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Blue Heron
The story of a pivotal summer for the thirteen-year-old Maggie tells how her fight to protect a solitary blue heron with which she identifies distracts her from dealing with strange new tensions in her family.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 1992
11 people are currently reading
412 people want to read
About the author
Avi
346 books1,717 followersAvi is a pen name for Edward Irving Wortis, but he says, "The fact is, Avi is the only name I use." Born in 1937, Avi has created many fictional favorites such as
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle,
Nothing but the Truth,
and the Crispin series. His work is popular among readers young and old.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
April 15, 2018
I have read this book about 4 times in my life, once when I was in about middle school, once in my twenties, and once in my thirties (there may have been another time that I am forgetting). Each time I read it I not only get a sense of peace, but I understand that message(s) behind the book:love without worry, believe in the magic even when you don't think you can, and trust outside of yourself.
The big one believe in magic in the one that always gets me, but in the last three years, the love without worry,well, it makes more sense; and I do that without thought or expectation of return. It hasn't let me down.
A beautiful story about growing up and learning to see the world outside of yourself.
The big one believe in magic in the one that always gets me, but in the last three years, the love without worry,well, it makes more sense; and I do that without thought or expectation of return. It hasn't let me down.
A beautiful story about growing up and learning to see the world outside of yourself.
November 23, 2017
Two young people the school outcast & a troubled young girl (who has lost her father) become friends when they find out they are both stalking a Great Blue Heron.
The young boy stalks w/ bow & arrow. The young girl stalks w/ heart & patience.
The book was sad, but not as sad as I had expected it to be...
There is quite a bit of suspense as well.....
Very well written and now I know why Avi was such a popular author
December 5, 2020
1.5 stars. Not much happens and it's boring. And I'm guessing Avi had never been around babies before writing this because they definitely react to being played with before 4.5 ish months.
December 10, 2023
3.25 stars
(Almost) 13-year old Maggie’s parents are divorced and live across the country from each other. In the summer, right around her birthday, Maggie heads from Seattle, where she lives with her mom, for a holiday with her dad – this year at a lake near Boston. When she arrives, she learns a few things about her dad from her stepmom, Joanna – things that worry them both. Maggie also has a new baby stepsister, and she becomes fascinated with a great blue heron that she sees on the lake most mornings.
This is a good children’s book. I wasn’t thrilled with some of the “crap” Joanna piled onto Maggie. Joanna was nice and was dealing with her own issues, but I was not impressed that she dragged Maggie into some of those things, at only 13 years old. The nature descriptions were very nice.
(Almost) 13-year old Maggie’s parents are divorced and live across the country from each other. In the summer, right around her birthday, Maggie heads from Seattle, where she lives with her mom, for a holiday with her dad – this year at a lake near Boston. When she arrives, she learns a few things about her dad from her stepmom, Joanna – things that worry them both. Maggie also has a new baby stepsister, and she becomes fascinated with a great blue heron that she sees on the lake most mornings.
This is a good children’s book. I wasn’t thrilled with some of the “crap” Joanna piled onto Maggie. Joanna was nice and was dealing with her own issues, but I was not impressed that she dragged Maggie into some of those things, at only 13 years old. The nature descriptions were very nice.
March 26, 2018
The Blue Heron was a Fictional Book Written by Avon Flare. The author of this book had many points throughout the book that applied to many people’s lives today. Some points the author could be trying to get across is the reality of family life, how people deal with their struggles, and the actions taken at home in the hard situations. He had many situations where different family members dealt with the loss of jobs, divorce, and what a kid’s perspective would be in divorce situations.
In the beginning, the author portrays the story mostly from the kid’s perspective. A young girl 13 years old is traveling from her mother's house, across America, to stay at an old cabin by a pond for a month-long vacation. While on the vacation she finds a Blue Heron bird. Over time she begins to like the bird and think it magical. While staying at the vacation cabin, there is a notion that her father has this mystery illness which he will not talk about. The Blue Heron is a book full of wonder and mystery that has many new turns of events throughout the book.
One Specific character from The Blue Heron is the stepmother Joanna. She is unknown in the beginning, but her characteristics come out towards the ending of the book. She is kind and wants to get to know her new husband’s child better. Throughout The Blue Heron, she has difficulties with her husband. There is always the uncertainty of holding their marriage. This character will come out saying something unexpected and change the direction of the story. I can relate this character to my aunts. Always quiet and charming, but will come out sometimes and say something unexpected.
This book would be described as unique but with some usual things that authors put in books. Such as family tragedy and situations where characters think more than saying things. It was not the most interesting book I have ever read but had some good points that I could apply to in my own life. Most of The Blue Heron had the characters thinking of what to do or say. To me, it was boring and not so interactive. I disagree with most of the author's choices as to how he had each character respond to the difficulties happening within the family. At some points, Joanna would go to church. At one point in the book, she brought her stepdaughter. I did not agree when she said she chose to go to that specific church because of the looks instead of a church that believed what she did. At another point Joanna and her husband had become distanced from each other and Joanna is scared to talk to him. To have a good marriage relationship you need to communicate with your spouse and not keep secrets from them. If you distance yourself, distrust will begin to crumple your relationship and never talking about deeper meaning thoughts or situations can thin the relationship between the two. The author does change this so there will be a distance between the two to create another conflict, but in situations like those, no one should ever come to the point where they would be scared of their partner because of distrust.
Because of the lengthy contemplations the characters had and the lack of events happening sooner throughout the book, The Blue Heron seemed to lack the potential to enforce emotions in me while I read it. To the people who need action-packed books to stay entertained while reading, I would not recommend it. Also, I would not recommend it to anyone because of the lack of emotion it enforces and because it is not engaging.
In the beginning, the author portrays the story mostly from the kid’s perspective. A young girl 13 years old is traveling from her mother's house, across America, to stay at an old cabin by a pond for a month-long vacation. While on the vacation she finds a Blue Heron bird. Over time she begins to like the bird and think it magical. While staying at the vacation cabin, there is a notion that her father has this mystery illness which he will not talk about. The Blue Heron is a book full of wonder and mystery that has many new turns of events throughout the book.
One Specific character from The Blue Heron is the stepmother Joanna. She is unknown in the beginning, but her characteristics come out towards the ending of the book. She is kind and wants to get to know her new husband’s child better. Throughout The Blue Heron, she has difficulties with her husband. There is always the uncertainty of holding their marriage. This character will come out saying something unexpected and change the direction of the story. I can relate this character to my aunts. Always quiet and charming, but will come out sometimes and say something unexpected.
This book would be described as unique but with some usual things that authors put in books. Such as family tragedy and situations where characters think more than saying things. It was not the most interesting book I have ever read but had some good points that I could apply to in my own life. Most of The Blue Heron had the characters thinking of what to do or say. To me, it was boring and not so interactive. I disagree with most of the author's choices as to how he had each character respond to the difficulties happening within the family. At some points, Joanna would go to church. At one point in the book, she brought her stepdaughter. I did not agree when she said she chose to go to that specific church because of the looks instead of a church that believed what she did. At another point Joanna and her husband had become distanced from each other and Joanna is scared to talk to him. To have a good marriage relationship you need to communicate with your spouse and not keep secrets from them. If you distance yourself, distrust will begin to crumple your relationship and never talking about deeper meaning thoughts or situations can thin the relationship between the two. The author does change this so there will be a distance between the two to create another conflict, but in situations like those, no one should ever come to the point where they would be scared of their partner because of distrust.
Because of the lengthy contemplations the characters had and the lack of events happening sooner throughout the book, The Blue Heron seemed to lack the potential to enforce emotions in me while I read it. To the people who need action-packed books to stay entertained while reading, I would not recommend it. Also, I would not recommend it to anyone because of the lack of emotion it enforces and because it is not engaging.
January 30, 2019
"How do you deal with someone who just does not care what they do?" (pg. 108) This seems to be the overarching theme of the book. Everyone seems to have a case of the don't cares.
This was a hard book to rate. Probably closer to 2.5. It likely would have earned 3 stars, but the adults were so ridiculously dumb I couldn't give it that last .5.
I appreciated the theme of Maggie beginning the tender process of figuring out who she is and I liked how Avi used the blue heron as a reflection of Maggie. All that was lovely. The nature scenes were beautifully written as well. I can't help but wonder if most young readers wouldn't just skip all the descriptive text, but I enjoyed it.
The problems? The people surrounding Maggie were pretty terrible. The awkward relationship between Joanna and Maggie's Dad was uncomfortable from the start but as it continues it just becomes abusive. Not only is Maggie's Dad "a bully" as she calls him, but Joanna's treatment of Maggie borders on abusive as well. And the bully? Uggg. What a gross human. The end didn't put a salve on the gaslighting and neglect either. Tucker had some redeeming qualities, but his brokenness wasn't fully explored, just mentioned in a few scenes. Some character development there would have been nice. Even the nurse was a bad adult. Yuck!
This might be the sort of read that requires a specific audience to truly appreciate it. I don't think I would encourage my students to read it. Lots of potential. Poor execution.
Fun fact, Avi and I are birthday twins.
This was a hard book to rate. Probably closer to 2.5. It likely would have earned 3 stars, but the adults were so ridiculously dumb I couldn't give it that last .5.
I appreciated the theme of Maggie beginning the tender process of figuring out who she is and I liked how Avi used the blue heron as a reflection of Maggie. All that was lovely. The nature scenes were beautifully written as well. I can't help but wonder if most young readers wouldn't just skip all the descriptive text, but I enjoyed it.
The problems? The people surrounding Maggie were pretty terrible. The awkward relationship between Joanna and Maggie's Dad was uncomfortable from the start but as it continues it just becomes abusive. Not only is Maggie's Dad "a bully" as she calls him, but Joanna's treatment of Maggie borders on abusive as well. And the bully? Uggg. What a gross human. The end didn't put a salve on the gaslighting and neglect either. Tucker had some redeeming qualities, but his brokenness wasn't fully explored, just mentioned in a few scenes. Some character development there would have been nice. Even the nurse was a bad adult. Yuck!
This might be the sort of read that requires a specific audience to truly appreciate it. I don't think I would encourage my students to read it. Lots of potential. Poor execution.
Fun fact, Avi and I are birthday twins.
September 5, 2008
A good look at our environment from the point of view of a young girl coming of age and visiting w/Her father and new wife.
I would put this book alongside "The Lorax" and Rachel Carson, "Silent Spring".
Also "The Snow Falcon" and the one about the girl/boy w/lived and was helped by a Badger.
I have seen Whooping Cranes in the ponds near my home hear in Kentucky and I remember the loons in Minnesota. A very lonely sound made by these creatures.
Also the young lady and how she learned to cooperate w/her stepmother.
I would put this book alongside "The Lorax" and Rachel Carson, "Silent Spring".
Also "The Snow Falcon" and the one about the girl/boy w/lived and was helped by a Badger.
I have seen Whooping Cranes in the ponds near my home hear in Kentucky and I remember the loons in Minnesota. A very lonely sound made by these creatures.
Also the young lady and how she learned to cooperate w/her stepmother.
August 20, 2022
I first read this book with my 4th grade class. It left such an impact on me that when I remembered it recently, I had to go for a re-read. The introspective narrator is a delight, and suits the pace of the summer vacation we're reading about. Though this is an easily-digestible children's book, the narrator offers a very mature perspective of her emotions and the emotions of the people around her. The constant references to fictional magic and the personal magic of seeing the blue heron were huge to me as a kid obsessed with fantasy, and just as impactful today
October 21, 2025
I'm not sure how much I like the term "coming of age", but this book definitely fits the description. I was surprised by how mature and how real this book got. Maggie is a 12-year-old girl going on summer vacation to visit her dad, who is inadvertently thrust into a stressful domestic situation that's tricky to navigate, demanding from her maturity, patience, and the assumption of responsibilities that are a turning point into her teen years.
The characters were thoroughly flawed, the conversations were real - violent and emotional, and the situation is probably one to which a lot of teens will relate: a remarried dad, a new baby, a stepmom, health problems, and awkward visitation. Maggie seeks peace in the marsh where she tracks and befriends a blue heron, a being to which she pins her hopes that August.
This is a very strange and a haunting book. I was really surprised by the deep emotional turf this story traversed. For that alone, this one will struck me and will likely stay with me.
The characters were thoroughly flawed, the conversations were real - violent and emotional, and the situation is probably one to which a lot of teens will relate: a remarried dad, a new baby, a stepmom, health problems, and awkward visitation. Maggie seeks peace in the marsh where she tracks and befriends a blue heron, a being to which she pins her hopes that August.
This is a very strange and a haunting book. I was really surprised by the deep emotional turf this story traversed. For that alone, this one will struck me and will likely stay with me.
November 29, 2022
I have mentioned before that Avi can be hit or miss with me and this one was primarily a miss. The characters were never developed and the protagonist is really the only one in the book who is not an idiot. That idea always bothers me. Even the characters who barely make an appearance are idiots. It is also dated which will frustrate some young readers. It would have earned only one star from me rather than two except for that gorgeous heron and the fact that the protagonist gains much from her time meditating around the bird. There are many better books that would help young people deal with the themes of divorce, illness, and stepparents and step-siblings.
There was one quote worth noting!
"Punning is a form of humor that requires a linguistic skill that few people have. Ergo, they belittle puns so as to hide their ignorance. In short, jealousy." (HA! I couldn't have said it better myself!)
There was one quote worth noting!
"Punning is a form of humor that requires a linguistic skill that few people have. Ergo, they belittle puns so as to hide their ignorance. In short, jealousy." (HA! I couldn't have said it better myself!)
September 25, 2020
Blue heron is a story talking about this heron that a girl want to save from being killed. She went on a trip to see her dad and his new family. While being there she goes outside somewhere open and being there she saw the blue heron and saw that someone shot something to the bird. There she saw a old house and decided to knock there shell find a boy and become buddies. Later on she learns that her dad also needs to take medicine and that takes a toll on her. By the end of the story everything goes good and the bird wasn't killed. Blue heron is a good book, and im not one for reading but this book made me want to read it again
October 21, 2020
"Do you still like fantasy and magic as much as you used to?" her father asked.
"I suppose," [Maggie] replied.
"You're old enough to know it's just escapism."
"What's that mean?"
"It's kind of cheap, easy, and mostly on-the-sly religion."
"I like magic."
"Okay. Why?"
Maggie had an image of herself flying into Providence wishing her father was the same as he had been. It had not worked, of course. Suddenly she knew she had misunderstood the purpose of magic.
"Come on. Why do you like magic?" her father repeated.
"You always told me to," she replied, stalling so as to think out her new thoughts.
"That was then. You're older. What's in it for you now?"
"I used to think magic could keep things -- you know -- so they wouldn't change."
"And now?"
Maggie, trying to catch up with her own ideas, considered for a moment. Then she said, "I guess it has nothing to do with changing. See, the marsh isn't magic. But -- if you *think* of it as magic, you see it ... differently." Even as she spoke, Maggie could see the heron. "Right. It's a different way of seeing."
"Seeing what?"
"What else there is."
"I suppose," [Maggie] replied.
"You're old enough to know it's just escapism."
"What's that mean?"
"It's kind of cheap, easy, and mostly on-the-sly religion."
"I like magic."
"Okay. Why?"
Maggie had an image of herself flying into Providence wishing her father was the same as he had been. It had not worked, of course. Suddenly she knew she had misunderstood the purpose of magic.
"Come on. Why do you like magic?" her father repeated.
"You always told me to," she replied, stalling so as to think out her new thoughts.
"That was then. You're older. What's in it for you now?"
"I used to think magic could keep things -- you know -- so they wouldn't change."
"And now?"
Maggie, trying to catch up with her own ideas, considered for a moment. Then she said, "I guess it has nothing to do with changing. See, the marsh isn't magic. But -- if you *think* of it as magic, you see it ... differently." Even as she spoke, Maggie could see the heron. "Right. It's a different way of seeing."
"Seeing what?"
"What else there is."
January 2, 2021
This has been on my list for a while.
Gentle YA book - Maggie (13) is visiting her father who she has only seen occasionally since their divorce when she was 6 years old. Her father has remarried, and Maggie will stay with Joanna and their new baby at a log cabin on a lake. Maggie forges a relationship with Joanna, while realizing that her father is not well, and his relationship with Joanna is not good.
Throughout it all, Maggie is fascinated by the great blue heron that she sees each day on the lake. She sees the bird as magic, and works to save it from a local boy intent on harming it. While trying to save the bird, will Maggie magically save her family?
Gentle YA book - Maggie (13) is visiting her father who she has only seen occasionally since their divorce when she was 6 years old. Her father has remarried, and Maggie will stay with Joanna and their new baby at a log cabin on a lake. Maggie forges a relationship with Joanna, while realizing that her father is not well, and his relationship with Joanna is not good.
Throughout it all, Maggie is fascinated by the great blue heron that she sees each day on the lake. She sees the bird as magic, and works to save it from a local boy intent on harming it. While trying to save the bird, will Maggie magically save her family?
May 27, 2024
(From the dusty shelf) This one had more to it than I was expecting....the protagonist's dad is not only lying about some very important things (his employment status, his health) but he's also a world-class jerk. His very young second wife (stepmother to the main character) ends up being the person you are cheering for by the end of the book. Like some other books by Avi, this one doesn't wrap up neatly and I liked that.
I didn't love the book - partly because I just wasn't that into the main character's obsession with the blue heron - but it did make me think a lot about relationships. It could potentially be a good school book club choice because of all the fodder for discussion.
I didn't love the book - partly because I just wasn't that into the main character's obsession with the blue heron - but it did make me think a lot about relationships. It could potentially be a good school book club choice because of all the fodder for discussion.
March 6, 2021
This started as a read aloud to my middle schoolers but it moved too slowly for them. I used it as practice to increase my reading speed and found it to be very slow moving and depressing. I’ve decided (based off of this and prior reading) that I don’t particularly enjoy Avi and won’t be trying to understand what I’m missing with any more of his books unless they just come highly recommended. Sometimes you just don’t mesh with an author and that is okay.
My Rating: PG due to more mature themes (divorce, alcoholism, illness, abuse) Age 11+
My Rating: PG due to more mature themes (divorce, alcoholism, illness, abuse) Age 11+
August 6, 2021
I was not sure what to expect with this book, but I really enjoyed it. I appreciated the introspective 13? year old girl who acts as the main character and narrator. I could definitely identify with her, and it speaks to many common emotions that teenagers tend to struggle with (and adults too!).
The two reasons I did not give this book a 5 star rating is because I would have liked more of a plot, and the ending felt unfinished, which I tend to not appreciate it.
The two reasons I did not give this book a 5 star rating is because I would have liked more of a plot, and the ending felt unfinished, which I tend to not appreciate it.
December 19, 2024
I read this book when I was in elementary and have always remembered loving it and it being the book that got me liking mysteries. So I gave it a listen, and as an adult now, I’m not sure what to think. Maybe because as a kid I didn’t understand a lot of the dynamics playing out but sheesh there are a lot of heavy topics crammed into this one. Things like divorce, cheating, lying, passive manipulative, aggression, bouts of anger/rage, death, mild child abuse (slapping across the face), and life and death situations. I don’t know. The young female character was exposed to all of this and a lot just didn’t sit well with me. Makes me kind of sad now because this was a cherished childhood memory and it’s kind of been ruined now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2022
The concept, the characters, the setting, all fantastic! The writing was just too simple for my liking. I know it’s middle grade, but I’ve read lots of MG that have been very lyrics and poetic and descriptive. That’s the kind of writing I really dig. If this could have been a bit more like that, I would have really enjoyed a bit more!
June 3, 2022
I read this as a child and it was one of those impactful books I thought about my whole life. So I finally bought it to reread it as an adult. Sometimes books don’t hold up to the magic they had as a child, but this one did. It doesn’t get neatly tied up at the end, but I think that’s part of the point of the whole thing. Acceptance and nature and life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2022
I had to read it in 7th grade for a project and my god was it so boring and it may have been because at that age I was reading at a highschool level and was used to romance in novels but wtf I read the whole book for her to caress his face? It wasn't worth it but at least she got to see her fucking heron
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2019
I read this when it was published and I was 10, and I loved it. Rereading it now in my mid-30s, I don't know what I liked about it. Whether it doesn't stand the test of time or I'm just not the right demographic for it anymore, I can't say. But I don't think I'll ever read this one again.
October 21, 2023
You know, I miss middle school books like this. This feels so different then MG and YA books today in a way that feels very nostalgic. It somehow manages to feel peaceful even though there's some serious issues dealt with and things aren't exactly resolved.
December 5, 2023
I was reading it to see if I should give it to my 12 year old granddaughter and have decided no. I realize many kids have ‘steps’ but that is not the case for her and the angst in the book is a little heavy and weird for someone who is young and lives a happy life.
August 28, 2017
i enjoyed this book.
June 21, 2020
What a book to read over father's day weekend.
#relateable
Maggie and the heron are loveable. Almost 4 stars.
#relateable
Maggie and the heron are loveable. Almost 4 stars.
December 10, 2020
This was written for middle school age kids, but I found it quite nicely done. I like how the heron is the star of the book (for me!).
September 24, 2021
2.5. Well written, but nothing significant really happens.
February 2, 2023
This involved some heavy issues placed upon a young girl. There was some swearing, reliance on superstitious magic and a father that needed to grow up.
August 18, 2024
Gee, I can’t figure this book out. It feels like there were adult issues being worked out in the book.
August 27, 2024
Extraordinary, unique, emotional, calming, & an amazing read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews