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Blue Running
Blue Running is a gripping coming-of-age thriller set in post-secessionist Texas.
Fourteen-year-old Bluebonnet Andrews is on the run across the Republic of Texas. An accident with a gun killed her best friend but everyone in the town of Blessing thinks it was murder. Even her father - the town's drunken deputy - believes she did it. Now, she has no choice but to run.
In Texas, murder is punishable by death. There's no one to help her. Her father is incapable and her mother left the state on the last flight to America before the secession. Blue doesn't know where she is but she's determined to track her down. First she has to get across the lawless Republic and over the wall that keeps everyone in. On the road she meets Jet, a pregnant young woman of Latin American heritage. Jet is secretive about her past but she's just as determined as Blue to get out of Texas before she's caught and arrested.
Together, the two form an unlikely kinship as they make their way past marauding motorcycle gangs, the ever watchful Texas Rangers, and armed strangers intent on abducting them - or worse. When Blue and Jet finally reach the wall, will they be able to cross the border, or will they be shot down in cold blood like the thousands who have gone before them? Some things are worth dying for.
Fourteen-year-old Bluebonnet Andrews is on the run across the Republic of Texas. An accident with a gun killed her best friend but everyone in the town of Blessing thinks it was murder. Even her father - the town's drunken deputy - believes she did it. Now, she has no choice but to run.
In Texas, murder is punishable by death. There's no one to help her. Her father is incapable and her mother left the state on the last flight to America before the secession. Blue doesn't know where she is but she's determined to track her down. First she has to get across the lawless Republic and over the wall that keeps everyone in. On the road she meets Jet, a pregnant young woman of Latin American heritage. Jet is secretive about her past but she's just as determined as Blue to get out of Texas before she's caught and arrested.
Together, the two form an unlikely kinship as they make their way past marauding motorcycle gangs, the ever watchful Texas Rangers, and armed strangers intent on abducting them - or worse. When Blue and Jet finally reach the wall, will they be able to cross the border, or will they be shot down in cold blood like the thousands who have gone before them? Some things are worth dying for.
334 pages, Hardcover
Published December 2, 2021
2 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
December 7, 2021
“When guns are law, nothing is forgiven”
In recent months, I have been commissioned to read so many books which have taken me way outside my comfort zone, but which have surprisingly turned out to be real game-changers for me. It has taught me that there should be no barriers to my reading – only time, which none of us can cheat!
Blue Running, had me visiting a Dystopian future, where Texas has seceded from the USA and formed a new independent Republic. Carrying firearms visibly, is law for over 14-year-olds. The internet doesn’t connect to anything outside of the Republic. The Wall between Texas and the US is guarded against ‘scalers’ at all times, and out of State air travel is now a thing of the past. Immigrants are not tolerated and exist on the margins of society, and abortion is illegal. Law enforcement is almost uniformly corrupt, despite God’s Truth being the new default. Motorcycle gangs, with ‘mother’ being the most feared, rule with extreme violence and hand out their own style of justice, sentence and retribution, almost with impunity.
A powerful, fearless, chilling and brutal work of future-world, cultural, literary fiction; this story hits the ground running and whilst the pace of the action never seems to be too frenetic or rushed, it is frighteningly and often sickeningly realistic in its mood anger and violence, moving along briskly, fluently and seamlessly, pulling no punches along the way. To give away anything about the ending would spoil the entire journey, this is a finale you need to read about for yourself, as it leaves Blue faced with the terrible dilemma of whether ‘blood truly is thicker than water’, an unenviable place to be for one so young!
This is essentially the unconventional and heart-breaking story of two teenage girls, from very different backgrounds, each with their own cross to bear and reasons for fleeing, but neither at fault for the individual predicaments they find themselves in; only knowing that if they stay in the Republic, their eventual fate is going to be final and permanent. Between them, they have been victim to and suffered so much in their young lives; from abandonment, neglect, wrongful arrest and abuse, to sexual assault and racism. They are destined to meet as their individual journey’s have just begun and against all the odds get along, agreeing to pool their resources and together undertake the desperately dangerous decision to cross the Wall into the US, whilst being pursued by both mob gangs and the law as they do so.
This unique, well-structured, multi-layered story, is intense and highly textured. It is rich in atmosphere and detail, totally immersive and has such excellent visual depth to the writing, that the pages almost came to life in my hands and I could imagine myself alongside Jet and Blue as they try to make good their escape, whilst not really wanting to be there, such was the aura of fear and stress which constantly surrounded them and often threatened to overwhelm them. There were one or two moments of quiet introspection as the girls each began to break down the barriers the other had placed around herself, getting to know one another and bonding. But those snatched minutes were few and far between and author Lori Ann knew just when to ratchet up the tension to another level, then the chase was on again, as danger was never far behind them.
The perceptive narrative and intuitive dialogue is completely mesmerising and disturbing, yet compelling in its naivety, which is its real strength, with nary a wasted word. The evolving relationship between Blue and Jet would be beautiful under normal circumstances, however dread, menace and despair, were their constant companions, so learning to trust one another was about as committed as it got for them.
Lori Ann has created a complete multi-faceted cast of characters, who are almost totally unrelatable to anyone from outside the Republic, who have little synergy or loyalty between them, who are not easy to connect with, and who spend all their waking hours desperately searching for that elusive sense of belonging and inclusion. Devoid of all heart and humour, they are emotionally starved, damaged and complex, deep but with no real depth of feeling. Living for the day, raw and vulnerable, yet totally unreliable and manipulative.
As a reader who was ‘listening’ to their voices, I felt no real connection to them, or between them, only a heartfelt sense of sorrow and anger, that in the future, parts of the ‘civilised’ world as I know it, might become so uncaring, insular and self-protectionist.
What makes reading such a wonderful experience, is that with every story, each reader is taken on a unique and individual journey towards a common outcome. A small handful of books are so difficult to define without that journey having been made personally, and this is one such story. So I recommend that you read this one for yourself and see where your journey leads you!
To check out my full review post, which contains some of my favourite extracts from the book and a lovely author bio. - visit...
https://www.fiction-books.biz/reviews...
In recent months, I have been commissioned to read so many books which have taken me way outside my comfort zone, but which have surprisingly turned out to be real game-changers for me. It has taught me that there should be no barriers to my reading – only time, which none of us can cheat!
Blue Running, had me visiting a Dystopian future, where Texas has seceded from the USA and formed a new independent Republic. Carrying firearms visibly, is law for over 14-year-olds. The internet doesn’t connect to anything outside of the Republic. The Wall between Texas and the US is guarded against ‘scalers’ at all times, and out of State air travel is now a thing of the past. Immigrants are not tolerated and exist on the margins of society, and abortion is illegal. Law enforcement is almost uniformly corrupt, despite God’s Truth being the new default. Motorcycle gangs, with ‘mother’ being the most feared, rule with extreme violence and hand out their own style of justice, sentence and retribution, almost with impunity.
A powerful, fearless, chilling and brutal work of future-world, cultural, literary fiction; this story hits the ground running and whilst the pace of the action never seems to be too frenetic or rushed, it is frighteningly and often sickeningly realistic in its mood anger and violence, moving along briskly, fluently and seamlessly, pulling no punches along the way. To give away anything about the ending would spoil the entire journey, this is a finale you need to read about for yourself, as it leaves Blue faced with the terrible dilemma of whether ‘blood truly is thicker than water’, an unenviable place to be for one so young!
This is essentially the unconventional and heart-breaking story of two teenage girls, from very different backgrounds, each with their own cross to bear and reasons for fleeing, but neither at fault for the individual predicaments they find themselves in; only knowing that if they stay in the Republic, their eventual fate is going to be final and permanent. Between them, they have been victim to and suffered so much in their young lives; from abandonment, neglect, wrongful arrest and abuse, to sexual assault and racism. They are destined to meet as their individual journey’s have just begun and against all the odds get along, agreeing to pool their resources and together undertake the desperately dangerous decision to cross the Wall into the US, whilst being pursued by both mob gangs and the law as they do so.
This unique, well-structured, multi-layered story, is intense and highly textured. It is rich in atmosphere and detail, totally immersive and has such excellent visual depth to the writing, that the pages almost came to life in my hands and I could imagine myself alongside Jet and Blue as they try to make good their escape, whilst not really wanting to be there, such was the aura of fear and stress which constantly surrounded them and often threatened to overwhelm them. There were one or two moments of quiet introspection as the girls each began to break down the barriers the other had placed around herself, getting to know one another and bonding. But those snatched minutes were few and far between and author Lori Ann knew just when to ratchet up the tension to another level, then the chase was on again, as danger was never far behind them.
The perceptive narrative and intuitive dialogue is completely mesmerising and disturbing, yet compelling in its naivety, which is its real strength, with nary a wasted word. The evolving relationship between Blue and Jet would be beautiful under normal circumstances, however dread, menace and despair, were their constant companions, so learning to trust one another was about as committed as it got for them.
Lori Ann has created a complete multi-faceted cast of characters, who are almost totally unrelatable to anyone from outside the Republic, who have little synergy or loyalty between them, who are not easy to connect with, and who spend all their waking hours desperately searching for that elusive sense of belonging and inclusion. Devoid of all heart and humour, they are emotionally starved, damaged and complex, deep but with no real depth of feeling. Living for the day, raw and vulnerable, yet totally unreliable and manipulative.
As a reader who was ‘listening’ to their voices, I felt no real connection to them, or between them, only a heartfelt sense of sorrow and anger, that in the future, parts of the ‘civilised’ world as I know it, might become so uncaring, insular and self-protectionist.
What makes reading such a wonderful experience, is that with every story, each reader is taken on a unique and individual journey towards a common outcome. A small handful of books are so difficult to define without that journey having been made personally, and this is one such story. So I recommend that you read this one for yourself and see where your journey leads you!
To check out my full review post, which contains some of my favourite extracts from the book and a lovely author bio. - visit...
https://www.fiction-books.biz/reviews...
May 17, 2023
"You never knew what people were capable of being. Life keeps you on your toes that way."
Blue Running by Lori Ann Stephens is one wild dystopian race to safety and hopefully to happiness. Fourteen-year-old Bluebonnet “Blue” Andrews is on the run after her friend, Maggie, is shot with Blue’s supposedly empty gun when she picks it up and offers to clean it for her. No one in Blessing in East Texas will ever believe Blue is innocent of killing her only friend, and her police deputy father can never stay sober long enough to help her or do anything but make their miserable lives even worse, every single day. But where will she go when Texas seceded years ago and is a Republic once again? Everyone over a certain age is required to visibly carry a gun, and traveling through the state is incredibly dangerous, and crossing any Texas border is next to impossible. But for Blue, staying in Texas is no longer an option, especially with everyone looking for her and with murderous gangs on the loose. Her desperate plan is to head west, maybe to California, to find her mother, who escaped Texas ten years ago before the border closed and before all flights into, out of, and around Texas were cancelled for good. Even Internet access to the world outside of Texas is highly secured by a firewall.
