The Truth According to Blue

by Eve Yohalem

A heartfelt middle grade adventure about one girl's search for sunken treasure, friendship, and her place in the world.Thirteen-year-old Blue Broen is on the hunt for a legendary ship of gold, lost centuries ago when her ancestors sailed to New York. Blue knows her overprotective parents won't approve of her mission to find their family's long-lost fortune, so she keeps it a secret from everyone except her constant companion, Otis, an 80-pound diabetic alert dog. But it's hard to keep things quiet with rival treasure hunters on the loose, and with Blue's reputation as the local poster child for a type 1 diabetes fundraiser. Blue's quest gets even harder when she's forced to befriend Jules, the brainy but bratty daughter of a vacationing movie star who arrives on the scene and won't leave Blue alone. While Blue initially resents getting stuck with this spoiled seventh grade stranger, Jules soon proves Blue's not the only one who knows about secrets -- and adventure.Will Blue unravel a three hundred year-old family mystery, learn to stand up for herself, and find the missing treasure? Or is she destined to be nothing more than "diabetes girl" forever?

Genres: Middle Grade, Adventure, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Childrens, Juvenile, Womens

353 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 12, 2020

About the author

I write books for kids. My newest book, The Truth According to Blue, is about a treasure-hunting girl and her diabetic alert dog. I also wrote Cast Off: The Strange Adventures of Petra De Winter and Bram Broen, Escape Under the Forever Sky, and a series of funny short stories for younger readers, called Grandpa Hates the Bird.

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five treasure hunting in the Hamptons stars for this new middle grade novel from Eve Yohalem. Blue (short for Bluebell) is determined to find the treasure that her Pop Pop told her about. When Blue's ancestors sailed to America in the mid 17th century, their ship the Golden Lion sunk in Sag Harbor. The gold bars that were on the ship to make the payroll were never found. Accompanying Blue are her diabetes service dog Otis and her new summer friend Jules. The three face many obstacles including dealing with Blue's diabetes, their youth, the billionaire looking for the same treasure, and more. . . It is a book that manages to be both character and plot driven in a satisfyingly balanced way. Blue learns boatloads about being a good friend and the real meaning of treasure. Like her Pop Pop used to say: "What's important isn't preserving mysteries; it's seeking out new ones." 'Otis is a treasure in and of himself. His abilities as a service dog for Blue are phenomenal and I was amazed by his skills. I enjoyed this book so much I now I want to read "Castoff" which was written be Yohalem years ago about those 17th century great-greats.

Thank you to Little, Brown Books and Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one! Great story about a young girl, her loyal dog, and a movie-star’s daughter who go on a quest to find some long-buried treasure. Blue, the narrator, is diabetic, and relies on her service dog Otis to help monitor her sugar levels, which he does in amazing ways! Jules just wants to be a normal kid for once, not “Jules Butterby the movie star’s kid.” The two girls connect over the project of trying to recover treasure from a shipwreck that happened to Blue’s ancestors in the 1600s.
The information about diabetes given by Blue was very interesting; you could really sympathize for her and her parents as they struggle to manage her condition. The True Facts at each chapter beginning were also a good touch! I really think middle-grade readers, girls and boys alike, would get into this book. I highly recommend it!

[Mid-Continent Public Library]

Five treasure hunting in the Hamptons stars for this new middle grade novel from Eve Yohalem. Blue (short for Bluebell) is determined to find the treasure that her Pop Pop told her about. When Blue's ancestors sailed to America in the mid 17th century, their ship the Golden Lion sunk in Sag Harbor. The gold bars that were on the ship to make the payroll were never found. Accompanying Blue are her diabetes service dog Otis and her new summer friend Jules. The three face many obstacles including dealing with Blue's diabetes, their youth, the billionaire looking for the same treasure, and more. . . It is a book that manages to be both character and plot driven in a satisfyingly balanced way. Blue learns boatloads about being a good friend and the real meaning of treasure. Like her Pop Pop used to say: "What's important isn't preserving mysteries; it's seeking out new ones." 'Otis is a treasure in and of himself. His abilities as a service dog for Blue are phenomenal and I was amazed by his skills. I enjoyed this book so much I now I want to read "Castoff" which was written by Yohalem years ago about those 17th century great-greats.
*Reviewed by Darla from Red Bridge*

[Shelby Bethke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit of a slow start, but around 50 pages this became a rollercoaster! Loved the adventure and the representation. Somehow I don't think I've ever read a book with a diabetic character and now I need loads more service dog bonding in my life ❤️

[Evangaline Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book especially since Blue has diabetes and she tells you stuff about diabetes and that her dog Otis who helps with her diabetes and she makes a friend Jules and they are on a adventure and that Blue shows that diabetic people can do anything their heart desires

[Jora · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is good-to-very-good, but not super extraordinary. Still, it's original, and fun to read. I learned a lot about juvenile diabetes from reading it. I would recommend it to kids ages 9-12 specifically, but can't anyone enjoy juvenile fiction?

