and powerful new drug whom he meets in the town cemetery. Would definitely recommend to teen boys and lovers of contemporary YA.
February 16, 2016
Tripping Back Blue was a surprisingly dark coming of age book. I really enjoyed this book as I feel the hero is like many teens, making poor decisions. At times I felt like grabbing Finn and reprimanding him. This is a great book that illustrates the power of the choices you make and the long term impact on your life. This is a solid read, with well developed characters and plot. I highly recommend this book to teens.
May 28, 2016
Review over on my blog coming soon;
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August 16, 2016
This book was hard to read but amazing at the same time. It was hard because I've had loved ones get mixed up with hard drugs like Finn did and I know very well that it's the hardest thing for them to get off those drugs. Finn was constantly beating himself up when he did the drugs, but at the same time it was just really hard for him to completely stop using. That is a real life portrayal of what addicts go through.
Then you have his sister Faith who lost one of her eyes when she was younger. I also am blind in one eye from a contact cutting my eye and giving me a parasite. It's rare but it happened and it just made this book just that much more personal to me. Faith also reminded me of myself constantly trying to tell a loved one (though not a twin brother like in Faith's case) to stop ruining their life with drugs when they have so much potential without the drugs.
Honestly if you're someone who has ever had a drug problem or if anyone has ever had to deal with a loved one who is a drug addict, this book will help you understand what it's really like for these people and that NOBODY wants to be addicted to drugs. Obviously, there is so much more to this story than all that, but I don't want to spoil anything. I just think that this is one of the best books I've read in awhile that portrays a real life thing that happens to people who get mixed up in the drug lifestyle (even if one of the drugs in this story, the main drug, is not a real drug) and it shows real consequences.
Then you have his sister Faith who lost one of her eyes when she was younger. I also am blind in one eye from a contact cutting my eye and giving me a parasite. It's rare but it happened and it just made this book just that much more personal to me. Faith also reminded me of myself constantly trying to tell a loved one (though not a twin brother like in Faith's case) to stop ruining their life with drugs when they have so much potential without the drugs.
Honestly if you're someone who has ever had a drug problem or if anyone has ever had to deal with a loved one who is a drug addict, this book will help you understand what it's really like for these people and that NOBODY wants to be addicted to drugs. Obviously, there is so much more to this story than all that, but I don't want to spoil anything. I just think that this is one of the best books I've read in awhile that portrays a real life thing that happens to people who get mixed up in the drug lifestyle (even if one of the drugs in this story, the main drug, is not a real drug) and it shows real consequences.
February 8, 2017
This book was really good, I really liked that it had so many twists and turns. Phineas throughout the book it's hard to remember that he is only 18. When I got to the part when Orah was introduced I didn't think she would become such a major character. I think that Phineas caused more problems for his twin sister faith then he realized by trying to get into indigo to make more money for her college education. When Phineas tries to get into contact with early through the pizza delivery guy I knew something was going to go wrong with it because he really had no idea who he was getting involved with at the time. I think when Early tried to kill him and Dan and managed to give Orah a stroke and threaten Stacey's life was when he knew it was time to not mess with him. I didn't really expect mike to kill early and his guys and have billy already be dead. At the very end of the book when the quote "they will be the ones to teach me to fly" finally shows up after the funeral I had already formed an opinion that it is one of my new favorite books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2016
I got this book as an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book, so my rating is more of a 3.5. There were a few things that could have made it a bit better. Having never done drugs, I had trouble envisioning the joy/euphoria of a heroin high and the need that seems to rule Finn. I loved the relationship with Orah and thought that her character could have been developed even more. I know there' is a limited amount of space but there were several mentions of her time as a nurse which made me think would lead somewhere. Finn is so likable, maybe too much so. It's difficult to understand how he can be so together but such a mess. The magic of indigo could have been pushed a bit further, too. However, I loved the relationship between Finn and Orah, and the mysterious magic of indigo.