Blue’s flight from the law is briefly interrupted when she meets sixteen-year-old Jet, who is pregnant and also on the run. These girls quickly become allies and eventually friends as they navigate the Texas pitfalls together, taking a risk-filled, roundabout route toward El Paso, with an interesting and enlightening stop in Austin along the way. In Austin, Jet commissions Blue’s artistic skills to earn money to buy train tickets for the next leg of their journey, but not without some extra hardships thrown their way.
"But being calm is good. Calm people think. Calm people plan."
Blue Running is quite the dystopian accomplishment, filled with an in-depth plot and solid characterization. While survival on the run is a major theme, friendship is the true heart of the story. Blue and Jet are as opposite as can be, but they rely on each other to weather each storm and to keep moving toward the Texas border, never knowing if they will truly feel safe again. Lori Ann Stephens expertly captures the emotional rollercoaster of living in a world filled with evil and lawlessness but also filled with sympathetic hearts and helping hands.
"There are good people everywhere. They are just harder to find sometimes."
Texas in Blue Running is an explosive microcosm of some of today’s hot topics, such as rampant crime and illegal immigration (and emigration in this story), but still with a sliver of hope snaking across the rugged terrain and throughout the guarded cities. While suspense and thrilling action are definitely in the air throughout this story, the overall mood is somewhat melancholy, not only because Texas is wrapped in an overly heated dystopian blanket but because the two main characters, who are still so young and scared, are used, victimized, and hunted. That is the true dystopia: children who need and crave a safe and loving home but instead are running for their lives across a hostile land—hungry, tired, and afraid to trust.
Stephens presents a political and societal what-if tale like no other, using startling imagery, violence, intense fear, and some evil and misguided characters to highlight what could happen to our country, our cities, our children, and our very humanity if a seceded state is allowed to run amok and unchecked. At the end of Blue Running, Jet and Blue must make hard choices, experience excruciating loss and pain, and scale a heavily guarded border wall into New Mexico without getting gunned down before they can claim any semblance of victory, hope, and freedom.
I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.
Blue Running by Lori Ann Stephens is one wild dystopian race to safety and hopefully to happiness. Fourteen-year-old Bluebonnet “Blue” Andrews is on the run after her friend, Maggie, is shot with Blue’s supposedly empty gun when she picks it up and offers to clean it for her. No one in Blessing in East Texas will ever believe Blue is innocent of killing her only friend, and her police deputy father can never stay sober long enough to help her or do anything but make their miserable lives even worse, every single day. But where will she go when Texas seceded years ago and is a Republic once again? Everyone over a certain age is required to visibly carry a gun, and traveling through the state is incredibly dangerous, and crossing any Texas border is next to impossible. But for Blue, staying in Texas is no longer an option, especially with everyone looking for her and with murderous gangs on the loose. Her desperate plan is to head west, maybe to California, to find her mother, who escaped Texas ten years ago before the border closed and before all flights into, out of, and around Texas were cancelled for good. Even Internet access to the world outside of Texas is highly secured by a firewall.
Blue’s flight from the law is briefly interrupted when she meets sixteen-year-old Jet, who is pregnant and also on the run. These girls quickly become allies and eventually friends as they navigate the Texas pitfalls together, taking a risk-filled, roundabout route toward El Paso, with an interesting and enlightening stop in Austin along the way. In Austin, Jet commissions Blue’s artistic skills to earn money to buy train tickets for the next leg of their journey, but not without some extra hardships thrown their way.
"But being calm is good. Calm people think. Calm people plan."
Blue Running is quite the dystopian accomplishment, filled with an in-depth plot and solid characterization. While survival on the run is a major theme, friendship is the true heart of the story. Blue and Jet are as opposite as can be, but they rely on each other to weather each storm and to keep moving toward the Texas border, never knowing if they will truly feel safe again. Lori Ann Stephens expertly captures the emotional rollercoaster of living in a world filled with evil and lawlessness but also filled with sympathetic hearts and helping hands.
"There are good people everywhere. They are just harder to find sometimes."
Texas in Blue Running is an explosive microcosm of some of today’s hot topics, such as rampant crime and illegal immigration (and emigration in this story), but still with a sliver of hope snaking across the rugged terrain and throughout the guarded cities. While suspense and thrilling action are definitely in the air throughout this story, the overall mood is somewhat melancholy, not only because Texas is wrapped in an overly heated dystopian blanket but because the two main characters, who are still so young and scared, are used, victimized, and hunted. That is the true dystopia: children who need and crave a safe and loving home but instead are running for their lives across a hostile land—hungry, tired, and afraid to trust.
Stephens presents a political and societal what-if tale like no other, using startling imagery, violence, intense fear, and some evil and misguided characters to highlight what could happen to our country, our cities, our children, and our very humanity if a seceded state is allowed to run amok and unchecked. At the end of Blue Running, Jet and Blue must make hard choices, experience excruciating loss and pain, and scale a heavily guarded border wall into New Mexico without getting gunned down before they can claim any semblance of victory, hope, and freedom.
I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.
May 19, 2023
Blue Runningcould not
The story is set in post-secession Texas, also called the Republic. Two teenage girls—Bluebonnet “Blue” Andrews and Jet—are running from the law (and the lawless) for crimes they didn’t commit, in hopes of getting over the wall surrounding the state and landing in America. They don’t know who they can trust, they have little money, and there is danger everywhere.
This is a story that can leave a reader breathless. Imagine a Texas where everyone high school age and older must always carry a firearm. Imagine a Texas where a motorcycle gang called Mother is so mean and nasty that even law enforcement looks the other way. Imagine a Texas where they not only do everything they can to keep people out, but they also kill people who try to leave. The gap between the wealthy and everyone else is extremely wide, and poverty is a way of life for most Texans.
As I read this, I began to wonder if life inside East Germany, behind the Berlin Wall, was any worse than this.
I don’t particularly consider this novel to be political, but I think it fits in perfectly with the current political climates of Texas and the United States. It seems that Texas politicians finally won out on their plan to stop gun violence: just arm everybody!
I think everyone who believes that secession would be a good thing for Texas should read this story. Yes—the story is fiction. But what if it wasn’t? As I said, it was very unsettling to me.
Once the two girls get on the run, the pacing picks up and we begin the build to the climax. One thing I really liked, in an unsettling sort of way, was the author’s ability to keep the reader expecting the unexpected. I’m still trying to untie some of the knots in my tummy from following these two girls in their dash for freedom.
Blue and Jet couldn’t be more different in many ways, except for the fact that neither had any friends. Jet liked it that way. She was a loner, and with good reason. She felt safer that way. Watching these two characters evolve in a short time was the highlight of the story to me. Their character arcs were well-received.
This story played heavily on my emotions. My empathy for the girls, my hatred of guns, and my love of country and state were all very raw by the time I finished the book. I could not read a story like this every day.
I would like to think this was a hard story to write. There is so much evil that when someone comes along with a decent amount of civility, they don’t seem to fit in well with the other characters.
I do recommend this story—highly. Remember, it’s only fiction.
The story is set in post-secession Texas, also called the Republic. Two teenage girls—Bluebonnet “Blue” Andrews and Jet—are running from the law (and the lawless) for crimes they didn’t commit, in hopes of getting over the wall surrounding the state and landing in America. They don’t know who they can trust, they have little money, and there is danger everywhere.
This is a story that can leave a reader breathless. Imagine a Texas where everyone high school age and older must always carry a firearm. Imagine a Texas where a motorcycle gang called Mother is so mean and nasty that even law enforcement looks the other way. Imagine a Texas where they not only do everything they can to keep people out, but they also kill people who try to leave. The gap between the wealthy and everyone else is extremely wide, and poverty is a way of life for most Texans.
As I read this, I began to wonder if life inside East Germany, behind the Berlin Wall, was any worse than this.
I don’t particularly consider this novel to be political, but I think it fits in perfectly with the current political climates of Texas and the United States. It seems that Texas politicians finally won out on their plan to stop gun violence: just arm everybody!
I think everyone who believes that secession would be a good thing for Texas should read this story. Yes—the story is fiction. But what if it wasn’t? As I said, it was very unsettling to me.
Once the two girls get on the run, the pacing picks up and we begin the build to the climax. One thing I really liked, in an unsettling sort of way, was the author’s ability to keep the reader expecting the unexpected. I’m still trying to untie some of the knots in my tummy from following these two girls in their dash for freedom.
Blue and Jet couldn’t be more different in many ways, except for the fact that neither had any friends. Jet liked it that way. She was a loner, and with good reason. She felt safer that way. Watching these two characters evolve in a short time was the highlight of the story to me. Their character arcs were well-received.
This story played heavily on my emotions. My empathy for the girls, my hatred of guns, and my love of country and state were all very raw by the time I finished the book. I could not read a story like this every day.
I would like to think this was a hard story to write. There is so much evil that when someone comes along with a decent amount of civility, they don’t seem to fit in well with the other characters.
I do recommend this story—highly. Remember, it’s only fiction.
March 4, 2025
It's been a while since I've ready YA and I love how much edgier it is now. Blue Running was a fun read and I flew through it in a couple of days. It's a great idea to set it in a world where Texas has seceded from the U.S. because it could honestly be a whole series called the Republic Series or something, if Stephens wanted to do that. Being from Texas, I also identified with a lot of the subtle "IYKYK" things thrown in (Dr. Pepper, or driving down 80).
There were a handful of mentioned ideologies that, while I agree with the author's opinions, felt slightly forced. But I get why they exist: to build this world of Texas trying to be a country on its own, as a sort of MAGA Mecca. However, they didn't hinder the story at all and I guess it could all be more "assumed" if it weren't a YA book.
The writing was at its best when it gets to Austin inside The Neighborhood. That's where Stephens really showcases the ability to paint pictures with words. If it becomes a series, it'd be a lot of fun to see what other stories she could come up with inside the architecture she's built.
There were a handful of mentioned ideologies that, while I agree with the author's opinions, felt slightly forced. But I get why they exist: to build this world of Texas trying to be a country on its own, as a sort of MAGA Mecca. However, they didn't hinder the story at all and I guess it could all be more "assumed" if it weren't a YA book.