Similar books:

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling (very good)

The Wonder of Lost Causes by Nick Trout (sort of similar; very good)

[Ella K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book back in July, but I started reading other books and also got busy with volleyball and didn't really have time to read.
But this book was actually really good once I sat down and dedicated time to reading.
Blue is such a relatable character with her struggles. While I don't have diabetes, I know people that have it. I always assumed it was something that wasn't that hard to manage since the people I knew that had it did not make a big deal about it. But I found out that diabetes can be something that is hard to manage and very important.
I also think that this book has very interesting elements in it such as the treasure hunt. I mean, there are plenty of treasure-hunt based books, but what makes this one so interesting is that they're looking for her family's treasure. Not some treasure hunt from pirates or some famous person who has died. Her families. This makes this book much more personal and the feelings of loss throughout the book as Fitz continues to stop her from finding it is much deeper then if it was someone that she did not know .
I also thought that Jules was such a fun and interesting character. She really added flavor to the book and I loved her character arch. When we first meet her, she seems like your typical famous & rich kid. Selfish. Doesn't really understand the meaning of spending money. Uses her father as a way to do things. But.... as we continue to know her, we find out that being someone's kid- famous someone- can be hard. She deals with her father not having time to spend with him and she gets recognized as her fathers daughter, not herself. She also doesn't like her fathers girlfriend and doesn't like that her parents divorced. We grow to love Jules because she is actually nicer then she seems
Otis is such a nice dog and he seems like a great dog to have, so I love that part. This book also feels very summery, which is nice because I read it during the summer.
Overall, I love this book!

[Princess Night · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartwarming story about a girl with diabetes and a famous actor daughter embarks on an adventure for treasure lost 350 years ago. Blue feels like she has to do something incredible to be known more as a diabetic girl and Jules is not a snob, she is just a famous actor daughter living in fame and family problems. Together, towards the end Jules problems gets solved and Blue overcame her doubt in herself and learned that being herself is something special. I love how the author wrote from a diabetic point of view and she did a good job expressing the character.

I laughed so much at the end. What a plot twist who would have known the treasure was in the house the whole time. Their adventure throughout the story wasn't pointless though. It thought the two characters many valuable lessons. I wish the author would have explained more about the treasure story but I understand why she didn't. In every chapter something new happens and that is why this story held my interest to the end. Love it. ❤

[vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun book I was reading for a work project... it's mostly a story about treasure hunting and managing diabetes as a child, with the help of a medical alert dog. The treasure hunting is of course over the top and dramatic, with the characters lying, scheming, and committing felonies, but for the right reasons (civil disobedience, they end up calling it lol). The dog and health stuff does shine here. The main character makes a friend with someone whose dad is famous and that relationship dynamic is a bit flat and predictable. The plot gets bogged down halfway, but ends on a good note. Overall, it was a good time, but apart from discussion about the grandfather, it probably missed the emotional impact I need in my middle grade.

[Liza · Rating 4 out of 5]

A enjoyable read from start to finish(except for a bit near the end).

Jules took some time to get better but I was expecting it so it wasn't a deal breaker. I loved how the book focused on Blue's diabetes and really gave kids a first hand look to what really goes on with someone that has it from birth.

What I didn't like was the whole section with the kids being allowed to ignore a detest order with possible involvement of court. Like I understand that this is for kids but the book has been super realistic with the diabetic stuff that how this was resolved felt really out of place.

[~just one hopeless romantic~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story about a young girl, her adorable helpful dog, and a daughter of a super star on a journey to find long lost treasure! I personally think this book is my best read yet! I really hope you enjoyed it too! 😻😻😻😻😻👍👍👍🤩🤩🤩🤩😄😄😄😄😍😍😍😍😊😊😊😊

[Julie Sternberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a marvelous book! Full of adventure and heart, with fascinating details about everything from diabetes to shipwrecks--and a dog to love forever.