I really enjoyed this book, so my rating is more of a 3.5. There were a few things that could have made it a bit better. Having never done drugs, I had trouble envisioning the joy/euphoria of a heroin high and the need that seems to rule Finn. I loved the relationship with Orah and thought that her character could have been developed even more. I know there' is a limited amount of space but there were several mentions of her time as a nurse which made me think would lead somewhere. Finn is so likable, maybe too much so. It's difficult to understand how he can be so together but such a mess. The magic of indigo could have been pushed a bit further, too. However, I loved the relationship between Finn and Orah, and the mysterious magic of indigo.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2018
I've been meaning to read this book for the longest time, ever since I met the author! I did enjoy it but I'm not sure if it was the pace of the novel or the fact that I was busy, it took me a while to get through. I liked the themes explored in this novel. I can't decide exactly how I feel about the main character because he is not the best person but has a few redeemable qualities. Overall, a good read!
August 11, 2018
I read this book in 2 days. It is awesome! You really get drawn into this book. I didnt want it to end. It feels like a true story. Sad at some parts of the book but also is a book that has a lot of meaning behind it. Loved it. I hope they make a movie of this.
December 16, 2016
this book was amazing it showed a story of danger
November 26, 2016
I wished it had a more solid ending but other than that enjoyable.
September 15, 2017
Best book
September 18, 2022
"I just want to sigh and yawn and stretch and swim in the thickness of my content. It's not like weed or coke or pills, not even heroin, it's something else altogether. It's pure, man, it's organic. I can taste it, touch it, be in it again. Hallelujah praise be.
My past. It swoops down and embraces me under its wing. One of the rare moments when I was completely, absolutely happy.
Even though he is failing school, seventeen-year-old Finn is incredibly smart. Smart with memory, smart with facts about just about anything, and smart about making negotiations. When he finds out that his twin sister Faith has been accepted into Harvard, he makes it his priority to cover the cost of her tuition. Faith is strongly against his method of obtaining the funds: dealing drugs. But Finn is determined to make it up to Faith—it's the least he can do after a mistake he made when they were kids resulted in his sister losing an eye.
One of the only things that makes Finn completely content is bird-watching. He doesn't care how ridiculous it sounds. The birds mesmerize him. When bird-watching in a cemetery one day, he stumbles across an old woman snorting a line of a mysterious blue substance on top of a gravestone. When he tries some himself, the effect is life-changing. Euphoric. Nothing like any drug he's tried before.
Naming the drug indigo, Finn makes it his mission to make a huge profit off of the enigmatic substance in Dammertown. What he doesn't realize is how rare the drug actually is, and how dangerous the drug-dealing industry truly is.
Meanwhile, Finn doesn't realize how dependent he is off of using. He is losing himself, losing his friends, and even losing his beloved sister Faith. The path he is taking is eerily similar to his parents, and if he doesn't control himself, he may fall down a very dark hole of addiction.
This book was incredible. I found myself rooting for all of the characters and their individual goals. Finn was such an interesting character to me. He had a level of genuineness to him that made it seem like we were him having to make these difficult decisions for his loved ones while slipping down a dark hole in the process. I loved the dimension to him, the way he was so incredibly smart and used his facts to his advantage to keep himself and those around him grounded. Also, his narrative voice had a kick to it, and I really loved the personality that glowed through his words.
I kind of expected a different ending to this story. I thought that Finn would have had to come to terms with his addiction by some sort of big intervention with his best friend and sister, or by some huge mistake that would have kicked him into realization of what he was doing to himself. I thought maybe there'd be some kind of confrontation between Finn and his dad or mom since they had such of an impact on him in a subtle way. I also expected there to be more to the story about indigo's source itself. The whole virus in the blood-line was very intriguing and I expected that to have more relevance in the characters present in the story.
Regardless, I devoured this story in just about one sitting. It was written so well and addresses a lot of topics in an almost magical manner.
"On the car ride home, Orah's sage advice on happiness is needling me. Maybe it really can't be attained. Maybe I'm going to be running around in circles for the rest of my life trying to find satisfaction, my fill, when there is nothing with permanence to be found. But whatever, I can't deny the thrill of a new beginning coursing through me, on high voltage. The possibilies. All that indigo waiting to be turned into money, more money than I've ever had. Indigo. The new drug of the century, and my empire to rule."
My past. It swoops down and embraces me under its wing. One of the rare moments when I was completely, absolutely happy.
Even though he is failing school, seventeen-year-old Finn is incredibly smart. Smart with memory, smart with facts about just about anything, and smart about making negotiations. When he finds out that his twin sister Faith has been accepted into Harvard, he makes it his priority to cover the cost of her tuition. Faith is strongly against his method of obtaining the funds: dealing drugs. But Finn is determined to make it up to Faith—it's the least he can do after a mistake he made when they were kids resulted in his sister losing an eye.
One of the only things that makes Finn completely content is bird-watching. He doesn't care how ridiculous it sounds. The birds mesmerize him. When bird-watching in a cemetery one day, he stumbles across an old woman snorting a line of a mysterious blue substance on top of a gravestone. When he tries some himself, the effect is life-changing. Euphoric. Nothing like any drug he's tried before.
Naming the drug indigo, Finn makes it his mission to make a huge profit off of the enigmatic substance in Dammertown. What he doesn't realize is how rare the drug actually is, and how dangerous the drug-dealing industry truly is.
Meanwhile, Finn doesn't realize how dependent he is off of using. He is losing himself, losing his friends, and even losing his beloved sister Faith. The path he is taking is eerily similar to his parents, and if he doesn't control himself, he may fall down a very dark hole of addiction.
This book was incredible. I found myself rooting for all of the characters and their individual goals. Finn was such an interesting character to me. He had a level of genuineness to him that made it seem like we were him having to make these difficult decisions for his loved ones while slipping down a dark hole in the process. I loved the dimension to him, the way he was so incredibly smart and used his facts to his advantage to keep himself and those around him grounded. Also, his narrative voice had a kick to it, and I really loved the personality that glowed through his words.
I kind of expected a different ending to this story. I thought that Finn would have had to come to terms with his addiction by some sort of big intervention with his best friend and sister, or by some huge mistake that would have kicked him into realization of what he was doing to himself. I thought maybe there'd be some kind of confrontation between Finn and his dad or mom since they had such of an impact on him in a subtle way. I also expected there to be more to the story about indigo's source itself. The whole virus in the blood-line was very intriguing and I expected that to have more relevance in the characters present in the story.
Regardless, I devoured this story in just about one sitting. It was written so well and addresses a lot of topics in an almost magical manner.
"On the car ride home, Orah's sage advice on happiness is needling me. Maybe it really can't be attained. Maybe I'm going to be running around in circles for the rest of my life trying to find satisfaction, my fill, when there is nothing with permanence to be found. But whatever, I can't deny the thrill of a new beginning coursing through me, on high voltage. The possibilies. All that indigo waiting to be turned into money, more money than I've ever had. Indigo. The new drug of the century, and my empire to rule."
June 16, 2023
It took me a bit to really get into the book at the beginning, I felt like it was kind of a slow pace. But after a several chapters, I found myself really enjoying the book! I have always had an interest in trying to understand addiction better and I feel like this book gives a good perspective on how people give in so easily even when they really don’t want to. I feel like the ending could have been more climatic, but overall I did enjoy this book!
May 29, 2020
it is slowpaced.
September 29, 2020
It's ok.
December 31, 2020
2 Thumbs Up & A Snap! (That's REALLY good!) Talented Author!! Realistic story yet still inspiring.
July 16, 2016
I received this ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for my honest review.