The writing was at its best when it gets to Austin inside The Neighborhood. That's where Stephens really showcases the ability to paint pictures with words. If it becomes a series, it'd be a lot of fun to see what other stories she could come up with inside the architecture she's built.
March 25, 2025
This book had me gripped from start to finish. A cleverly told tale of dystopian America, to young women, their friendship & will to survive.
December 5, 2021
Fourteen-year-old Bluebonnet Andrews is quite a loner, but not by choice. Blue lives with her father, who has a known drinking problem, and only just holds on to his job as a deputy in Blessing. Texas is now a Republic and has its laws, one being that everyone above a certain age has to carry a gun for their protection. Blue’s mum left just before the borders closed when she was only a little girl. Now she more or less brings herself up at home, where she and her dad don’t have much.
Blue thinks she has found a friend when a new girl moves into the area in the school holidays, but once the holidays are over, so is the friendship. When Blue tries to make amends, a terrible accident occurs, and Blue goes on the run. The story follows her across Texas to the border.
Blue’s journey is fraught with danger at every turn. Who can she trust, how can she get money, and how can she evade being turned in when her picture is on the news channels? She begins her journey as a naive girl, that has to adapt and grow up very quickly. The art of survival arrives in the form of another girl on the run. The pair of them make for a heart in your mouth read.
The places and people that they come across are believable, with the author being realistic about the situations that the pair get into. It is a scary future. A fabulous read for teens and above.
Blue thinks she has found a friend when a new girl moves into the area in the school holidays, but once the holidays are over, so is the friendship. When Blue tries to make amends, a terrible accident occurs, and Blue goes on the run. The story follows her across Texas to the border.
Blue’s journey is fraught with danger at every turn. Who can she trust, how can she get money, and how can she evade being turned in when her picture is on the news channels? She begins her journey as a naive girl, that has to adapt and grow up very quickly. The art of survival arrives in the form of another girl on the run. The pair of them make for a heart in your mouth read.
The places and people that they come across are believable, with the author being realistic about the situations that the pair get into. It is a scary future. A fabulous read for teens and above.
December 3, 2021
Fourteen year old Bluebonnet Andrews lives in Blessing in the newly formed Republic of Texas, a place where gun carrying is mandatory but as Blue finds to her cost guns carry more of a threat than could ever have been anticipated. When a catastrophic accident leaves Blue's best friend dead, Blue goes on the run, not just to escape punishment in a place where justice is in short supply, but also to try and find her mother who left her when Blue was just a small child. Blue's journey is not without danger and she faces many problems along the way but is supported by her unlikely friendship with another girl who is also on the run for very different reasons.
Blue Running is a story about friendship, loyalty and about being brave in the face of adversity. It's also about resilience and tenacity and about doing what feels right regardless of the consequences. It is a disturbing look at a dystopian society where neither hope, or despair, is allowed to flourish, and with danger on every corner this emotional coming-of-age story takes us on a thrilling journey as our young protagonists try to keep one step ahead of the authorities who would do them great harm.
There are important issues to be considered in Blue Running and the author touches on a whole range of important subjects but does so with a keen eye for keeping the story on track without ever allowing the issue of gun carrying, racism, sexism and totalitarianism to be hidden, forgotten or glossed over.
Blue Running is a story about friendship, loyalty and about being brave in the face of adversity. It's also about resilience and tenacity and about doing what feels right regardless of the consequences. It is a disturbing look at a dystopian society where neither hope, or despair, is allowed to flourish, and with danger on every corner this emotional coming-of-age story takes us on a thrilling journey as our young protagonists try to keep one step ahead of the authorities who would do them great harm.
There are important issues to be considered in Blue Running and the author touches on a whole range of important subjects but does so with a keen eye for keeping the story on track without ever allowing the issue of gun carrying, racism, sexism and totalitarianism to be hidden, forgotten or glossed over.
May 19, 2023
The author does a phenomenal job with this novel. The writing style is both captivating and informative. The narrator allows the reader to be transported into the story and feel like they are a part of the action unfolding. Blue Running had me angry, sad, upset, and in tears, as I listened to their lives unfold. I felt such a strong connection to Jet and Blue and enjoyed Blue's genuine curiosity. I was angry at the accusations made towards Blue and felt the girls' loneliness; the author's writing allowed me to be fully immersed in Jet's and Blue's emotions. It is a rare occasion that a book has me so awestruck. Bravo to the author for writing an amazing book and bravo to the narrator for doing such a great job with telling the story.
I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in a dystopian thriller novel.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
November 13, 2021
Blessing is where Blue resides.
All residents carry guns (including many children). This is considered the norm but to Blue this isn't the life she wants to lead.
This is a fourteen year old who dreams of finding her mother after her leaving for a better, safer life many years ago. This is also a teenager who wishes for freedom from the hand she's been dealt.
I felt for Bluebonnet instantly.
A drunk cop for a dad, little money to survive, which also spirals to her not having any friends. She is essentially an outcast.
And after an unfortunate incident with her firearm, Blue finds herself on the run. But not just running from her misfortunes, she's running towards her dreams.
Blue Running is what I'd describe as unique.
Our main protagonist is at times naive but she is also determined and brave. I was in awe at her tenacity and willingness to carry on regardless. For someone so young, she didn't lack in belief to do and be better.
I don't want to describe this as simply a coming of age story because in reality by the end of the tale, Blue still has a lot of growing up to do as she's yet to experience so many things. This is really a story of a girl who is simply trying to survive in a corrupt and dangerous world.
Tough lessons are learnt but amongst all the hardship, there is goodness to be found.
Kindness is in the least expected places and brighter days are there for the taking.
By the time I finished this novel, I felt hopeful and inspired. The feeling that there's more to life if I only had the courage to climb over the walls that I put up inside of myself.
Highly recommended!
All residents carry guns (including many children). This is considered the norm but to Blue this isn't the life she wants to lead.
This is a fourteen year old who dreams of finding her mother after her leaving for a better, safer life many years ago. This is also a teenager who wishes for freedom from the hand she's been dealt.
I felt for Bluebonnet instantly.
A drunk cop for a dad, little money to survive, which also spirals to her not having any friends. She is essentially an outcast.
And after an unfortunate incident with her firearm, Blue finds herself on the run. But not just running from her misfortunes, she's running towards her dreams.
Blue Running is what I'd describe as unique.
Our main protagonist is at times naive but she is also determined and brave. I was in awe at her tenacity and willingness to carry on regardless. For someone so young, she didn't lack in belief to do and be better.
I don't want to describe this as simply a coming of age story because in reality by the end of the tale, Blue still has a lot of growing up to do as she's yet to experience so many things. This is really a story of a girl who is simply trying to survive in a corrupt and dangerous world.
Tough lessons are learnt but amongst all the hardship, there is goodness to be found.
Kindness is in the least expected places and brighter days are there for the taking.
By the time I finished this novel, I felt hopeful and inspired. The feeling that there's more to life if I only had the courage to climb over the walls that I put up inside of myself.
Highly recommended!
November 28, 2021
I ended up devouring this book in a day and when I did have to put it down it was all I could think about.
This is an emotional story that just so gripping and honestly terrifying when you consider that this could become real life one day.
Blue is an incredible main character who starts off quite naive but as she spends more time on the run she learns so much such as racial injustice and women's rights.
Honestly read this book. It's so real and raw. This book does not hold back and is such an important book.
This is an emotional story that just so gripping and honestly terrifying when you consider that this could become real life one day.
Blue is an incredible main character who starts off quite naive but as she spends more time on the run she learns so much such as racial injustice and women's rights.
Honestly read this book. It's so real and raw. This book does not hold back and is such an important book.
December 9, 2021
really enjoyed this thriller set in the near future, it hooked me right from the first page and didn’t let go!
I really liked Blue, and Jet who she met at the beginning of her escape from her hometown. They worked really well together and I loved how their friendship developed throughout the book. I felt sorry for both girls and really hoped they’d survive and get to America safely, despite everything looking bad for them.
There were some very tense moments involving dodgy characters and a very nasty biker group who kept turning up. I don’t normally like bikers in dystopian type novels, but this was a clever twist on that trope.
This was very much a ‘one more chapter’ book, particularly because the chapters were short and the pace was fast. I definitely recommend this to lovers of YA, thrillers and books set in the near future!
I really liked Blue, and Jet who she met at the beginning of her escape from her hometown. They worked really well together and I loved how their friendship developed throughout the book. I felt sorry for both girls and really hoped they’d survive and get to America safely, despite everything looking bad for them.
There were some very tense moments involving dodgy characters and a very nasty biker group who kept turning up. I don’t normally like bikers in dystopian type novels, but this was a clever twist on that trope.
This was very much a ‘one more chapter’ book, particularly because the chapters were short and the pace was fast. I definitely recommend this to lovers of YA, thrillers and books set in the near future!
January 2, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A propulsive and tender thriller, taking place in a dystopian future Texas. The plot is rollicking, a kind of modern-day Huck Finn that grapples with issues of violence, justice, and immigration.
The heart of this book, for me, is the strength of the narration, which lifts it above many entries in the dystopian genre. Blue’s voice is convincing and charming, even in the moments where we as readers cringe at her naïveté and her comfortable assumptions about her place in the world. By the end of the novel, we’ve watched her grow and change and we root for her and her friendship with Jet. The ending was beautiful and satisfying.
I was lucky enough to read an advance copy from the author. Highly recommend!
A propulsive and tender thriller, taking place in a dystopian future Texas. The plot is rollicking, a kind of modern-day Huck Finn that grapples with issues of violence, justice, and immigration.
The heart of this book, for me, is the strength of the narration, which lifts it above many entries in the dystopian genre. Blue’s voice is convincing and charming, even in the moments where we as readers cringe at her naïveté and her comfortable assumptions about her place in the world. By the end of the novel, we’ve watched her grow and change and we root for her and her friendship with Jet. The ending was beautiful and satisfying.
I was lucky enough to read an advance copy from the author. Highly recommend!
January 30, 2022
It's either an alternate present or the near future, and the loonies who run the state of Texas have succeeded in Seceding and setting up a Christian Republic. Citizens are required by law to carry heat in visible holsters, abortion is punishable by death, and a Wall has been erected all around the Republic to keep "Scalers" out and Texans in. The Border Patrol and citizen militias shot illegals on sight, including the inhabitants who try to make it to that place outside the state called America.