[Elise - ABook&ACup · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect middle-grade summer read: treasure hunt, family and friendship + very informative on diabetes and what it is to live with it!

[Michele Knott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blue is on a mission this summer. She's determined to find the long lost treasure that belongs to her family. Her grandfather was always searching for it, and he made sure Blue knew the details before he passed away. It's the start of summer and Blue is ready to begin. But first she has to make sure her blood sugar is stable enough to be out on the water. That's because Blue has diabetes. And she has her trusty dog, Otis, to help her constantly monitor it. She's even the poster child for the local diabetes fundraiser. And speaking of that, a supporter is a big wig director who has a daughter, Jules, that is just about Blue's age. Before Blue can say "diabetes stinks", she's stuck with stuck-up Jules for the summer. But maybe, just maybe, they can be friends and find the treasure.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A diabetic protagonist with a pump!! So here for it. (Although she seemed to go swimming a lot without taking her pump off, which I'm sure would only be noticeable to me/other diabetics with tubed pumps, but I definitely did notice it.) This had a lot of really great Diabetes Content that—for the most part—really resonated with me. I was pretty sure while reading that a. the author wasn't diabetic but b. had experience with someone who was (and at least b. was confirmed in the acknowledgements), which on the whole made for a pretty realistic portrayal. Also, it had treasure! Adventure! Friendship! A loyal diabetic alert dog! What more could you want from a book?

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed The Truth According to Blue! It was a little slow in the beginning, but the friendship, nautical-treasure-hunting adventure, and thoughtful diabetes portrayal pulled me in. The setting and characters are well-developed, and I was glad to learn more about what happened to Petra and Bram from this author's Cast Off. Well done!

EDIT: Just remembered to note that this does contain some mild swears. Probably better for the upper end of MG.

[Sudalu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put this book down

[Leeknowscatsitter]

I wish only the best for my favorite treasure hunters, Blue and Jules!! 10/10, would love to pet Otis IRL

[The Book Nerd's Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A summery middle grade adventure featuring a sunken treasure, history in the making, and a pretty adorable diabetic-alert dog named Otis.

Blue Broen has one goal for the summer: find the remains of the Golden Lion, a ship that her ancestors sailed to America on that unfortunately wrecked before reaching the shore. Blue is determined to find the fortune that was aboard the ship when it sank, even if it means lying to her parents about what she is truly up to that summer. Blue's plans go a bit askew when her parents force her to hang out with a Hollywood brat by the name of Jules. Not only does Blue have to worry about managing her diabetes, she also has to worry about babysitting this Los Angeles girl who knows absolutely nothing about boats or treasure hunting. Can Blue and her companions find the treasure before the summer is up or will someone unexpected beat them to it?

I was honestly surprised by how much I liked this book. I thought the summer vibes were impeccable and that the treasure hunt plot line was quite fun. Blue and Jules make some really dumb decisions when it comes to their treasure hunting endeavor, but it was still entertaining to follow their journey nonetheless. When a professional treasure hunter shows up, the stakes are raised and it added a level of suspense to the book that I really wasn't expecting.

My favorite part about this story is how both Blue and Jules work towards overcoming their outward image that others shackle them with. Blue has long time been known as "Diabetes Girl" and feels the burden of her condition. Not only do some people not see her as a person, but she also worries about the strain (both mentally and financially) that being diabetic puts on her parents. I thought that being diabetic was presented in such a positive light in this book, and I learned quite a bit about the things that go into having diabetes. Jules lives in the shadow of her father Ed, who is a famous LA actor. Everywhere she goes, people see her as the daughter of someone famous rather than a young girl who has her own values and personality. I think it was neat that these two both went through a journey of self-discovery and redefining their images during this summer in which they are looking for treasure.

It's super neat that "The Truth According to Blue" is connected back to Yohalem's previous novel "Cast Off: The Strange Adventures of Petra De Winter and Bram Broen." Petra and Bram are Blue's ancestors and are mentioned quite heavily in this novel. I would be very curious to dive into the backstory of Blue's great great (however many great) grandparents in this previous novel. Hopefully I can get my hands on that book someday!

I really liked the ending. It wasn't super original, but it also wasn't the most obviously option either. I think it was cool how the treasure was approached in the very end of this story. I was quite satisfied by the conclusion of this book and am happy to report that I enjoyed this novel quite a bit.