I am still trying to wrap my head around this book. Honestly, it was like one big, long trip just like the title suggests. Finn is a drug dealer who is trying to raise enough money to pay for his twin sister's way to Harvard. He's also an addict. I think the scenes where Finn was shooting up or trying to score were some of the best written of the book. The imagery and the descriptions of his cravings were just so vivid. Even though I have never done drugs, I could understand what he was feeling and why he was craving it so much,
Finn and his twin sister, Faith are trying to survive with an abusive father and a neglectful mother. Yes, this is yet another case of absentee parent syndrome in YA, but it serves its purpose in the story. Faith lost an eye in an awful tragedy years earlier. Finn feels extremely guilty, despite the fact that it was not his fault and it is this guilt that drives him to try to take care of Faith. The problem is that Faith doesn't want it. Faith and Finn are both freaking geniuses (the random facts that Finn would spout were kind of awesome), but the difference is that Faith doesn't hide from her intelligence. She wants to do something with her life, but she doesn't want to use her brother's drug money to do it. It's admirable. Faith also has a business of designing her own eye patches. I love how she had a different eye patch for almost every occasion and mood.
Finn is not without his share of physical scars. He has a burn on one side of his face from another tragedy that isn't revealed until closer to the end of the book. Both Faith and Finn were victims of their parents' abuse and neglect and the whole twin thing meant that they were usually very in tune with each other. Faith was so worried about Finn and his drug problem. She kept trying to convince him to get help for his drug problem, but he doesn't think he has one. The lies that he would come up with to cover his drug habit were so elaborate and involved that it was obvious they were fake. I have known drug addicts in the past and it is kind of a rule that the more details they provide, the more likely it is that they are lying.
Okay, so there were a few negatives to this story. One was the discovery of the new drug, Indigo. It led to the meeting of a girl named Stacy that he was kind of in love with (after five minutes) and then there was her cop dad and her grandmother and meanwhile, there were all these other drug dealers mad because Finn was in their territory. All of this just distracted from the main story, which was Finn's obvious drug problem and his need to take care of Faith at the expense of his own life. There were points where the story was dragging because nothing was really happening except for Finn dealing with the drugs. That part was kind of boring. And I felt like the end was wrapped up a bit too neatly for my taste, especially since it was about such a heavy topic like drug addiction.
All in all, there were good parts to this book, but there were also too many issues that got in the way.
I am still trying to wrap my head around this book. Honestly, it was like one big, long trip just like the title suggests. Finn is a drug dealer who is trying to raise enough money to pay for his twin sister's way to Harvard. He's also an addict. I think the scenes where Finn was shooting up or trying to score were some of the best written of the book. The imagery and the descriptions of his cravings were just so vivid. Even though I have never done drugs, I could understand what he was feeling and why he was craving it so much,
Finn and his twin sister, Faith are trying to survive with an abusive father and a neglectful mother. Yes, this is yet another case of absentee parent syndrome in YA, but it serves its purpose in the story. Faith lost an eye in an awful tragedy years earlier. Finn feels extremely guilty, despite the fact that it was not his fault and it is this guilt that drives him to try to take care of Faith. The problem is that Faith doesn't want it. Faith and Finn are both freaking geniuses (the random facts that Finn would spout were kind of awesome), but the difference is that Faith doesn't hide from her intelligence. She wants to do something with her life, but she doesn't want to use her brother's drug money to do it. It's admirable. Faith also has a business of designing her own eye patches. I love how she had a different eye patch for almost every occasion and mood.
Finn is not without his share of physical scars. He has a burn on one side of his face from another tragedy that isn't revealed until closer to the end of the book. Both Faith and Finn were victims of their parents' abuse and neglect and the whole twin thing meant that they were usually very in tune with each other. Faith was so worried about Finn and his drug problem. She kept trying to convince him to get help for his drug problem, but he doesn't think he has one. The lies that he would come up with to cover his drug habit were so elaborate and involved that it was obvious they were fake. I have known drug addicts in the past and it is kind of a rule that the more details they provide, the more likely it is that they are lying.