The author, Lori Stephens, and I are both lifelong Texans who share a love/hate relationship with this oversized patch of dried-up turf, and she's turned her wickedly jaded eye on it with a savvy glare in this very engaging YA novel about a teenage girl who decides she needs to bolt the place to find a mother who got out before the Wall went up and supposedly went to California. Bluebonnet Andrews's alcoholic father - a deputy sheriff in a town so small it only has two cops -- has labelled the mom's departure an abandonment, but Blue's not so sure. And when her putative best friend is killed while cleaning Blue's gun and Blue gets called a murderer, she's off and running.
From there we're on a road trip, we're in a classic picaresque novel in which the fugitive protagonist has to duck while running as she bumps into another runaway (Thelma and Louise, here) with whom she teams up to evade capture long enough to figure out a way to scale the Wall to freedom. Their adventures are sometimes a tad beyond credulity, but, then again, they're living in a nightmarish body politic only one small step and a bad election away from becoming a reality.
Highly recommended.
Full disclosure: Author Stephens and I have taught in the same English department but have never been in each other's homes.
C.W. Smith
The author, Lori Stephens, and I are both lifelong Texans who share a love/hate relationship with this oversized patch of dried-up turf, and she's turned her wickedly jaded eye on it with a savvy glare in this very engaging YA novel about a teenage girl who decides she needs to bolt the place to find a mother who got out before the Wall went up and supposedly went to California. Bluebonnet Andrews's alcoholic father - a deputy sheriff in a town so small it only has two cops -- has labelled the mom's departure an abandonment, but Blue's not so sure. And when her putative best friend is killed while cleaning Blue's gun and Blue gets called a murderer, she's off and running.
From there we're on a road trip, we're in a classic picaresque novel in which the fugitive protagonist has to duck while running as she bumps into another runaway (Thelma and Louise, here) with whom she teams up to evade capture long enough to figure out a way to scale the Wall to freedom. Their adventures are sometimes a tad beyond credulity, but, then again, they're living in a nightmarish body politic only one small step and a bad election away from becoming a reality.
Highly recommended.
Full disclosure: Author Stephens and I have taught in the same English department but have never been in each other's homes.
C.W. Smith
June 19, 2024
*4.75 stars
I'm having such good reading luck recently, this was a real masterpiece of a dystopian thriller. It felt like a cross between The Handmaids Tale and Where The Crawdads Sing. It's also one of the quickest books I've read because it was so fast paced, it was pretty impossible to put down. My favourite thing about this though is that it's such a vivid story, one of those where you forget you're reading and not living it too. I felt all the emotions and just really enjoyed reading this. I'll miss BlueBonnet and Jet. This was a needed story and a really well written one too.
I'm having such good reading luck recently, this was a real masterpiece of a dystopian thriller. It felt like a cross between The Handmaids Tale and Where The Crawdads Sing. It's also one of the quickest books I've read because it was so fast paced, it was pretty impossible to put down. My favourite thing about this though is that it's such a vivid story, one of those where you forget you're reading and not living it too. I felt all the emotions and just really enjoyed reading this. I'll miss BlueBonnet and Jet. This was a needed story and a really well written one too.
November 27, 2023
Indie Review written for for Lone Star Literary Life
Featured on Lone Star Book Blog Tours. Lone Star Blogger Team average rating: 4.8.
Featured on Lone Star Book Blog Tours. Lone Star Blogger Team average rating: 4.8.
October 21, 2021
An enjoyable read, I liked the concept of the book and the characters.
My favourite parts were when Blue is at school or the early parts of her and Jet on the run.
A fab book that would be enjoyed by all.
My favourite parts were when Blue is at school or the early parts of her and Jet on the run.
A fab book that would be enjoyed by all.
June 15, 2023
Reviewed by John Castle on www.rowanglassworks.org.
Coming of age stories are nothing new, and neither are stories about characters who are “on the run.” Yet when these types of stories are executed in an original fresh way, it’s impossible to not find yourself being invested in the characters and themes. That was my experience when reading Lori Ann Stephens’ upcoming novel, Blue Running. In this novel, Stephens manages to take the classic thriller style story of a young girl, or rather two young women, on the run, desperate to escape their past actions, and melds it with a heartfelt coming of age story. The end result of this can only be described as one of the most nail-biting depictions of adolescence I’ve ever read.
In the beginning of the story we meet our narrator, Blue Andrews, a fourteen year old girl who lives with her alcoholic deputy of a single father. Through her eyes we get to see the beautiful yet harsh landscape she lives in, the town of Blessing, located in the state of Texas. Although in this world, Texas is no longer a state, but rather an independent Republic that has seceded from the rest of the United States. In this post-secession world of Texas guns are mandatory, even for people as young as Blue. It’s not long into this story before a tragic accident occurs where Blue's best friend is shot and killed. Despite this event being a genuine accident, the close minded and unforgiving people of Blessing point their fingers at Blue. With this, our narrator decides to escape her harsh surroundings, and in her attempt to do so meets a young Latin American woman named Jet. While Jet is secretive of her past, Blue takes to her immediately as it seems that they are both equally desperate to flee this place they feel so oppressed by. With that, both of these young women join forces in an attempt to escape their brutal surroundings, and the rollercoaster that is their story continues from there.
If what I just described sounds like a riveting feature film, you are not alone in thinking that. As I was reading this book it felt as though there was a screen playing in my mind, and I was getting to watch the story unfold. While this might just be my background in film school talking, this is truly a testament to Lori Ann Stephens’ prose. The story itself is delivered in a way that invokes strong images in the reader’s mind. Between descriptions of this fictional yet all too real feeling depiction of Texas, the body language/sensory elements of the characters, and the steady pacing, it’s hard not to imagine this story playing out beautifully on the silver screen. To describe this book as cinematic might lead one to think that the act of consuming the story is a passive one, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. This cinematic quality is part of what makes Blue Running as immersive as it is.
For example, during a scene where Blue’s school goes into a lockdown, she states, “For a second, everyone in the cafeteria looked at each other. I looked at Maggie – her gaze was already locked on me. Two creatures frozen, eyes bulging, hearts thumping. Then the teachers waved their arms like wings, mother ducks shepherding us to the edges of the room. The lights went out in sections – one, two, three – and left us in the shadows beneath the high windows” (18-19).
One can almost imagine the shots of Blue and Maggie's terrified faces cutting back and forth between each other, or even a tracking shot of quivering-crying children huddled on the floor as each section is cast into darkness. By having the story play out in such a vivid cinematic fashion, Stephens doesn’t just build a scene on the page, but rather builds it around the reader, making them feel as though they are strapped into this ride as well.
Another part of what makes this novel work as well as it does is the combination of the series of intense dramatic moments with such a fundamentally warm character as Blue. In the beginning of the story, Blue introduces herself and her environment in a way that elicits sympathy, and for readers like myself, empathy. We meet her as a young girl who is trying to make sense of her world, and survive the unfortunate circumstances she was born into. Between her alcoholic father, absent mother, and the harsh place that Texas has become, and the common struggles many of us face as a teenager, we naturally start to develop a connection with this main character. In a moment of adolescent hopelessness, our narrator states, “Everyone was so tall and the halls were so wide. Between classes, I trailed behind strangers who laughed and teased and jostled each other, all of us wading our way to the next class. Swept by a strange desperation, I once laughed with a group of older girls in front of me like I belonged to them, until one of them turned around and smirked, ‘Why are you laughing, girl?’ I shrugged and ducked away, my cheeks hot with shame” (9). With narration like this, the reader not only gets a clear image of the situation, but also a strong sense of Blue’s feelings of isolation. It’s moments like this that make us seamlessly feel affection towards her.
It’s because of this that the drama in the story works as well as it does. If we as the reader did not have a connection with Blue, or even Jet, the drama would lose a lot of its punch. On the other hand, if the drama was not present, our connections towards these characters would not be as emphasized. This is the brilliance in combining a coming of age story with an “on the run” style thriller: both elements of those types of stories add depth to each other.
In an essay Stephens wrote for Glimmer Train, she expressed the struggles and advantages that come with writing a story in first person. She explained how writers who take the first person approach have a better chance of telling a story with more “soul” to it. After reading this book, I feel that that is exactly what this story has: soul. Blue Running has a broken yet beautiful adolescent spirit that lives on every page, and will ignite that same spirit in all of its readers.
Coming of age stories are nothing new, and neither are stories about characters who are “on the run.” Yet when these types of stories are executed in an original fresh way, it’s impossible to not find yourself being invested in the characters and themes. That was my experience when reading Lori Ann Stephens’ upcoming novel, Blue Running. In this novel, Stephens manages to take the classic thriller style story of a young girl, or rather two young women, on the run, desperate to escape their past actions, and melds it with a heartfelt coming of age story. The end result of this can only be described as one of the most nail-biting depictions of adolescence I’ve ever read.
In the beginning of the story we meet our narrator, Blue Andrews, a fourteen year old girl who lives with her alcoholic deputy of a single father. Through her eyes we get to see the beautiful yet harsh landscape she lives in, the town of Blessing, located in the state of Texas. Although in this world, Texas is no longer a state, but rather an independent Republic that has seceded from the rest of the United States. In this post-secession world of Texas guns are mandatory, even for people as young as Blue. It’s not long into this story before a tragic accident occurs where Blue's best friend is shot and killed. Despite this event being a genuine accident, the close minded and unforgiving people of Blessing point their fingers at Blue. With this, our narrator decides to escape her harsh surroundings, and in her attempt to do so meets a young Latin American woman named Jet. While Jet is secretive of her past, Blue takes to her immediately as it seems that they are both equally desperate to flee this place they feel so oppressed by. With that, both of these young women join forces in an attempt to escape their brutal surroundings, and the rollercoaster that is their story continues from there.
If what I just described sounds like a riveting feature film, you are not alone in thinking that. As I was reading this book it felt as though there was a screen playing in my mind, and I was getting to watch the story unfold. While this might just be my background in film school talking, this is truly a testament to Lori Ann Stephens’ prose. The story itself is delivered in a way that invokes strong images in the reader’s mind. Between descriptions of this fictional yet all too real feeling depiction of Texas, the body language/sensory elements of the characters, and the steady pacing, it’s hard not to imagine this story playing out beautifully on the silver screen. To describe this book as cinematic might lead one to think that the act of consuming the story is a passive one, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. This cinematic quality is part of what makes Blue Running as immersive as it is.
For example, during a scene where Blue’s school goes into a lockdown, she states, “For a second, everyone in the cafeteria looked at each other. I looked at Maggie – her gaze was already locked on me. Two creatures frozen, eyes bulging, hearts thumping. Then the teachers waved their arms like wings, mother ducks shepherding us to the edges of the room. The lights went out in sections – one, two, three – and left us in the shadows beneath the high windows” (18-19).
One can almost imagine the shots of Blue and Maggie's terrified faces cutting back and forth between each other, or even a tracking shot of quivering-crying children huddled on the floor as each section is cast into darkness. By having the story play out in such a vivid cinematic fashion, Stephens doesn’t just build a scene on the page, but rather builds it around the reader, making them feel as though they are strapped into this ride as well.
Another part of what makes this novel work as well as it does is the combination of the series of intense dramatic moments with such a fundamentally warm character as Blue. In the beginning of the story, Blue introduces herself and her environment in a way that elicits sympathy, and for readers like myself, empathy. We meet her as a young girl who is trying to make sense of her world, and survive the unfortunate circumstances she was born into. Between her alcoholic father, absent mother, and the harsh place that Texas has become, and the common struggles many of us face as a teenager, we naturally start to develop a connection with this main character. In a moment of adolescent hopelessness, our narrator states, “Everyone was so tall and the halls were so wide. Between classes, I trailed behind strangers who laughed and teased and jostled each other, all of us wading our way to the next class. Swept by a strange desperation, I once laughed with a group of older girls in front of me like I belonged to them, until one of them turned around and smirked, ‘Why are you laughing, girl?’ I shrugged and ducked away, my cheeks hot with shame” (9). With narration like this, the reader not only gets a clear image of the situation, but also a strong sense of Blue’s feelings of isolation. It’s moments like this that make us seamlessly feel affection towards her.
It’s because of this that the drama in the story works as well as it does. If we as the reader did not have a connection with Blue, or even Jet, the drama would lose a lot of its punch. On the other hand, if the drama was not present, our connections towards these characters would not be as emphasized. This is the brilliance in combining a coming of age story with an “on the run” style thriller: both elements of those types of stories add depth to each other.
In an essay Stephens wrote for Glimmer Train, she expressed the struggles and advantages that come with writing a story in first person. She explained how writers who take the first person approach have a better chance of telling a story with more “soul” to it. After reading this book, I feel that that is exactly what this story has: soul. Blue Running has a broken yet beautiful adolescent spirit that lives on every page, and will ignite that same spirit in all of its readers.
December 30, 2023
I loved everything about this book. The perspective is one everyone should experience. It was well written and the audible version was well-acted. ❤️ highly recommend!
May 12, 2023
When I was a prosecutor, I had the experience of taking a defendant to trial who claimed to be part of the Republic of Texas. It was…interesting. He was charged with driving with a suspended license. Since he didn’t recognize the authority of the State of Texas, he didn’t figure he needed to bother abiding by their requirement that he have a valid operator’s license to drive on Texas roads. When the judge entered the courtroom, the defendant didn’t stand as was customary because he didn’t recognize the authority of the Texas judicial system, and by extension, the judge. The judge, knowing which way he rolled, had the pool of prospective jurors stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance before starting jury selection. He didn’t stand. Since the flag had fringe, to his reckoning, that made it a maritime flag, and he wasn’t under maritime jurisdiction. All manner of things marked him out as believing differently from others in the courtroom.
In Blue Running, Lori Ann Stephens crafts a compelling story set in a Texas which is the Republic of Texas come to life and ramped up on steroids. In the new Republic, religious conservative values are law, yet criminal motorcycle gangs run rampant and run roughshod over anyone in their path. Arming oneself isn’t just a good idea, it’s the law for anyone 14 years or older. There are no more flights to America. No internet that connects to anything beyond the Republic. A wall has been put up to keep “Scalers” – illegal immigrants – out of Texas (and also to keep Texas citizens in?). Any Scalers that do make it over the wall and past the plethora of gun-toting guards are to be shot on sight. And since any goods that have to be imported from America are subject to a heavy tax burden, there are a lot of ordinary things that are out of reach of ordinary people, setting up a big divide between the haves and the have-nots.
Bluebonnet Andrews – Blue – is 14 years old. She and her hard-drinking deputy sheriff father live in Blessing, Texas. They’re somewhere south of the poverty line, and Blue is pretty much an outcast. When Maggie and her wealthy family move to town, for one glorious summer, Blue has a best friend. But when school starts and Maggie is snapped up by the popular crowd, Blue descends rapidly back toward her loner status.
When her gun accidentally discharges and Maggie ends up dead, Blue knows even her father can’t protect her. She flees, seeking America and the mother she barely remembers, the mother who supposedly abandoned her and her father years ago. As she’s scrambling to find a way out, Blue meets Jet, a pregnant Latin American immigrant who’s also seeking to escape the Republic. The girls pool their resources and head for the border together.
The story hits on some heavy topics, including racism, women’s rights, and human rights. One issue that stood out to me is the imposition of religious values as law. In this instance, it’s conservative Christian values that are enshrined in statute (and there are likely some folks in today’s society who think that would be the best thing ever). I’ve always said you can’t legislate morality, and that proves to be true here. Religion as law notwithstanding, the new Republic of Texas is a much more violent and lawless place than ever the State of Texas appeared to be.
Stephens creates a fascinating cast of characters, and most of them are out only for themselves. But even in the midst of fleeing for her very life, Blue finds a few good people still out there. When she and Jet make their way to Austin and the mostly free collective of artists called the Neighborhood, she meets Darnell. We don’t get a lot of backstory on him, but when Blue feels like she has to trust someone with her true story, he proves himself a friend in need and a friend indeed. So while things may seem bleak in the new Republic, people like Darnell demonstrate that there is still good left in people if we dig deep enough.
I won’t tell you how it ends. Go get you a copy of the book and find out for yourself. I’ll just say the ending leaves the reader with a lot to consider, and the epilogue left me with the Rolling Stones playing in my head: you can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find you get what you need.
Stephens has written a gripping tale that is not a mere fantasy. Given the current state of politics, and given that there has been a faction arguing for some time (and still arguing) that Texas should revert to being a free and independent republic, the picture Stephens paints is one that is all too conceivable should a worst-case scenario come to pass. That’s some spine-tingling dystopian stuff right there, and should serve as a cautionary tale to anyone who’s ever said “there ought to be a law.”
Five stars, and well worth the read.
In Blue Running, Lori Ann Stephens crafts a compelling story set in a Texas which is the Republic of Texas come to life and ramped up on steroids. In the new Republic, religious conservative values are law, yet criminal motorcycle gangs run rampant and run roughshod over anyone in their path. Arming oneself isn’t just a good idea, it’s the law for anyone 14 years or older. There are no more flights to America. No internet that connects to anything beyond the Republic. A wall has been put up to keep “Scalers” – illegal immigrants – out of Texas (and also to keep Texas citizens in?). Any Scalers that do make it over the wall and past the plethora of gun-toting guards are to be shot on sight. And since any goods that have to be imported from America are subject to a heavy tax burden, there are a lot of ordinary things that are out of reach of ordinary people, setting up a big divide between the haves and the have-nots.
Bluebonnet Andrews – Blue – is 14 years old. She and her hard-drinking deputy sheriff father live in Blessing, Texas. They’re somewhere south of the poverty line, and Blue is pretty much an outcast. When Maggie and her wealthy family move to town, for one glorious summer, Blue has a best friend. But when school starts and Maggie is snapped up by the popular crowd, Blue descends rapidly back toward her loner status.
When her gun accidentally discharges and Maggie ends up dead, Blue knows even her father can’t protect her. She flees, seeking America and the mother she barely remembers, the mother who supposedly abandoned her and her father years ago. As she’s scrambling to find a way out, Blue meets Jet, a pregnant Latin American immigrant who’s also seeking to escape the Republic. The girls pool their resources and head for the border together.
The story hits on some heavy topics, including racism, women’s rights, and human rights. One issue that stood out to me is the imposition of religious values as law. In this instance, it’s conservative Christian values that are enshrined in statute (and there are likely some folks in today’s society who think that would be the best thing ever). I’ve always said you can’t legislate morality, and that proves to be true here. Religion as law notwithstanding, the new Republic of Texas is a much more violent and lawless place than ever the State of Texas appeared to be.
Stephens creates a fascinating cast of characters, and most of them are out only for themselves. But even in the midst of fleeing for her very life, Blue finds a few good people still out there. When she and Jet make their way to Austin and the mostly free collective of artists called the Neighborhood, she meets Darnell. We don’t get a lot of backstory on him, but when Blue feels like she has to trust someone with her true story, he proves himself a friend in need and a friend indeed. So while things may seem bleak in the new Republic, people like Darnell demonstrate that there is still good left in people if we dig deep enough.
I won’t tell you how it ends. Go get you a copy of the book and find out for yourself. I’ll just say the ending leaves the reader with a lot to consider, and the epilogue left me with the Rolling Stones playing in my head: you can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find you get what you need.
Stephens has written a gripping tale that is not a mere fantasy. Given the current state of politics, and given that there has been a faction arguing for some time (and still arguing) that Texas should revert to being a free and independent republic, the picture Stephens paints is one that is all too conceivable should a worst-case scenario come to pass. That’s some spine-tingling dystopian stuff right there, and should serve as a cautionary tale to anyone who’s ever said “there ought to be a law.”
Five stars, and well worth the read.
May 19, 2023
Periodically I pick up a young adult novel because often they offer scenarios and situations that make one really think about important social issues. That’s why, when I got the opportunity to get a copy of Blue Running and review it as part of this blog tour, I quickly signed up.
Wow! What a story!
Right from the start, fourteen-year-old Blue is a most engaging character. She’s basically on her own after her mother managed to get out of Texas before it was closed down and became the Republic of Texas, controlled by a Christian government. Her father, who is the deputy sheriff in their small town of Blessing, is drunk 95% of the time, so it leaves Blue responsible for figuring out how to cobble something together for a meal and take care of her father who often just passes out after drinking. While that situation of living in poverty, alone with a drunken father, might harden somebody, Blue seems to navigate it with a certain practicality and positivity.
This is her life and she might as well accept it and get on with doing what she needs to do.
It’s hard to imagine what she would have done had the accident with her gun not killed her friend, Maggie. Nobody in authority, even her father, believed it was an accident and Blue faced murder charges if she stayed in Blessing. She knew her father had no influence over authorities above him and he couldn’t help her, so she had to escape the threat of jail for something she didn’t do.
With no plan and no money, she sets out for the border and somehow get out of Texas and maybe find her mother in California.
What happens to her along the way should never happen to any teenager, and the danger is relentless, especially after she teams up with Jet, who has connections to the drug gangs that she never wanted. Those gangs operate unhindered in the Christian Republic of Texas, and the people stuck there live in fear of the swarm of motorcycle riders who will surround them and kill everyone just for sport.
The Republic has a wall around it to keep the Texans in and people that are called scalers out. The scalers, who are primarily undocumented immigrants, are shot by people patrolling the border, some of whom are official and some who have just set themselves up as protectors. Since Jet is an immigrant, that raises the bar of danger for the girls, even though they feel safer traveling together than alone. Two can be very resourceful.
The tension is always high in this incredible story as these girls fight their way past, or through, one threat after another, to make it to the wall and a crossing that will allow them to get safely into America. Many of the people they encounter along the way cannot be trusted, and the girls are careful with the small amount of money they have to get a meal now and then.
There are some moments when the danger eases just a bit. For instance, when Blue and her companion find the community in Austin called The Neighborhood that’s made up primarily of artists. Those people live in a commune-type society and support each other’s art, which is a good thing for Blue who has incredible talent as a sketch artist.
But even that proves not to be a safe place, so they are on the run again.
Lori Ann Stephens has written a story that I will remember for a long time. She didn’t pull back from the reality of what life could be like if Texas was to secede, something that has been considered in Austin, and through it all, I was rooting for this young girl who faced things head on and managed to remain rather innocent and true to that part of her that choses positive instead of negative.
Blue Running is a tough read in places because of the horrible things that people do to each other – too much like real life – but it is also an incredibly satisfying read. There is kindness. Gentleness even. And a perfect ending. I highly recommend the book for the pure enjoyment of a first-rate story that is so well-written, but also because sometimes we need to look at the dark side of our world and think about what we could do to bring a flicker of light to the darkness, like Blue invites us to through her story.
Wow! What a story!
Right from the start, fourteen-year-old Blue is a most engaging character. She’s basically on her own after her mother managed to get out of Texas before it was closed down and became the Republic of Texas, controlled by a Christian government. Her father, who is the deputy sheriff in their small town of Blessing, is drunk 95% of the time, so it leaves Blue responsible for figuring out how to cobble something together for a meal and take care of her father who often just passes out after drinking. While that situation of living in poverty, alone with a drunken father, might harden somebody, Blue seems to navigate it with a certain practicality and positivity.
This is her life and she might as well accept it and get on with doing what she needs to do.
It’s hard to imagine what she would have done had the accident with her gun not killed her friend, Maggie. Nobody in authority, even her father, believed it was an accident and Blue faced murder charges if she stayed in Blessing. She knew her father had no influence over authorities above him and he couldn’t help her, so she had to escape the threat of jail for something she didn’t do.
With no plan and no money, she sets out for the border and somehow get out of Texas and maybe find her mother in California.
What happens to her along the way should never happen to any teenager, and the danger is relentless, especially after she teams up with Jet, who has connections to the drug gangs that she never wanted. Those gangs operate unhindered in the Christian Republic of Texas, and the people stuck there live in fear of the swarm of motorcycle riders who will surround them and kill everyone just for sport.
The Republic has a wall around it to keep the Texans in and people that are called scalers out. The scalers, who are primarily undocumented immigrants, are shot by people patrolling the border, some of whom are official and some who have just set themselves up as protectors. Since Jet is an immigrant, that raises the bar of danger for the girls, even though they feel safer traveling together than alone. Two can be very resourceful.
The tension is always high in this incredible story as these girls fight their way past, or through, one threat after another, to make it to the wall and a crossing that will allow them to get safely into America. Many of the people they encounter along the way cannot be trusted, and the girls are careful with the small amount of money they have to get a meal now and then.
There are some moments when the danger eases just a bit. For instance, when Blue and her companion find the community in Austin called The Neighborhood that’s made up primarily of artists. Those people live in a commune-type society and support each other’s art, which is a good thing for Blue who has incredible talent as a sketch artist.
But even that proves not to be a safe place, so they are on the run again.
Lori Ann Stephens has written a story that I will remember for a long time. She didn’t pull back from the reality of what life could be like if Texas was to secede, something that has been considered in Austin, and through it all, I was rooting for this young girl who faced things head on and managed to remain rather innocent and true to that part of her that choses positive instead of negative.
Blue Running is a tough read in places because of the horrible things that people do to each other – too much like real life – but it is also an incredibly satisfying read. There is kindness. Gentleness even. And a perfect ending. I highly recommend the book for the pure enjoyment of a first-rate story that is so well-written, but also because sometimes we need to look at the dark side of our world and think about what we could do to bring a flicker of light to the darkness, like Blue invites us to through her story.
December 9, 2021
Fourteen-year-old Bluebonnet has grown up in the Republic of Texas, too young to remember much about the desperate days when Texas closed its borders after the secession, except for a repeating hazy memory of her mother fleeing on one of the last flights to America, leaving her and her drunk town-deputy father behind in the small town of Blessing. - a memory that she is not even sure is the truth. The Wall that surrounds Texas is now her reality, supposedly there to protect the people of the Republic from those who want to take their 'freedoms' away, it seems it is also intended to keep them shut in - in any case, trying to cross The Wall in either direction is likely to result in death from the gun-toting vigilantes that guard it.
In the new Republic, open carry gun ownership is mandatory, even for older children, and everyone is expected to conform to fundamentalist religious beliefs. However, far from creating a haven, things are not peaceful in Texas: money talks, corruption is rife, gun crime is widespread, and violent motorcycle gangs terrorise the towns. This is not a place to be poor, or to stand out for being different.
When Blue's friend Maggie, the daughter of Blessing's powerful mayor, is accidentally killed while cleaning Blue's gun, she is accused of her murder. Blue's only hope of escaping the death penalty is to run away and try to get over The Wall - her vague plan is to somehow find her mother, who she knows is in California. On her journey, she forms an unbreakable bond with sixteen-year-old Jet, a pregnant Latin American illegal who is on the run from her rapist uncle, and is desperate to get to America to have an abortion. Both girls are in search of freedom, but how far will they get, and will they ever see the other side of The Wall?
Blue Running is a dystopian thriller that is extremely timely given the recent developments in America, especially states like Texas, and as a piece of all too prophetic fiction it is truly chilling to read. Through Blue and Jet's stories, Stephens explores a myriad of meaty themes around nationalism, feminism, women's rights, abuse, racial discrimination, law and order, immigration, corruption, white power, money, and gun ownership, and she pulls no punches in the process. But she also delves into the strength of the human spirit, friendship, acceptance, love and the kindness of strangers, bringing some much needed threads of gold - and as Blue is forced to confront the beliefs instilled in her, and Jet learns to trust again through their developing friendship, they both work their way into your heart.
I am impressed by the way Stephens incorporates so many thought provoking topics into a fast-paced and entertaining thriller that draws you in from the very first page. This is a book that addresses challenging themes, but her writing is easily accessible to a wide audience from older teens and above, and really encourages discussion around the important issues of the many facets of freedom, the rights of the individual, and political and religious division.
This is a book that breaks your heart, makes you fearful for the future, and fires you up with indignant rage, but it also shows how the right kind of thinking and intent can make a difference. This is exactly the kind of unflinching book we need at this moment in time to raise awareness about how the politics of the hate has been given far too much rein in recent years.
In the new Republic, open carry gun ownership is mandatory, even for older children, and everyone is expected to conform to fundamentalist religious beliefs. However, far from creating a haven, things are not peaceful in Texas: money talks, corruption is rife, gun crime is widespread, and violent motorcycle gangs terrorise the towns. This is not a place to be poor, or to stand out for being different.
When Blue's friend Maggie, the daughter of Blessing's powerful mayor, is accidentally killed while cleaning Blue's gun, she is accused of her murder. Blue's only hope of escaping the death penalty is to run away and try to get over The Wall - her vague plan is to somehow find her mother, who she knows is in California. On her journey, she forms an unbreakable bond with sixteen-year-old Jet, a pregnant Latin American illegal who is on the run from her rapist uncle, and is desperate to get to America to have an abortion. Both girls are in search of freedom, but how far will they get, and will they ever see the other side of The Wall?
Blue Running is a dystopian thriller that is extremely timely given the recent developments in America, especially states like Texas, and as a piece of all too prophetic fiction it is truly chilling to read. Through Blue and Jet's stories, Stephens explores a myriad of meaty themes around nationalism, feminism, women's rights, abuse, racial discrimination, law and order, immigration, corruption, white power, money, and gun ownership, and she pulls no punches in the process. But she also delves into the strength of the human spirit, friendship, acceptance, love and the kindness of strangers, bringing some much needed threads of gold - and as Blue is forced to confront the beliefs instilled in her, and Jet learns to trust again through their developing friendship, they both work their way into your heart.
I am impressed by the way Stephens incorporates so many thought provoking topics into a fast-paced and entertaining thriller that draws you in from the very first page. This is a book that addresses challenging themes, but her writing is easily accessible to a wide audience from older teens and above, and really encourages discussion around the important issues of the many facets of freedom, the rights of the individual, and political and religious division.
This is a book that breaks your heart, makes you fearful for the future, and fires you up with indignant rage, but it also shows how the right kind of thinking and intent can make a difference. This is exactly the kind of unflinching book we need at this moment in time to raise awareness about how the politics of the hate has been given far too much rein in recent years.
May 8, 2023
I've often found that the New Adult / Young Adult genre includes some of the most thought-provoking work in contemporary fiction, and Lori Ann Stephens's latest novel, a dystopian thriller set in a near-future (or alternate reality - the distinction is unclear), frighteningly plausible version of Texas.
In this novel, Blue (Bluebonnet) Andrews, is running away from her hometown of Blessing because an accident with a gun killed her best friend, and even her father the town's deputy (usually drunk) thinks she did it.
But the version of Texas this young woman must navigate is one that has seceded from the Union. Open-carry of guns isn't just legal, it's required, the state has become the very Christian Republic of Texas, replete with a wall to keep Texans in (and "scalers" out), and where undocumented immigrants are shot on sight by the Border Patrol, and death is the typical punishment for abortion. With the entirety of the Republic declared a no-fly zone, trains are the only way to cross the state without having to drive yourself.
Fortunately, Blue runs into Jet, a young Latina woman who is pregnant, and equally desperate to escape into the country beyond the wall: America. Along the way, the two encounter green-bandanna-wearing motorcycle gangs who are more ruthless than the Border Patrol, communities of convenience, including one called The Neighborhood, where they find temporary respite and new challenges, and even some artists who encourage Blue's drawing talents. They also try to avoid the lethal Texas Rangers.
Both Blue and Jet feel like real young women caught in a horrible situation. Throughout the story they keep parts of themselves hidden from each other, but still aid and support each other. Jet has the better street smarts while Blue is better at blending in. They make a great team, and while it's never made explicit, it's likely that they will remain friends - or more - long after the story ends.