Overall, "The Truth According to Blue" was a fun, summery read featuring some inclusive characters, entertaining insights, and self-discovery for days. I haven't been reading as much middle grade books as of late, but I'm glad that I took a chance on this one.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five gigantic stars for this funny, moving, exciting and completely satisfying book! I listened to this outstanding story on audio and I got a whole house and garden full of extra chores completed just so I had an excuse to keep on listening!

Blue is 13, school is out and she has a secret plan for her summer - hunting for a family treasure her grandfather had spent his life looking for. Pop Pop has passed away recently and Blue's Dad won't even talk about any hint of the treasure being real. Blue has another reason to find the treasure. Blue has juvenile diabetes and she desperately wants something more than being seen as Diabetes Girl, especially as she is the actual poster child for a huge Diabetes fund raiser being held at the estate of a famous movie star.

Blue is careful and responsible about her illness. She tests regularly, pays attention to her numbers and to her service dog Otis. She can hardly wait to get out on the water and start the search when two huge obstacles enter the picture. Jules, the incredibly spoiled daughter of the movie star becomes Blue's responsibility to take along and a famous greedy treasure hunter arrives searching for Blue's treasure!

For the first time, Blue finds herself keeping big secrets from her parents and taking some serious risks. Is the treasure worth losing their trust?

Endearing characters and a really exciting plot were the high points of the book for me but there are a lot of additional elements that added interest and heart to the story. Blue and Jules are terrific characters, each yearning for the chance to be more than the labels people stuck on them. Blue's voice is terrific especially and I loved the depiction of a responsible kid trying to do the right thing while making some big mistakes. There is a lot of information about juvenile diabetes woven into the book very skillfully and Blue's condition is just one piece of who she is. Every reader will fall for Otis. There is also a lot of interesting history, some information on boating and scuba diving and a setting that makes an intriguing backdrop.

I was rooting for Blue and Jules all the way, cringing at some of their mistakes and smiling at the girls' growth and developing friendship. The satisfying and surprising ending was the icing on the cake. It was lovely to see such a wonderful parent/child relationship portrayed too.

This book had it all and I loved every word! Yay for Blue, Jules, Otis and Eve Yohalem!

[Jessica (readalongwithjess) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐️ to The Truth According to Blue by Eve Yohalem

Oh, man! This was such a fun Middle Grade series! Thank you again to Hachette Canada for sending me a copy for review!

This story captured my attention from the first pages, and I binged it in two reading sessions! Our MC, Blue, is a thirteen year old girl with a taste for adventure (treasure hunting, specifically) and she looks forward to another summer on her book searching for a family treasure her late Pop-Pop told her about. She is also dealing with her diabetes. Blue is determined to be completely responsible for managing it with the help of her alert dog (Otis), but it isn’t completely predictable and affects every aspect of her daily life. Enter Jules, who is visiting with her Dad for the summer. The girls are introduced, but because they really don’t have much in common they don’t quite get along at first. Eventually they start work together hunting for this treasure, which gets them talking about their own stories, and a bond forms. Their friendship felt quite realistic, and I appreciated how they supported each other through the hardships and danger they faced in the book. Speaking of which, I felt that the main antagonist could have been a little bit scarier or the tension between him and the girls could’ve been a bit more intense, but it was definitely done well and would keep a middle grade audience engaged. I also appreciated how diabetes was a central theme of the book (bringing more awareness to it ~ yay!), and how it followed the balance between sharing the blunt reality of it and also encourage freedom beyond those limitations. Otis was also a super fun addition to the cast, and brought attention to the amazing job support animals do for people with all sorts of disabilities.

If you’re at all a fan of middle grade adventures and treasure hunting, this is the book for you!

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huge thank you to Hachette Book Group Canada for a finished copy of this book!

I love stories that involve treasure hunting, similar to films like The Goonies. While The Truth According to Blue is not quite as intense or crazy as The Goonies, it's definitely a story about defying the odds when you have things in your life that are stacked against you. Blue is diabetic and learning to take control of her life because of this disease. She refuses to allow her diabeties to stop her from being a famed treasure hunter, just like her idle, Lara Croft of the Tomb Raider fame. She's got five treasures to find in the Hamptons, and nothing is going to stop Blue from getting them!

This book is such a delight to read. Blue is clever, funny, and so determined. She wants to show her friends and family how capable she is given many of them worry about her health. For readers who love adventure, this book has so much of it in spades and there's always something crazy happening when it comes to Blue and her attitude!

I also loved Blue's friendship with Jules, who does a fantastic job of not being a spoiled rich kid through the whole story. Jules grows as much as Blue does, which makes for great storytelling. If you are looking for a great middle grade story packed full of adventure with very determined characters and a super sweet and adorable service dog, consider checking out The Truth According to Blue!

[Kristiana Sfirlea · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE TRUTH ACCORDING TO BLUE was just the book to get me out of a reading slump a month or so ago. A determined heroine named Blue, her adorable diabetic alert dog, and a hunt for her family's long-lost treasure? Not to mention an enemies-to-frenemies-to-besties plot with a famous actor's stuck-up daughter, Jules, who actually ends up being amazing? This book was not my usual MG read, and I loved it! Since being on TPN 24/7 I've been wanting to read more books with characters who have serious health challenges. Gastroparesis isn't the same as diabetes, but I could still really relate to Blue's POV, and it brought me a lot of joy. There's also this line between her and Jules about being willing to pee on someone as the test of true friendship that cracked me up. Yup, this book is a treasure. 😄

[Wina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contemporary adventure for ages 8-12, I would put it at 9 or 10 to 13. There are crimes committed by the girls, and feelings they are dealing with that seems above 3rd grade-- and some history research, boat lingo (though explained), that make it challenging enough for the older readers. The book is in first person, and Blue's voice makes it very accessible to the younger readers. The reader, Ariana Cordero, does a good job with the voices and emotions, but her high/young timbre made it a tiny bit annoying for me as an adult. I could often forget about it, completely. This was a really good story, with excitement, disappointment, sadness, and growing up. Very happy ending. All the details of Blue's juvenile diabetes were so informative. I think it would be great for kids to know this. I really enjoyed it.

[JL Salty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: pg for teenager shenanigans: lying, life endangering decisions…
Recommend: tweens and young teens (MC are 13) with diabetes; treasure hunters; realistic fiction readers - no romance, no profanity

Strong sense of justice, loyalty, right and wrong throughout. Decisions made are not always stellar, but there is reality there, too. Parents exhibited on the good and clueless/selfish sides of the coin, but change is seen and reasonable.

I liked this book. I liked the opposites can be friends view, the justice in the end, the parents who listen to their kid but step in and help when things are not ok: these kids are not on their own, even though they choose to act alone through much of the book.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely contemporary adventure with sunken treasure, making friends, taking risks, and a diabetic alert dog. The main character Blue has diabetes, but she won't let that get in the way of having an adventure this summer. And this year she WILL find the treasure linked back to her family by 300 years! Maybe. If it even exists.

I enjoyed having a character who gets an animal companion for the whole book, and the treasure hunting plot kept me hooked. The story is told through Blue's perspective, and she has an excellent voice. You can feel her determination about finding the treasure, her frustration at her parents regarding her diabetes, and her dog Otis is always looking out for her.

[Laronda Blessing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet YA read. Blue is an endearing character as is Otis, her diabetic-alert dog. And I appreciated the chance to learn more about living with diabetes although at times it seems to be more of an educational book to that end than a story. It's a hard thing to balance, and honestly, I'm sure managing the disease is a major part of the lives of those with it. Intriguing search for a long-lost treasure, some fun family history, and a slightly type-cast villain/new best friend with a type cast dad, but overall enjoyable.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable middle school read. I picked this up to read because the main character has type 1 diabetes and I wanted to see how it was depicted in the book. The author really did a fabulous job capturing life with diabetes - probably the best I’ve read in getting it right and the feelings associated with managing a 24/7 chronic disease. 5 stars for diabetes portrayal and 4 stars overall for the story itself which felt a little too cliche, but then again I am not the main audience for this book.

[Beth Gawlik · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the mother of a child with type 1 diabetes I am always on the lookout for books featuring characters with T1D. Unfortunately, they're almost always poorly researched and present a ridiculously inaccurate picture of living with the condition. Blue's experience with T1D, in contrast, is spot on. Even without that connection, however, I would have fallen in love with Blue and her adventures. This book has action, history, family connections, and a reluctantly formed friendship, and all the elements together blend into a story that is hard to put down.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blue is a young teen with her heart set on finding the treasure her pop pop searched for his whole life. Summer brings a different adventure including becoming friends with a movie star’s daughter and her challenges with type 1 diabetes. Blue is smart and a little sassy. I enjoyed learning about how diabetic dogs do their wonderful work and how many ideas about diabetes are wrong. I learned empathy for those who have learned how to manage it. The story is a nice combination of adventure, relationships and knowledge about diabetes. 4th grade and up.