Okay, so there were a few negatives to this story. One was the discovery of the new drug, Indigo. It led to the meeting of a girl named Stacy that he was kind of in love with (after five minutes) and then there was her cop dad and her grandmother and meanwhile, there were all these other drug dealers mad because Finn was in their territory. All of this just distracted from the main story, which was Finn's obvious drug problem and his need to take care of Faith at the expense of his own life. There were points where the story was dragging because nothing was really happening except for Finn dealing with the drugs. That part was kind of boring. And I felt like the end was wrapped up a bit too neatly for my taste, especially since it was about such a heavy topic like drug addiction.
All in all, there were good parts to this book, but there were also too many issues that got in the way.
May 30, 2016
I received a print copy of this title from Walker Books Australia for review.
Ten Second Synopsis:
Finn stumbles upon a new drug that allows the user to relive their happiest memory. Keen to make money to finance his sister's dream of attending Harvard, he decides to track down the source of this new drug, despite the fact that its discovery could put everyone he loves in danger.
Initially, before reading some reviews of this one, I expected a typical “teenager-struggling-with-drugs-story” that happened to have an extremely pretty cover. On reading a few reviews and finding out that the drug causes users to relive their happiest memories, AND that one of the major characters is an old lady who eventually befriends Finn, I began to get interested. With these two tidbits of information in hand, I began to hope that this book would blend a bit of fantasy or magical realism with the drudgery of drug use and lift an average story to something unusual and enticing.
Overall, I’m happy to say, I got exactly what I expected. Perhaps not to the extent that I would have liked, but certainly the base elements of my expectations were all present. There is an interesting and somewhat volatile relationship between Finn and the old lady, Orah, that drives the indigo plotline. There is plenty of soul-searching (under-the-influence soul-searching, but still…) from Finn as to whether what he is doing is right, wrong or outside the bounds of morality all together. The ending is unexpectedly action packed and violent and carries a real atmosphere of danger and confusion. There were also some interesting twists on the “reliving your happiest memory” device, as the drug doesn’t always work as it is expected to, for Finn at least, as well as an in-depth exploration of human nature, as every character here is flawed in some way and no one is purely evil or pristine.
For the most part, then, I enjoyed this read. I am not a fan of drug use, talk about drug use, deep explorations of the user’s mind etc (either in real life or fiction) and there was a lot more of this in the story than I initially expected. Admittedly, all the reviews I read mentioned this and it’s hinted at in the blurb, so I shouldn’t complain. I was hoping for a little more of the magical realism element around the creation and distribution of indigo, but the story doesn’t suffer particularly for the lack of it. The segues into talk about birds and random animal facts were a diverting inclusion and fleshed Finn’s character out a bit.
Would I read this book again? Probably not. Am I glad I ran across it? Definitely. Is it a standout of the genre? Not really, but it certainly has some original touches that make it worth a look if you enjoy contemporary YA that doesn’t shy away from difficult social issues such as drug use, poverty and family violence.
Ten Second Synopsis:
Finn stumbles upon a new drug that allows the user to relive their happiest memory. Keen to make money to finance his sister's dream of attending Harvard, he decides to track down the source of this new drug, despite the fact that its discovery could put everyone he loves in danger.
Initially, before reading some reviews of this one, I expected a typical “teenager-struggling-with-drugs-story” that happened to have an extremely pretty cover. On reading a few reviews and finding out that the drug causes users to relive their happiest memories, AND that one of the major characters is an old lady who eventually befriends Finn, I began to get interested. With these two tidbits of information in hand, I began to hope that this book would blend a bit of fantasy or magical realism with the drudgery of drug use and lift an average story to something unusual and enticing.
Overall, I’m happy to say, I got exactly what I expected. Perhaps not to the extent that I would have liked, but certainly the base elements of my expectations were all present. There is an interesting and somewhat volatile relationship between Finn and the old lady, Orah, that drives the indigo plotline. There is plenty of soul-searching (under-the-influence soul-searching, but still…) from Finn as to whether what he is doing is right, wrong or outside the bounds of morality all together. The ending is unexpectedly action packed and violent and carries a real atmosphere of danger and confusion. There were also some interesting twists on the “reliving your happiest memory” device, as the drug doesn’t always work as it is expected to, for Finn at least, as well as an in-depth exploration of human nature, as every character here is flawed in some way and no one is purely evil or pristine.
For the most part, then, I enjoyed this read. I am not a fan of drug use, talk about drug use, deep explorations of the user’s mind etc (either in real life or fiction) and there was a lot more of this in the story than I initially expected. Admittedly, all the reviews I read mentioned this and it’s hinted at in the blurb, so I shouldn’t complain. I was hoping for a little more of the magical realism element around the creation and distribution of indigo, but the story doesn’t suffer particularly for the lack of it. The segues into talk about birds and random animal facts were a diverting inclusion and fleshed Finn’s character out a bit.
Would I read this book again? Probably not. Am I glad I ran across it? Definitely. Is it a standout of the genre? Not really, but it certainly has some original touches that make it worth a look if you enjoy contemporary YA that doesn’t shy away from difficult social issues such as drug use, poverty and family violence.
July 10, 2016
I received a copy of Tripping Back Blue from Walker Books Australia to review.
I don’t normally read about drug dealers or people doing drugs because I hate them. The drugs not the characters. Drugs don’t just get people addicted but they also have the potential to ruin families and take so many lives. But this review is not meant to be me going on about the evil of drug use. Moving on.
I had a hard time connecting with the protagonist/main character, Finn, and not just because of the drugs. It was his attitude, the way he thought he was so great and that all the girls wanted him. The way he treated his ‘friends’ too was annoying. I’m surprised he had any left. Finn was arrogant and always thought he was right. I get that he wanted a better life for his sister and wanted to help pay for her to go to Harvard but I think he was going about it the wrong way and never listened to what Faith actually wanted. Finn thought he knew what was best for her despite what she wanted. Finn was doing it all because of the guilt he felt for what happened to Faith when she was a kid.
Even though I didn’t really like Finn, he was way too cocky and sure of himself for me, I did enjoy the story. Normally when I can’t connect with the main character I have a hard time with the rest of the book but I didn’t this time. There were some characters in the book that I did like. No one in Tripping Back Blue was perfect, they all had their flaws.
I’m glad I decided to give this book a chance instead of judging it because it was about drugs.
I don’t normally read about drug dealers or people doing drugs because I hate them. The drugs not the characters. Drugs don’t just get people addicted but they also have the potential to ruin families and take so many lives. But this review is not meant to be me going on about the evil of drug use. Moving on.
I had a hard time connecting with the protagonist/main character, Finn, and not just because of the drugs. It was his attitude, the way he thought he was so great and that all the girls wanted him. The way he treated his ‘friends’ too was annoying. I’m surprised he had any left. Finn was arrogant and always thought he was right. I get that he wanted a better life for his sister and wanted to help pay for her to go to Harvard but I think he was going about it the wrong way and never listened to what Faith actually wanted. Finn thought he knew what was best for her despite what she wanted. Finn was doing it all because of the guilt he felt for what happened to Faith when she was a kid.
Even though I didn’t really like Finn, he was way too cocky and sure of himself for me, I did enjoy the story. Normally when I can’t connect with the main character I have a hard time with the rest of the book but I didn’t this time. There were some characters in the book that I did like. No one in Tripping Back Blue was perfect, they all had their flaws.
I’m glad I decided to give this book a chance instead of judging it because it was about drugs.
January 19, 2016
I got this book as an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
First of all, I hope this book is not in its final stages of editing, because there are quite a few mistakes. Style wise, the book is all told from the point of view of a 17 year old dealer and addict.
I've read a few YA books about drug abuse, and this does give a somewhat different perspective. I enjoyed it more than I expected at the beginning, but it still made me feel like I was watching the TV show Weeds... the storyteller keeps encountering situations with two paths and he always seems to choose wrong.
Finn seems to be the only character that is fully developed, and I suppose realistically, he is VERY resistant to evolving. Most of the other characters seem to be vague, forgetful, and their stories are never quite complete. Maybe it's just my personal preference, but I like it when a book actually seems complete. I felt like the ending was semi abrupt and so many story lines are left unfinished which is disappointing.
Not a complete disappointment though! I did like the book and the story, and I think with a little editing and some critics insight the author will do alright in the future.
First of all, I hope this book is not in its final stages of editing, because there are quite a few mistakes. Style wise, the book is all told from the point of view of a 17 year old dealer and addict.
I've read a few YA books about drug abuse, and this does give a somewhat different perspective. I enjoyed it more than I expected at the beginning, but it still made me feel like I was watching the TV show Weeds... the storyteller keeps encountering situations with two paths and he always seems to choose wrong.
Finn seems to be the only character that is fully developed, and I suppose realistically, he is VERY resistant to evolving. Most of the other characters seem to be vague, forgetful, and their stories are never quite complete. Maybe it's just my personal preference, but I like it when a book actually seems complete. I felt like the ending was semi abrupt and so many story lines are left unfinished which is disappointing.
Not a complete disappointment though! I did like the book and the story, and I think with a little editing and some critics insight the author will do alright in the future.
December 12, 2015
Deep down Finn is a good kid but he just can't find a way out of his drug fueled life. His first get rich quick scheme is selling heroin but when he his profits are stolen he searches for a new and better drug to deal. At a local graveyard, he happens upon an older lady with a indigo blue powder. When he snorts the powder he experiences a high like no other. Finn embarks on a plan to sell this new drug and markets it as Indigo. After awhile he realizes he is encroaching on the territory of a big city drug dealer and that his own drug habits are spiraling out of control. With editing this could be a good book. To me, the book needs to focus more on a redemption story for Finn and less on the seedier, drug induced, side of Finn's life.
August 1, 2016
Rating: 3.5/5
This story is told from the point of view of a drug addict teenager well. Finn's character was well developed however the rest of the characters back story were a bit vague. I enjoyed reading it but I do feel like certain areas could be better. Debating between rating is a 3 or a 3.5 was hard but I choose 3.5 because the book has good concepts like consequences and how it affects people. As I got about halfway through the book, I kept expecting a huge climax or change but it was a more settle and so was the transition to the ending. In the end, there were many loose ends and issues that I would like to know more about which was a little of a letdown. The book held an interesting plot but with some fixing could have a much more solid conclusion.
This story is told from the point of view of a drug addict teenager well. Finn's character was well developed however the rest of the characters back story were a bit vague. I enjoyed reading it but I do feel like certain areas could be better. Debating between rating is a 3 or a 3.5 was hard but I choose 3.5 because the book has good concepts like consequences and how it affects people. As I got about halfway through the book, I kept expecting a huge climax or change but it was a more settle and so was the transition to the ending. In the end, there were many loose ends and issues that I would like to know more about which was a little of a letdown. The book held an interesting plot but with some fixing could have a much more solid conclusion.
February 2, 2016
Finn, a teenage drug addict, is counting on his charm and street smarts to sell enough drugs to put his twin sister through Harvard. When he meets an older lady who has a powerful new drug called indigo, he makes big plans - but nothing comes easily. This solid story combines elements of crime, coming-of-age, and teen romance.
March 4, 2016
Advance copy provided by publisher for honest review.
Reading more like a contemporary novel, this dark, menacing fantasy readable. However finding the the story slow and predictable and I struggled to connect to the superficial characters.
Reading more like a contemporary novel, this dark, menacing fantasy readable. However finding the the story slow and predictable and I struggled to connect to the superficial characters.
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June 21, 2016dnf
Read
August 21, 2016This is a did not finish. It just didn't grab me the way I thought it would. Too many other books to read...
July 30, 2016
An interesting portrayal of family involvement in the drug industry.
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