Author Stephens has written this book in a way only a native (or long-time resident) of Texas can. You can feel her love for the Lone Star State in the descriptions of the land and people, but you can also sense her dissatisfaction with the current political climate, and how it might expand in a worst-case scenario. This includes reproductive freedom as well as gun laws. Both issues were handled with delicacy, but sensitive readers should be prepared.
My review is based on the audiobook version of this story, which is read by Ashley Rose Kaplan who uses the perfect drawl - just enough Texas in her voice but not so much that her accent becomes a caricature - changing her accent when Jet is speaking. It's a perfect combination of story and narrator, and I felt her voice enhanced the experience of the novel.
Overall, this is a gripping story - part road trip, part flight for life - with a healthy dose of coming-of-age. I would not want to live in the version of Texas depicted in Blue Running, but I will happily read any future novels in this series.
In this novel, Blue (Bluebonnet) Andrews, is running away from her hometown of Blessing because an accident with a gun killed her best friend, and even her father the town's deputy (usually drunk) thinks she did it.
But the version of Texas this young woman must navigate is one that has seceded from the Union. Open-carry of guns isn't just legal, it's required, the state has become the very Christian Republic of Texas, replete with a wall to keep Texans in (and "scalers" out), and where undocumented immigrants are shot on sight by the Border Patrol, and death is the typical punishment for abortion. With the entirety of the Republic declared a no-fly zone, trains are the only way to cross the state without having to drive yourself.
Fortunately, Blue runs into Jet, a young Latina woman who is pregnant, and equally desperate to escape into the country beyond the wall: America. Along the way, the two encounter green-bandanna-wearing motorcycle gangs who are more ruthless than the Border Patrol, communities of convenience, including one called The Neighborhood, where they find temporary respite and new challenges, and even some artists who encourage Blue's drawing talents. They also try to avoid the lethal Texas Rangers.
Both Blue and Jet feel like real young women caught in a horrible situation. Throughout the story they keep parts of themselves hidden from each other, but still aid and support each other. Jet has the better street smarts while Blue is better at blending in. They make a great team, and while it's never made explicit, it's likely that they will remain friends - or more - long after the story ends.
Author Stephens has written this book in a way only a native (or long-time resident) of Texas can. You can feel her love for the Lone Star State in the descriptions of the land and people, but you can also sense her dissatisfaction with the current political climate, and how it might expand in a worst-case scenario. This includes reproductive freedom as well as gun laws. Both issues were handled with delicacy, but sensitive readers should be prepared.
My review is based on the audiobook version of this story, which is read by Ashley Rose Kaplan who uses the perfect drawl - just enough Texas in her voice but not so much that her accent becomes a caricature - changing her accent when Jet is speaking. It's a perfect combination of story and narrator, and I felt her voice enhanced the experience of the novel.
Overall, this is a gripping story - part road trip, part flight for life - with a healthy dose of coming-of-age. I would not want to live in the version of Texas depicted in Blue Running, but I will happily read any future novels in this series.
November 29, 2021
This is a really compelling and engaging book with a fascinating premise. Set in a slightly dystopian future, the state of Texas has ceded from the United States and now operates as an autonomous Republic, separated from the rest of America by a wall, no one is allowed in or out. The wall is guarded, not only by official Border Guards but also by trigger-happy vigilantes eager to bag illegal immigrants or emigrants. And in this Texas, everyone is required to carry a gun by law. The Republic is very right wing and very religious, and rights are suitably restricted, especially for women. The scariest thing about this book is how entirely plausible the story is.
The protagonist, Blue, comes from a family riven by the cession so, when she suddenly and unfairly finds herself on the wrong side of the law, she feels like she has no option but to go on the run. Over the course of her flight, she is forced to question everything she has been brought up to believe, and learns to stand on her own two feet and discover her own version of right and wrong.
Blue is such a fantastic character to carry this book. At the beginning she is a little naive in the ways of the wider world, but also old beyond her years because of what she has had to deal with due to her absent mother and alcoholic father. She is an endearing mix of toughness and vulnerability and this makes her a person who quickly gets under your skin and makes you want the best for her. The unfairness of the situation she finds herself in, combined with the danger of the outside world that she is thrust into will have you on the edge of your seat throughout and willing her on to get to safety. You will be shouting at her who to trust and who to avoid, wanting to avenge the wrongs done to her and protect the people she cares for. This book is really affecting, and I raced though it to find out what happened.
Blue desperately wants things to be fair, to be able to trust and believe in the people and the ideals that she has been raised to respect, but the world is corrupt and those in charge are the worst of all. Things are not as black and white as she has always thought, and she is struggling to navigate this new world whilst rapidly maturing herself. This is a book of self-discovery, which also explores such important and topical issues of feminism, human rights, gun control, immigration and social injustice. There is so much going on, it will really make you think whilst keeping you entertained from beginning to end. This is a book that will appeal to adults and young adults, and would actually provide a great kicking off point for discussions on some of these topics with teenagers who are just starting to explore these ideas.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the writing, characterisation and the plotting are all excellent and it is a really great read. I highly recommend it, and look forward to seeing what comes next from this author.
The protagonist, Blue, comes from a family riven by the cession so, when she suddenly and unfairly finds herself on the wrong side of the law, she feels like she has no option but to go on the run. Over the course of her flight, she is forced to question everything she has been brought up to believe, and learns to stand on her own two feet and discover her own version of right and wrong.
Blue is such a fantastic character to carry this book. At the beginning she is a little naive in the ways of the wider world, but also old beyond her years because of what she has had to deal with due to her absent mother and alcoholic father. She is an endearing mix of toughness and vulnerability and this makes her a person who quickly gets under your skin and makes you want the best for her. The unfairness of the situation she finds herself in, combined with the danger of the outside world that she is thrust into will have you on the edge of your seat throughout and willing her on to get to safety. You will be shouting at her who to trust and who to avoid, wanting to avenge the wrongs done to her and protect the people she cares for. This book is really affecting, and I raced though it to find out what happened.
Blue desperately wants things to be fair, to be able to trust and believe in the people and the ideals that she has been raised to respect, but the world is corrupt and those in charge are the worst of all. Things are not as black and white as she has always thought, and she is struggling to navigate this new world whilst rapidly maturing herself. This is a book of self-discovery, which also explores such important and topical issues of feminism, human rights, gun control, immigration and social injustice. There is so much going on, it will really make you think whilst keeping you entertained from beginning to end. This is a book that will appeal to adults and young adults, and would actually provide a great kicking off point for discussions on some of these topics with teenagers who are just starting to explore these ideas.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the writing, characterisation and the plotting are all excellent and it is a really great read. I highly recommend it, and look forward to seeing what comes next from this author.
May 17, 2023
In Blue Running,The Republic of Texas hasseceded from America with a wall separating it from America. It enforces gun carrying with appropriate training, starting in high school, as the approved way to approach societal shortcomings. Feeling alone in so many ways, Blue, short for Bluebonnet, at fourteen years old, finds herself trapped. The one friend she discovers during the summer months shows her true colors when school begins. The friend chooses the in-crowd over her summer acquaintance from the perceived wrong side of the tracks. Blue’s friend distances herself during school, causing Blue to feel more isolated and alone. Her father, Dah, works in law enforcement and has been raising Blue since his wife left him. Blue excels at school, keeps house, cooks their meals, and takes the role of first aid when her Dah is injured to save money. She’s learned to avoid Dah when he comes home drunk. Blue holds onto the picture of her mother, which captivates herimagination andallows her todream.
Blue carries a gun, as do all teens who complete the training but has no desire to use or maintain it. Inthe Republic, those traveling without their weapon face serious consequences. Blue visits her friend hoping for a reconciliation. Her friend explains things while showing Blue their differences in affluence. Her friend succeeds in local shooting competitions and insists on cleaning Blue’s gun. The unimagined results send Blue on the run for her life when she realizes that trust in God and Republic could be a death sentence, with her station in life the determining factor. Blue runs, hoping to find her mother. Her journey to Americabecomes filled with experiences that challenge her trust. Along the way, she meets a traveling companion, Jet, and the two of themfacethe harsh realities of theguilty-until-proven-innocentaspects of this world.
Beginning in Blessing, Texas, AuthorLori Stephens paints a picture of the Republic with leadership deciding right versus wrong. The citizens must trust in God and the law. Ms. Stephens does a stellar job of delivering detailed descriptions of people, places, and things which bring readers andlisteners into the story. The realistic dialogue makes the characters unique and relatable like frosting on the cake.
Ashley Rose Kaplan provides a flawless performance in the audiobook with maintaining character accents, well-timed pauses and consistent timing.
Fans of the dystopian genre, Texas and audiobook formats will savor this reality shift that, in many ways, covers the reality of Texas today —well done to both the author and narrator.
Blue carries a gun, as do all teens who complete the training but has no desire to use or maintain it. Inthe Republic, those traveling without their weapon face serious consequences. Blue visits her friend hoping for a reconciliation. Her friend explains things while showing Blue their differences in affluence. Her friend succeeds in local shooting competitions and insists on cleaning Blue’s gun. The unimagined results send Blue on the run for her life when she realizes that trust in God and Republic could be a death sentence, with her station in life the determining factor. Blue runs, hoping to find her mother. Her journey to Americabecomes filled with experiences that challenge her trust. Along the way, she meets a traveling companion, Jet, and the two of themfacethe harsh realities of theguilty-until-proven-innocentaspects of this world.
Beginning in Blessing, Texas, AuthorLori Stephens paints a picture of the Republic with leadership deciding right versus wrong. The citizens must trust in God and the law. Ms. Stephens does a stellar job of delivering detailed descriptions of people, places, and things which bring readers andlisteners into the story. The realistic dialogue makes the characters unique and relatable like frosting on the cake.
Ashley Rose Kaplan provides a flawless performance in the audiobook with maintaining character accents, well-timed pauses and consistent timing.
Fans of the dystopian genre, Texas and audiobook formats will savor this reality shift that, in many ways, covers the reality of Texas today —well done to both the author and narrator.
December 8, 2021
"I didn't know where I was running. I just knew who I was running from."
Blue Running is a compelling coming-of-age novel that is like reading a dystopian version of Thelma & Louise. In the new Republic of Texas it is compulsory to carry a gun, residents are prevented from crossing into America by the Wall, abortion, homosexuality and Islam are illegal and many crimes are punishable by death.
After the accidental death of her best friend, fourteen-year-old Bluebonnet (Blue) Andrews is accused of murder and goes on the run, determined to find her mother who left on one of the last flights out of the Republic. When Blue meets Jet, a secretive girl who is also on the run, the two decide to travel together, forming an unlikely bond and protecting each other from traffickers, gangs and the law. Will the pair make it to America safely? Or will they be caught or shot down before they get there?
I don’t often read dystopian fiction, but this book’s synopsis really piqued my interest. All the same, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading, but ended up totally gripped and immersed in this well-written thriller. The new Republic is brilliantly imagined and feels sadly believable. It was far too easy for me to see how a part of the US could end up subject to such a regime and also suffering such lawlessness.
Blue and Jet are great characters who are easy to root for and I was all-in, absorbed in their dangerous journey and desperate to know if they made it to safety. Neither girl has had an easy life and they are both all alone in the world and facing literal life and death situations when they meet. Jet is a little more worldly than Blue and I was glad she found someone with that wisdom to help her in her travels.
A compelling, tense and moving story that deals with some sensitive and difficult topics, I would recommend this refreshing and riveting debut.
Blue Running is a compelling coming-of-age novel that is like reading a dystopian version of Thelma & Louise. In the new Republic of Texas it is compulsory to carry a gun, residents are prevented from crossing into America by the Wall, abortion, homosexuality and Islam are illegal and many crimes are punishable by death.
After the accidental death of her best friend, fourteen-year-old Bluebonnet (Blue) Andrews is accused of murder and goes on the run, determined to find her mother who left on one of the last flights out of the Republic. When Blue meets Jet, a secretive girl who is also on the run, the two decide to travel together, forming an unlikely bond and protecting each other from traffickers, gangs and the law. Will the pair make it to America safely? Or will they be caught or shot down before they get there?
I don’t often read dystopian fiction, but this book’s synopsis really piqued my interest. All the same, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading, but ended up totally gripped and immersed in this well-written thriller. The new Republic is brilliantly imagined and feels sadly believable. It was far too easy for me to see how a part of the US could end up subject to such a regime and also suffering such lawlessness.
Blue and Jet are great characters who are easy to root for and I was all-in, absorbed in their dangerous journey and desperate to know if they made it to safety. Neither girl has had an easy life and they are both all alone in the world and facing literal life and death situations when they meet. Jet is a little more worldly than Blue and I was glad she found someone with that wisdom to help her in her travels.
A compelling, tense and moving story that deals with some sensitive and difficult topics, I would recommend this refreshing and riveting debut.
December 4, 2021
Blue is a neglected, abandoned and lonely teenager, who finds her life thrown upside down when she finds herself in the middle of a tragic accident. Trouble is nobody believes her and as she is making her way to the person she thinks will embrace her with open arms, she comes across a young girl who intends to flee to America to an abortion. Blue starts to understand her own privilege and how different life is for both of them. Their journey becomes an awakening and eye-opening experience.
A dystopian that sails close to the wind when it comes to realistic possible futuristic scenarios will always be memorable and relatable. This plot describes a future certain political groupings and fanatics would be quite comfortable with. A wall built between those who misinterpret freedom and democracy, and those who understand better what democracy truly means.
Stephens has brought together the most contentious issues of 21st century America, and the political climate of the past six years or so, to create a fascinating coming-of-age story. Blue represents the youth of today, but perhaps more importantly Jet and Blue represent both sides of the story.
In a frank and often alarming look into the future, the plot deals with racism, neglect, abuse, and the victims of political power plays. Where the powers that be take choice and freedom away from women and young girls, all in the name of religion – on words written by man for men. Whilst simultaneously the same powers that be think nothing of making each child a potential killer by arming them and enforcing martial law on everyone, including children who break the law. The break in logic is clear to some and yet to others this seems like a great structure for society.
It’s a gripping and fascinating read.
*I received a courtesy copy*
A dystopian that sails close to the wind when it comes to realistic possible futuristic scenarios will always be memorable and relatable. This plot describes a future certain political groupings and fanatics would be quite comfortable with. A wall built between those who misinterpret freedom and democracy, and those who understand better what democracy truly means.
Stephens has brought together the most contentious issues of 21st century America, and the political climate of the past six years or so, to create a fascinating coming-of-age story. Blue represents the youth of today, but perhaps more importantly Jet and Blue represent both sides of the story.
In a frank and often alarming look into the future, the plot deals with racism, neglect, abuse, and the victims of political power plays. Where the powers that be take choice and freedom away from women and young girls, all in the name of religion – on words written by man for men. Whilst simultaneously the same powers that be think nothing of making each child a potential killer by arming them and enforcing martial law on everyone, including children who break the law. The break in logic is clear to some and yet to others this seems like a great structure for society.
It’s a gripping and fascinating read.
*I received a courtesy copy*
July 23, 2023
This, like most dystopic novels was a hyperbolic extrapolation of real political leanings. The author plays a good game of "what if..." in this story. If you live in Texas (as I do), this might hit close to home. And it's a scary thought.
Beyond political messaging, this is a story of found family, loneliness and abandonment, finding self worth, friendship, and freedom.
It also does a nice job of avoiding a white savior ending.
Synopsis:
Bluebonnet Andrews, age 14, daughter of the local drunk deputy, lives in the Republic of Texas. She's accused murdering her best friend.
Jet, age 16, an illegal immigrant is on the run from the gang that held her hostage.
Can they escape Texas?
In this world, the extreme right in Texas has seceeded from the United States, creating an independent republic. Texas has completely surrounded itself with a guarded border wall, cutting off illegal entry and exit through both the IS and Mexico. In the republic, all citizens are expected to be armed, and even children carry guns to protect themselves from gangs who frequently attack schools. Abortion is illegal, queerness is illegal, being anything but white makes you highly suspect. And if you don't pray on Sunday to the baby Jesus, well, bless your heart.
"We do what we must to survive. We leave homes and fruends and languages and histories... But we also stay...We stay to help our siaters stand up, to find our balance and claim our lives."
Beyond political messaging, this is a story of found family, loneliness and abandonment, finding self worth, friendship, and freedom.
It also does a nice job of avoiding a white savior ending.
Synopsis:
Bluebonnet Andrews, age 14, daughter of the local drunk deputy, lives in the Republic of Texas. She's accused murdering her best friend.
Jet, age 16, an illegal immigrant is on the run from the gang that held her hostage.
Can they escape Texas?
In this world, the extreme right in Texas has seceeded from the United States, creating an independent republic. Texas has completely surrounded itself with a guarded border wall, cutting off illegal entry and exit through both the IS and Mexico. In the republic, all citizens are expected to be armed, and even children carry guns to protect themselves from gangs who frequently attack schools. Abortion is illegal, queerness is illegal, being anything but white makes you highly suspect. And if you don't pray on Sunday to the baby Jesus, well, bless your heart.
"We do what we must to survive. We leave homes and fruends and languages and histories... But we also stay...We stay to help our siaters stand up, to find our balance and claim our lives."
December 14, 2021
Blue Running is set in Texas, a state that has pulled away from the rest of America and the whole world, with a wall built around it. Nobody gets in or out without the right paperwork. Oh and everyone, even children, carry guns by law! This world building immediately set a dark atmosphere and I was hooked so quickly! I mean there was a school shooting in the first few chapters! 😱
We follow the story of Blue, a young girl caught up in a world full of oppression, racism, homophobia and hate of anything or anyone different. I don’t usually read books with younger characters but I enjoyed the innocence it brought to the book and I still related to Blue. Her child like mindset kept her humble even when forced to grow up quickly and the contrast between her thoughts and the world she was in was genius! ⭐️ The two main characters had a beautiful bond with a strong found family vibe! I loved watching them learnt to trust and have somewhere they belonged!
As I mentioned, the book is dark and highlighted a lot of global problems and the damage this hate can cause! It really made me grateful for the people I’m surrounded by and that I live freely.
The story was fast paced with hurdle after hurdle and I wasn’t bored at all! The writing really made the book brilliant!
Very good read, 4.5 stars from me!
We follow the story of Blue, a young girl caught up in a world full of oppression, racism, homophobia and hate of anything or anyone different. I don’t usually read books with younger characters but I enjoyed the innocence it brought to the book and I still related to Blue. Her child like mindset kept her humble even when forced to grow up quickly and the contrast between her thoughts and the world she was in was genius! ⭐️ The two main characters had a beautiful bond with a strong found family vibe! I loved watching them learnt to trust and have somewhere they belonged!
As I mentioned, the book is dark and highlighted a lot of global problems and the damage this hate can cause! It really made me grateful for the people I’m surrounded by and that I live freely.
The story was fast paced with hurdle after hurdle and I wasn’t bored at all! The writing really made the book brilliant!
Very good read, 4.5 stars from me!
April 20, 2022
I loved this book! I feel that says it all, but I will expound a little.
The author paints such a vivid picture that you feel like you are walking through a VR version of her story. Everything just explodes in your mind with amazing clarity. You become so vested in the characters that you find yourself on a wave of emotions throughout their journey across Texas.
A lot of today's authors and script writers tend to throw all the exposition at you in the first chapter/episode. I love the the way you jump into this story right in the middle of life. The details of society and law are only slowly revealed throughout the journey. It adds to the realism of the situation and lets the reader know they are part of something bigger. Life happens over time and this book lets that happen.
A truly wonderful read, and no joke, it is a page turner.
The author paints such a vivid picture that you feel like you are walking through a VR version of her story. Everything just explodes in your mind with amazing clarity. You become so vested in the characters that you find yourself on a wave of emotions throughout their journey across Texas.
A lot of today's authors and script writers tend to throw all the exposition at you in the first chapter/episode. I love the the way you jump into this story right in the middle of life. The details of society and law are only slowly revealed throughout the journey. It adds to the realism of the situation and lets the reader know they are part of something bigger. Life happens over time and this book lets that happen.
A truly wonderful read, and no joke, it is a page turner.
May 19, 2023
This book has been in my TBR pile for ages and I've no idea why I've only just picked it up. It's set in a post-secessionist Texas that, in the light of recent developments, seems only too real. Everyone openly carries, fundamentalist religion is normal, motorcycle gangs terrorise towns, and Texas has built a wall around the state to keep people in as well as out. When Blue accidentally kills her best friend she goes on the run and meets Jet, a Latino who is pregnant through rape - in a state where abortion is illegal.
Definitely a YA book, this is an exceedingly relevant thriller than encompasses feminism, women's rights, immigration, abuse and more.
Definitely a YA book, this is an exceedingly relevant thriller than encompasses feminism, women's rights, immigration, abuse and more.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews