What do you think?
Rate this book
Fade to Blue
Sophie Blue started wearing a black skirt and Midnight Noir lipstick on her last birthday. It was also the day her father disappeared. Or spontaneously combusted. Which is sort of bad timing, since a Popsicle truck with tinted windows has started circling the house.
Kenny Fade is a basketball god. His sneakers cost more than his Jeep. He's the guy all the ladies (and their mommas) want. Bad.
Sophie Blue and Kenny Fade don't have a thing in common. Aside from being reasonably sure they're losing their minds.
Acclaimed author Sean Beaudoin's wildly innovative novel combines uproarious humor with enough plot twists to fill a tube sock. Part thriller, part darkly comic philosophical discussion, and accompanied by a comic book interstitial, Fade to Blue is a whip-smart romp that keeps readers guessing until the last paragraph.
Kenny Fade is a basketball god. His sneakers cost more than his Jeep. He's the guy all the ladies (and their mommas) want. Bad.
Sophie Blue and Kenny Fade don't have a thing in common. Aside from being reasonably sure they're losing their minds.
Acclaimed author Sean Beaudoin's wildly innovative novel combines uproarious humor with enough plot twists to fill a tube sock. Part thriller, part darkly comic philosophical discussion, and accompanied by a comic book interstitial, Fade to Blue is a whip-smart romp that keeps readers guessing until the last paragraph.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2009
10 people are currently reading
508 people want to read
About the author
Sean Beaudoin
21 books136 followersSean Beaudoin is the author of five Young Adult novels, including the rude zombie love story The Infects, and the black comedy rock and roll love story Wise Young Fool. Sean likes love stories almost as much as he loves to talk about himself in the third person. Welcome Thieves is a short story collection that will be out March '16 with Algonquin Press.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
September 3, 2013
What a strange book. Almost impossible to describe without going into an absurd amount of detail, or spoiling the many twists and turns the narrative takes. Let's try this: Sophie Blue's father is gone. He might be dead, or maybe not. Her entire family has been unable to deal with his absence. She herself may be going crazy, finding herself stalked by a speeding ice cream truck, hearing voices, and seeing strange things around her. Or maybe she isn't going crazy after all.
While I was reading this, I was entirely absorbed. I couldn't see where the narrative was going, and I had to know. I couldn't put it down, and I finished in record time. But now, after having finished it, am I still as absorbed? Well, not quite so much. The mystery of what all these strange events actually mean keep the story going, but I didn't get attached enough to either the characters or the world itself to leave me with a lasting love of this book.
But it is absolutely a fun and unusual read, and I would still recommend it for that. It's very different, which can be a good thing. Especially because I could see that Beaudoin put in a lot of work on his setting and timeline of events.
While I was reading this, I was entirely absorbed. I couldn't see where the narrative was going, and I had to know. I couldn't put it down, and I finished in record time. But now, after having finished it, am I still as absorbed? Well, not quite so much. The mystery of what all these strange events actually mean keep the story going, but I didn't get attached enough to either the characters or the world itself to leave me with a lasting love of this book.
But it is absolutely a fun and unusual read, and I would still recommend it for that. It's very different, which can be a good thing. Especially because I could see that Beaudoin put in a lot of work on his setting and timeline of events.
November 24, 2014
This book is nine different level of FUCKING AWESOME! I don't know what's better; the total snark attack or the fact that the plot is so FUBAR that you have to read it again and again and again because it's twisted your brain into a knot and no matter how much you squint, you just can't untie it.
This is not a book you can just skim through because if you do, you'll be more lost than Hansel and Gretel. You have to pay attention. And if you do, you will be amply rewarded and quite possibly become a Sean Beadoin fangirl/boy by the end of it.
It starts off so linear. A little odd, but linear, normal. Your regular, slightly funky story. And then the weird shit gets weirder but running right along next to it, the fuzziness of all of the situations starts to get clearer. I'm sure that makes zero sense. Weirder and weirder but clearer and clearer. I'm not about to spoil and if I say anything about anything, it'll give it away. Just trust me on this.
I love the language of the characters. It's probably the most realistic I've read in any YA book (which is one big bucket of ironic considering the story, read it and you'll get me). It's not that faux trying-to-be-hip-and-current language that the likes of other YA books try to sound like. The dialogue, the jam, just read so naturally. The OS's upspeak is the shit. Because you know you know someone that sounds like they end all their sentences in questions. You know you do. But how often is that portrayed in YA despite the fact that it goes on all the time? Rarely. You get authors trying to bank on the dialogue but never on the actual patterns. Beaudoin does that. He doesn't rely on colloquialisms of the day to get through. It's all about sentence structure. You know "they" say that that good writers can portray accents not through phonetics but through structure. And it's true.
And this is quite possibly one of the most intricately written books I've ever read. And not just in YA. There is nothing simple in this book despite how simple it appears or how you think you've got it all figured out. You're wrong. The skill that a writer needs to write something so non-linear and so utterly fucked up but keep it this intact and understandable is phenomenal. It makes my writing so one dimensional and makes Beaudoin's look like a nine-sided Rubik's Cube. Sure, everything comes together in the end . . . except there's that one stupid red square in with all those yellows that just . . . won't . . . go . . . back . . .
I have nothing to complain about with this book. And you all know me. Even if I love it there's usually something I can point out. Nope. Not here. I wouldn't call it perfect but this is the kind of writing I'm jealous of. If you like books that really make you think while holding you on the edge of your seat while you flip page after page after page because it's your crack, read this. Read it now. Even the comic in the middle is wicked. A book with pictures! Yay! But seriously. Read it.
This is not a book you can just skim through because if you do, you'll be more lost than Hansel and Gretel. You have to pay attention. And if you do, you will be amply rewarded and quite possibly become a Sean Beadoin fangirl/boy by the end of it.
It starts off so linear. A little odd, but linear, normal. Your regular, slightly funky story. And then the weird shit gets weirder but running right along next to it, the fuzziness of all of the situations starts to get clearer. I'm sure that makes zero sense. Weirder and weirder but clearer and clearer. I'm not about to spoil and if I say anything about anything, it'll give it away. Just trust me on this.
I love the language of the characters. It's probably the most realistic I've read in any YA book (which is one big bucket of ironic considering the story, read it and you'll get me). It's not that faux trying-to-be-hip-and-current language that the likes of other YA books try to sound like. The dialogue, the jam, just read so naturally. The OS's upspeak is the shit. Because you know you know someone that sounds like they end all their sentences in questions. You know you do. But how often is that portrayed in YA despite the fact that it goes on all the time? Rarely. You get authors trying to bank on the dialogue but never on the actual patterns. Beaudoin does that. He doesn't rely on colloquialisms of the day to get through. It's all about sentence structure. You know "they" say that that good writers can portray accents not through phonetics but through structure. And it's true.
And this is quite possibly one of the most intricately written books I've ever read. And not just in YA. There is nothing simple in this book despite how simple it appears or how you think you've got it all figured out. You're wrong. The skill that a writer needs to write something so non-linear and so utterly fucked up but keep it this intact and understandable is phenomenal. It makes my writing so one dimensional and makes Beaudoin's look like a nine-sided Rubik's Cube. Sure, everything comes together in the end . . . except there's that one stupid red square in with all those yellows that just . . . won't . . . go . . . back . . .
I have nothing to complain about with this book. And you all know me. Even if I love it there's usually something I can point out. Nope. Not here. I wouldn't call it perfect but this is the kind of writing I'm jealous of. If you like books that really make you think while holding you on the edge of your seat while you flip page after page after page because it's your crack, read this. Read it now. Even the comic in the middle is wicked. A book with pictures! Yay! But seriously. Read it.
February 3, 2013
Fade to Blue is like trying to explain insanity from the eyes of the insane. Even at the end you’ll have a bunch of questions that will go unanswered, simply because there was never an answer there to begin with. I think that’s exactly how Beaudoin wants it to be.
The book is, as the summary says, full of a crazy amount of plot twists that serve to confuse you as well as keep you on your toes. It makes you use parts of your brain that you didn’t know you had and probably wish you could hide and never see again, too late. Fade to Blue is twisted, but in an ingenious way. It explores the mind and all of the ways that it can be fooled, tested and even broken. It mixes Beaudoin’s unique brand of humor and writing style with chilling insight into the human consciousness.
All in all I think I enjoyed Fade to Blue, but I might be in some alternate reality/dimension/unknown that just makes my mind construct a world where I have read the book when in reality I don’t even know what Fade to Blue is. Who knows? You’ll have to read it and figure that out for yourself.
Rating 5/5
The book is, as the summary says, full of a crazy amount of plot twists that serve to confuse you as well as keep you on your toes. It makes you use parts of your brain that you didn’t know you had and probably wish you could hide and never see again, too late. Fade to Blue is twisted, but in an ingenious way. It explores the mind and all of the ways that it can be fooled, tested and even broken. It mixes Beaudoin’s unique brand of humor and writing style with chilling insight into the human consciousness.
All in all I think I enjoyed Fade to Blue, but I might be in some alternate reality/dimension/unknown that just makes my mind construct a world where I have read the book when in reality I don’t even know what Fade to Blue is. Who knows? You’ll have to read it and figure that out for yourself.
Rating 5/5
December 31, 2013
Fade to Blue - like holy cow! It keeps you guessing to the very last. I definitely had NO clue where the story was going to end up - or where things were going along the way. Totally unpredictable. I have to admit to being a bit confused at times. I *think* I was able to keep up with things but it got pretty complicated. Doesn't change the fact that it was an entirely enjoyable read and I really liked the main characters.
Fade to Blue was also interesting because it had a small chunk that was a comic book - the book revolves around a comic book called La Nutrika. I was a bit worried it'd be hard to read those pages on my iPad but I had no problems whatsoever. I haven't read a lot of books that include manga or comic book aspects to them, so it was an interesting experience. I was glad it wasn't a ton of pages, only a few, I'm not a huge fan of them, but the way La Nutrika was weaved into the story as a whole was very cool.
This is the second Beaudoin book I've read - The first being The Infects and I'm looking forward to reading more of his work.
Fade to Blue was also interesting because it had a small chunk that was a comic book - the book revolves around a comic book called La Nutrika. I was a bit worried it'd be hard to read those pages on my iPad but I had no problems whatsoever. I haven't read a lot of books that include manga or comic book aspects to them, so it was an interesting experience. I was glad it wasn't a ton of pages, only a few, I'm not a huge fan of them, but the way La Nutrika was weaved into the story as a whole was very cool.
This is the second Beaudoin book I've read - The first being The Infects and I'm looking forward to reading more of his work.
November 17, 2009
This is definitely one of the strangest books that I have read in a while, and I'm not really sure if I liked it. It was a fascinating read, and I kept thinking about the book after I was done. But overall, I think it missed the mark in a few ways.
Fade to Blue is the story of Sophie Blue, who decided to start wearing all black, including her lipstick, on her last birthday, which was also the last time she saw her father. Sophie is pretty sure that she is losing her mind, and the scary dreams and creepy popsicle truck that seems to be following her don't really help things. The book also seems to be the story of Kenny Fade, the school basketball star for whom everything seems to go exactly right. But he may be going crazy too. Their stories begin to intertwine in a way that makes you scratch your head, that makes you go, "Okay, this book is totally not what I thought it was about." The other main characters of the story, Sophie's best friend Lake and her brother O.S., are also not quite what they seem.
As the plot twists and turns, I found myself getting a little bit lost, which I don't think was entirely my fault as a reader. Beaudoin seems to want to take this story somewhere that he can't quite get to. But it really is a fascinating read, nonetheless. Also, I couldn't read about the creepy popsicle truck without picturing the ice cream truck from that old Play Station video game, Twisted Metal. If you know what I'm talking about, you'll know what I mean when I say it's creepy.
Fade to Blue is the story of Sophie Blue, who decided to start wearing all black, including her lipstick, on her last birthday, which was also the last time she saw her father. Sophie is pretty sure that she is losing her mind, and the scary dreams and creepy popsicle truck that seems to be following her don't really help things. The book also seems to be the story of Kenny Fade, the school basketball star for whom everything seems to go exactly right. But he may be going crazy too. Their stories begin to intertwine in a way that makes you scratch your head, that makes you go, "Okay, this book is totally not what I thought it was about." The other main characters of the story, Sophie's best friend Lake and her brother O.S., are also not quite what they seem.
As the plot twists and turns, I found myself getting a little bit lost, which I don't think was entirely my fault as a reader. Beaudoin seems to want to take this story somewhere that he can't quite get to. But it really is a fascinating read, nonetheless. Also, I couldn't read about the creepy popsicle truck without picturing the ice cream truck from that old Play Station video game, Twisted Metal. If you know what I'm talking about, you'll know what I mean when I say it's creepy.
March 4, 2011
This is a strange book meant for those who like those "edgy" books that drive many librarians nuts. What I can say about it is that it will hold your attention because you will be so busy trying to figure out what is going on and making predictions based on the clues that you will not be bored. Sophie Blue, also known as "Gothika," is trying to piece together a mystery that began with the disappearance of her father on her sixteenth birthday. He has been gone a year, and her family is falling apart. Her brother has become obsessed with comics, and her mother lives in a state of TV/dream unreality. A popcicle truck keeps trying to kill Sophie, she hears voices that say gotothelabgotothelabgotothelab, and an evil nurse pops up with a syringe. This novel reads more like a graphic novel with a short, embedded comic amid the chaos. Sophie describes images, events, and people who become more disjointed and remix into different situations, but it all comes together in a startling way. However, the true experience is the journey and not the destination because the reader will encounter humor, satire, and a look into a dyfunctional dystopian landscape that will linger far longer than the resolution. Recommended for grades 8+; those who are interested in comic books, graphic novels, and edgy books will like Fade to Blue.
June 8, 2012
Honestly, I'm not sure what to make of this book. Fade to Blue is an off-beat, confusing read, and I'm pretty sure it's meant to be. Parts of the story find Sophie and Kenny questioning their sanity, and as I read this, I found myself wondering if I was going crazy, as well. The book is that difficult to follow, but at the same time I found myself wanting to find out just what in the world was going on!
For the sake of being up front, this is the strangest book I've read all year. (And possibly the most frustrating.) The plot feels like it is all over the place, yet it is obviously intricately written. It is as if the story is going forwards and then backwards again. The characters are all pretty quirky, and various names and brands sound suspiciously like names and brands we are familiar with, yet often they convey something else.
I should probably note that Fade to Blue is not a graphic novel, though the cover art suggests it may be. However, the story does revolve around comic books--well, one in particular... I can't say that this is a book for everyone, but I think that readers who like books that are out there and off-beat will enjoy this one. While not one of my favorite reads, I can appreciate what Beaudoin was working to achieve with Fade to Blue.
For the sake of being up front, this is the strangest book I've read all year. (And possibly the most frustrating.) The plot feels like it is all over the place, yet it is obviously intricately written. It is as if the story is going forwards and then backwards again. The characters are all pretty quirky, and various names and brands sound suspiciously like names and brands we are familiar with, yet often they convey something else.
I should probably note that Fade to Blue is not a graphic novel, though the cover art suggests it may be. However, the story does revolve around comic books--well, one in particular... I can't say that this is a book for everyone, but I think that readers who like books that are out there and off-beat will enjoy this one. While not one of my favorite reads, I can appreciate what Beaudoin was working to achieve with Fade to Blue.
November 11, 2012
My initial thoughts after finishing Fade to Blue by Sean Beaudoin were WTF did I just read. Either this book is bloody brilliant or the most illogical, strangest book I've ever read. It sort of reminds me of Donnie Darko, I know I should get it, but I don't fully understand the work.
Read the rest of my review here
Read the rest of my review here
Read
February 27, 2015I can not honestly rate this book. Not at the present time. I just can't. Too much odd for the wee hours of the morning to try and sort my brain around. I decided to read because I couldn't sleep, not realizing I would be finishing it and now I have to think about it. This strange little book. So nope sorry you get no rating from me right now, heck or real review. I, I just can't.
August 24, 2015
This book is very difficult to review as too much detail would spoil the plot. All I can really say is that this was one of the most bizarre and confusing books I have ever read. You're just going to have to read it...
April 8, 2022
This is definitely the strangest book I’ve ever read, and not in a good way. I have no idea what the fuck just happened or what to make of anything.
Sophie is Kenny and Sophie’s dad isn’t dead and Sophie isn’t Sophie at all and what the fuck and she was pricked in the elbow and her dog, Twinkle isn’t really her dog and I like the insult “renob” I think I’ll use it.
But maybe Beaudoin has some secret, undiscovered genius and this was a hymn of the meaning of life and existentialism and surrealism and existing in a simulation.
Or maybe not. Maybe he’s just some self-published wanna-be trying to pave his way in the world along with everyone else, and doing so a bit more extravagantly.
This was a Bad Day Read. Did it make my day worse? Arguably. It was funny sometimes. Other times it was what-the-fuck-able.
Lake, “the wheelchair chick”’s characterization really bugged me. At first I was really excited to get disability representation in a main character, until I realized she was in some freak accident and everyone thought she was extremely hot before and not just a hot mess.
The comic was cool. Uhm. That’s about it.
Sophie is Kenny and Sophie’s dad isn’t dead and Sophie isn’t Sophie at all and what the fuck and she was pricked in the elbow and her dog, Twinkle isn’t really her dog and I like the insult “renob” I think I’ll use it.
But maybe Beaudoin has some secret, undiscovered genius and this was a hymn of the meaning of life and existentialism and surrealism and existing in a simulation.
Or maybe not. Maybe he’s just some self-published wanna-be trying to pave his way in the world along with everyone else, and doing so a bit more extravagantly.
This was a Bad Day Read. Did it make my day worse? Arguably. It was funny sometimes. Other times it was what-the-fuck-able.
Lake, “the wheelchair chick”’s characterization really bugged me. At first I was really excited to get disability representation in a main character, until I realized she was in some freak accident and everyone thought she was extremely hot before and not just a hot mess.
The comic was cool. Uhm. That’s about it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2019
Language - PG-13 (37 swears, 2 "f"), Sexual Content - PG-13; Violence - G
Sophie's dad disappeared on her last birthday after he took her with him to swing by the lab he worked at after her soccer game. At the lab she got a shot from a lady she didn't know and it knocked her out. Now she is talking to a psychiatrist who's trying to figure out what happened. But does even Sophie know?
I did not enjoy reading this book because it was too confusing. I understand a mystery element at the beginning so you'll keep reading, but I'm still not sure what happened. It just seemed to be all over the place.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
Sophie's dad disappeared on her last birthday after he took her with him to swing by the lab he worked at after her soccer game. At the lab she got a shot from a lady she didn't know and it knocked her out. Now she is talking to a psychiatrist who's trying to figure out what happened. But does even Sophie know?
I did not enjoy reading this book because it was too confusing. I understand a mystery element at the beginning so you'll keep reading, but I'm still not sure what happened. It just seemed to be all over the place.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
December 16, 2019
“I’m so goth…I’m roadkill."
Weird. It totally reminds me of a show I’m watching right now. I won’t mention it because it’s spoilery for both. But like,
“Paranoia will get your through times of no enemies better than enemies will get you through times of no paranoia.” This is better than that other quote about being paranoid that everyone attributes to Kurt Cobain. Or maybe that one is just too ubiquitous.
Some great lines in this book. “Everything seems worse than it really is.” But does it?
“If there are no rules, why am I playing by the rules?” Good point.
Fun, quick read.
Weird. It totally reminds me of a show I’m watching right now. I won’t mention it because it’s spoilery for both. But like,
“Paranoia will get your through times of no enemies better than enemies will get you through times of no paranoia.” This is better than that other quote about being paranoid that everyone attributes to Kurt Cobain. Or maybe that one is just too ubiquitous.
Some great lines in this book. “Everything seems worse than it really is.” But does it?
“If there are no rules, why am I playing by the rules?” Good point.
Fun, quick read.
February 9, 2025
This book jerks you around and you never truly know what is going to happen. Much of it was confusing for me, but I think that it was perfect that way, since the main characters were confused to the point that they believed they were insane. I feel like there is some kind of easy to grasp explanation to what I read, but it escapes me the harder I try to reach it.
I was very fond of Sophie Blue and was rooting for her from very early on. I was so frustrated by the Hopefully I will better understand this story someday. If not, I think I am okay with that too.
I was very fond of Sophie Blue and was rooting for her from very early on. I was so frustrated by the Hopefully I will better understand this story someday. If not, I think I am okay with that too.
May 18, 2020
I loved the tone of this and how you are actually able to distinguish characters by the way they talk. Sean Beaudoin shows a talent that not many writers have.
I found the premise interesting (although it takes a while to get there) but thought that the book was a bit too short to fully explore the idea. The last minute plot twists felt a bit rushed and in my opinion "the world is shitty no matter what" isn't that hot of a take.
I did enjoy it and since I adored the writing I will check out more from this author.
I found the premise interesting (although it takes a while to get there) but thought that the book was a bit too short to fully explore the idea. The last minute plot twists felt a bit rushed and in my opinion "the world is shitty no matter what" isn't that hot of a take.
I did enjoy it and since I adored the writing I will check out more from this author.
August 4, 2017
Clever writing and a story full of twists.
October 3, 2018
Definitely not my cup of tea.
September 13, 2015
Summary
I am not sure where to even begin with this novel. For the most part, I really liked the story and characters but overall I just couldn’t buy into the concept the author was selling. I saw the cover of this book while strolling through a local bookstore and I was totally intrigued. A Goth girl with green eyes combined with comic books, it is just an awesome design. I discovered that Fade to Blue is a young adult novel with a Sci-Fi edge to it but it is written for a younger audience. I was able to read the entire novel in about a half of a day but I walked away more confused than when I started. I am not saying it is a bad novel, it is just that the plot is extremely complex and turns back and forth on itself so many times that I totally lost track by the end.
The novel begins with the main character, Sophie Blue, at the pool with her friends. Her younger brother, Old-Spice Blue, is sitting by a dumpster reading a comic book. Soon we learn that Sophie has a nickname of “test tube” that everyone teases her about. There is also a Popsicle truck moving erratically through the parking lot towards her brother. Sophie runs out into the parking lot and stands in front of her brother while the Popsicle truck slams into her. Chapter None ends with, “I am so Goth, I’m roadkill.”
The next chapter has Sophie visiting the school counselor to discuss her issues with her father’s disappearance approximately a year ago. No mention of the incident at the pool. Was it something that happens in the future? Was it a dream? I am already confused.
The other main character introduced early in the novel is Kenny Fade (pronounced Fa-Day). He is a hot shot jock of the school that has the cheerleader girlfriend. He is the polar opposite of Sophie Blue. But Kenny Fade begins to experience strange happenings such as paranoia, sick stomach, not liking girls and a compulsion to wear girl’s clothes. This all ends with Kenny passing out on the Basketball court and being rushed to the hospital.
From this point forward the book starts to get really weird. A psycho nurse appears that nobody can see expect Sophie. The Popsicle truck is constantly hounding her at home and school. And the strangest thing of all, almost every chapter mentions a motivational poster somewhere in the scene, such as the “Hang in There” kitten poster. The novel is only 192 pages long but packs a lot oddness that will have your head spinning.
The Chapters go from None to Twenty then count back down from Twenty to None. There is a small comic book in the middle that divides the two halves. The story in the comic book is important as it provides some of the background of what occurs later in the novel. The main problem is that is story is not told in a straight forward manner as it moves back and forth so quickly it is hard to keep up with the story.
Review
To me, this novel is akin to the movie Donnie Darko. By the end of the movie I had no idea what just happened and wasn’t sure if I liked or not. I had the same feelings after I finished this novel. I believe I understand what happened, but I also have a sinking feeling that I don’t. I suspect this novel will need multiple readings to figure out what happened and why. So if you are a fan of Donnie Darko or maybe be the television series Lost then you should enjoy this book.
Lastly, the major quibble I had was way the adults were written in the novel. To me, they are very unrealistic, like how parents are always portrayed in a teenage comedy movie. But then again I am not the target audience for this novel so is should appeal to the 12 to 16 year old crowd.
Fade to Blue is such a strange little novel that it will likely develop a cult following and create much discussion as to the meaning of the plot.
I am not sure where to even begin with this novel. For the most part, I really liked the story and characters but overall I just couldn’t buy into the concept the author was selling. I saw the cover of this book while strolling through a local bookstore and I was totally intrigued. A Goth girl with green eyes combined with comic books, it is just an awesome design. I discovered that Fade to Blue is a young adult novel with a Sci-Fi edge to it but it is written for a younger audience. I was able to read the entire novel in about a half of a day but I walked away more confused than when I started. I am not saying it is a bad novel, it is just that the plot is extremely complex and turns back and forth on itself so many times that I totally lost track by the end.
The novel begins with the main character, Sophie Blue, at the pool with her friends. Her younger brother, Old-Spice Blue, is sitting by a dumpster reading a comic book. Soon we learn that Sophie has a nickname of “test tube” that everyone teases her about. There is also a Popsicle truck moving erratically through the parking lot towards her brother. Sophie runs out into the parking lot and stands in front of her brother while the Popsicle truck slams into her. Chapter None ends with, “I am so Goth, I’m roadkill.”
The next chapter has Sophie visiting the school counselor to discuss her issues with her father’s disappearance approximately a year ago. No mention of the incident at the pool. Was it something that happens in the future? Was it a dream? I am already confused.
The other main character introduced early in the novel is Kenny Fade (pronounced Fa-Day). He is a hot shot jock of the school that has the cheerleader girlfriend. He is the polar opposite of Sophie Blue. But Kenny Fade begins to experience strange happenings such as paranoia, sick stomach, not liking girls and a compulsion to wear girl’s clothes. This all ends with Kenny passing out on the Basketball court and being rushed to the hospital.
From this point forward the book starts to get really weird. A psycho nurse appears that nobody can see expect Sophie. The Popsicle truck is constantly hounding her at home and school. And the strangest thing of all, almost every chapter mentions a motivational poster somewhere in the scene, such as the “Hang in There” kitten poster. The novel is only 192 pages long but packs a lot oddness that will have your head spinning.
The Chapters go from None to Twenty then count back down from Twenty to None. There is a small comic book in the middle that divides the two halves. The story in the comic book is important as it provides some of the background of what occurs later in the novel. The main problem is that is story is not told in a straight forward manner as it moves back and forth so quickly it is hard to keep up with the story.
Review
To me, this novel is akin to the movie Donnie Darko. By the end of the movie I had no idea what just happened and wasn’t sure if I liked or not. I had the same feelings after I finished this novel. I believe I understand what happened, but I also have a sinking feeling that I don’t. I suspect this novel will need multiple readings to figure out what happened and why. So if you are a fan of Donnie Darko or maybe be the television series Lost then you should enjoy this book.
Lastly, the major quibble I had was way the adults were written in the novel. To me, they are very unrealistic, like how parents are always portrayed in a teenage comedy movie. But then again I am not the target audience for this novel so is should appeal to the 12 to 16 year old crowd.
Fade to Blue is such a strange little novel that it will likely develop a cult following and create much discussion as to the meaning of the plot.
September 28, 2020
𝐅𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝘣𝘺 𝘚𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯 was a fun little read that I finished in a day. This is not your typical book for sure. You will enter a parallel world of sorts, and along the way meet a group of multi dimensional characters that seem separate yet are connected. This book will make you laugh, feel empathy and connect with the characters, all while asking yourself “is this real” as you travel through the mind bending world the author has created.
July 3, 2010
On Sophie Blue’s last birthday, her dad disappeared. Since that day, she’s worn all black. Now, her birthday is approaching again, and Sophie thinks she might be losing her mind. She keeps having these weird dreams that she’s going to get run over by an ice cream truck with tinted windows, and there’s one just like it that keeps circling her house, which also keeps getting broken into. Then there’s this whole thing about a lab and an evil Nurse. Of course, no one but Sophie seems to know about these things, but Sophie knows that they must be real. Her attempt to find out the truth will be a hilarious and strangely dangerous romp through a world she never knew existed.
If the summary to Fade to Blue sounds confusing, it’s with good reason; the story itself is very convoluted. The book starts with a bunch of separate narratives, but most importantly Sophie’s and Kenny Fade’s. This is interesting and easy enough to follow—until the reader finds out that one of these characters isn’t quite real. Then Beaudoin proceeds to reveal a series of strange new developments in the story, each of which is more twisted than the last. The effect is startling; though most readers will be thoroughly baffled, they will still want to read on to see if they can figure out the rest of the story. I am sorry to say that I was unable to do this. Beaudoin’s writing, particularly toward the end of this novel, reminds me of a TV show’s season finale just before cancellation in the sense that writers try to cram the answer to almost every plotline; the result is that while the story undoubtedly comes to a close, too many details are neglected in the process. This is what happened with Fade to Blue, and though I was very impressed with the start of the story and Beaudoin’s ideas for the Virtuality, I was disappointed that this wasn’t done is a clearer manner.
Fade to Blue may appeal to fans of The Year of Secret Assignments by Jaclyn Moriarty and The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series by Michael Scott.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
If the summary to Fade to Blue sounds confusing, it’s with good reason; the story itself is very convoluted. The book starts with a bunch of separate narratives, but most importantly Sophie’s and Kenny Fade’s. This is interesting and easy enough to follow—until the reader finds out that one of these characters isn’t quite real. Then Beaudoin proceeds to reveal a series of strange new developments in the story, each of which is more twisted than the last. The effect is startling; though most readers will be thoroughly baffled, they will still want to read on to see if they can figure out the rest of the story. I am sorry to say that I was unable to do this. Beaudoin’s writing, particularly toward the end of this novel, reminds me of a TV show’s season finale just before cancellation in the sense that writers try to cram the answer to almost every plotline; the result is that while the story undoubtedly comes to a close, too many details are neglected in the process. This is what happened with Fade to Blue, and though I was very impressed with the start of the story and Beaudoin’s ideas for the Virtuality, I was disappointed that this wasn’t done is a clearer manner.
Fade to Blue may appeal to fans of The Year of Secret Assignments by Jaclyn Moriarty and The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series by Michael Scott.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
April 2, 2010
One day Sophie Blue's father disappeared and no one knows what happened. Sophie has since noticed a Popsicle truck with tinted windows that seems to be everywhere. Kenny Fade is a popular basketball jock. He seems to have a normal life, up until he doesn't. The only thing linking Kenny and Sophie is that they are both starting to see and hear things that aren't really there.
It says that this book keeps you guessing until the last paragraph. It does because half the time you have no idea who's who and what the heck is going on. Why then did I give it a three star rating. Well, I liked it. I probably won't recommend it to many people and probably won't read it again; but I loved it's originality. One thing I'm wondering is how the title is pronounced. In the book the character Kenny's last name is pronounced fah-day. I'm wondering if these are the same? Anyone... anyone? It was a very interesting novel, something to do with death/virtual reality/reality/things not always being what they seem/fighting "the man"(not so much this last one *shrugs*). I'd say if you had already planned on reading it go for it, but be forewarned things get a little tricky to navigate once you're inside.
First Line:
"The place was packed."
Favorite Line:
"'Yo, dude, watch it, she's got and Uzi!'"
It says that this book keeps you guessing until the last paragraph. It does because half the time you have no idea who's who and what the heck is going on. Why then did I give it a three star rating. Well, I liked it. I probably won't recommend it to many people and probably won't read it again; but I loved it's originality. One thing I'm wondering is how the title is pronounced. In the book the character Kenny's last name is pronounced fah-day. I'm wondering if these are the same? Anyone... anyone? It was a very interesting novel, something to do with death/virtual reality/reality/things not always being what they seem/fighting "the man"(not so much this last one *shrugs*). I'd say if you had already planned on reading it go for it, but be forewarned things get a little tricky to navigate once you're inside.
First Line:
"The place was packed."
Favorite Line:
"'Yo, dude, watch it, she's got and Uzi!'"
May 6, 2010
Sophie thinks she is losing her mind, seeing an ice cream truck and having horrible nightmares where she wakes up with bruises that make her wonder what's really going on. Kenny thinks he's losing it to, hearing and experiencing weird feelings, static and mysterious computer code. What does it all mean?
This book kind of reminds me of the Matrix (I'm afraid to explain why cause it might be a spoiler so if you care about things like that skip the end of this run on sentence) because of the Virtuality and the multiple realities where people experience the best the world has to offer. It was kind of neat and much like the Matrix I think this one needs multiple readings to understand everything that's going on.
The other thing I loved about this book is that in most distopia type books you see the after affects of whatever changed the world. In this case you kind of get to see how a dystopia is starting. You are reading about the corruption of an idea that has the possibility to change the world for the better or for the worse, depending on how it's being used and the decisions these few people make in how the idea is used. I think that is what makes this a really interesting read.
This book kind of reminds me of the Matrix (I'm afraid to explain why cause it might be a spoiler so if you care about things like that skip the end of this run on sentence) because of the Virtuality and the multiple realities where people experience the best the world has to offer. It was kind of neat and much like the Matrix I think this one needs multiple readings to understand everything that's going on.
The other thing I loved about this book is that in most distopia type books you see the after affects of whatever changed the world. In this case you kind of get to see how a dystopia is starting. You are reading about the corruption of an idea that has the possibility to change the world for the better or for the worse, depending on how it's being used and the decisions these few people make in how the idea is used. I think that is what makes this a really interesting read.
July 31, 2009
Sophie Blue is a loner, goth girl who has to go to therapy sessions and talk about her father who disappeared on her birthday. Kenny Fade is a star basketball player and the most popular guy in school. These two high schoolers have absolutely nothing in common... except the fact that they're both pretty sure they're going insane. Weird things keep happening... or is it just all in their heads?
This book is a major trip with nonstop crazy action and plot twists all over the place. It's weird and confusing, but for me it was confusing in the good way that made me want to keep reading to figure it all out. I'm not sure whether the ending really cleared everything up, but I finished it pretty quickly, so maybe I didn't pay enough attention. It's very Matrix and I'd hand it to fans of that trilogy. I definitely think there's an audience of teens who are going to really dig the dark comedy and crazy plot twists.
Full review on my blog:
http://abbylibrarian.blogspot.com/200...
This book is a major trip with nonstop crazy action and plot twists all over the place. It's weird and confusing, but for me it was confusing in the good way that made me want to keep reading to figure it all out. I'm not sure whether the ending really cleared everything up, but I finished it pretty quickly, so maybe I didn't pay enough attention. It's very Matrix and I'd hand it to fans of that trilogy. I definitely think there's an audience of teens who are going to really dig the dark comedy and crazy plot twists.
Full review on my blog:
http://abbylibrarian.blogspot.com/200...
June 3, 2009
It is hard for me to even decide what to write for this review. I still don’t know if I understand what happened.
Sophie Blue is a high school senior. She lives the life of a loner – especially since the disappearance of her father. She has taken to dressing goth and is being forced to see a therapist.
Sophie feels like she is losing her mind. She keeps seeing a dilapidated ice cream truck everwhere she goes and sees things that others around her don’t seem to see. Her emotionally-detached mother doesn’t provide any support and her brother is working on his own problems.
Things are not as they seem. Sophie’s life is about to get turned upside down and finding out the truth might be worse than staying in the dark and thinking she is crazy.
It could be just me, but I found this story line hard to follow. It might be the way it was written, because the story itself sounds pretty interesting – I just felt lost too much of the time.
Sophie Blue is a high school senior. She lives the life of a loner – especially since the disappearance of her father. She has taken to dressing goth and is being forced to see a therapist.
Sophie feels like she is losing her mind. She keeps seeing a dilapidated ice cream truck everwhere she goes and sees things that others around her don’t seem to see. Her emotionally-detached mother doesn’t provide any support and her brother is working on his own problems.
Things are not as they seem. Sophie’s life is about to get turned upside down and finding out the truth might be worse than staying in the dark and thinking she is crazy.
It could be just me, but I found this story line hard to follow. It might be the way it was written, because the story itself sounds pretty interesting – I just felt lost too much of the time.
September 1, 2009
Fade to Blue is easily among the weirdest books I’ve ever read – and the most engaging. The heroine, Sophie Blue – or Gothika, as her not-so-friendly classmates call her – is haunted by visions of a mad popsicle truck driver, and thinks she hears a voice telling her to visit ‘the lab.’ Sophie’s best friend, Lake, an ex-cheerleader-turned-paraplegic, has little advice to offer. Her mother is too depressed and disconnected to help. The school counselor only makes her write essays, and her brother, O.S., is seemingly too caught up in his comic books to do anything but get fatter. But when Kenny Fade, basketball star, starts to question his perfect life, reality begins to unravel, and Sophie is forced to confront something she has been trying to put past her: the disappearance of her father. With its references to pop culture, snarky sense of humor, and a pleathora of bizarre characters, Fade to Blue will stick with you long after you’ve turned the last page.
November 22, 2011
This was the most confusing book I've ever read. And I read a book in which the 12 or so characters you were introduced to were really only 2 people with multiple personalities. In this book just about the time you thought you knew what was going on everything fell apart. Then there's a chapter written as a comic in the middle. I liked the characters. I just wasn't sure what was happening from one chapter to another.
There are a few narrators. Sophie Blue, aka Gothika, has a brother O.S. whose real name is Kenny. Her father disappeared and her mother is not dealing well with this. Kenny Fade (pronounced Fa - day) is the basketball hero of the school. Kenny Fade and Sophie have nothing in common and don't even interact much at school. But, you discover, they both think they are losing their minds. Most of the chapters are from one of their points of view. Each chapter makes sense by itself. I had trouble putting them together. If you read it, post what you thought.
There are a few narrators. Sophie Blue, aka Gothika, has a brother O.S. whose real name is Kenny. Her father disappeared and her mother is not dealing well with this. Kenny Fade (pronounced Fa - day) is the basketball hero of the school. Kenny Fade and Sophie have nothing in common and don't even interact much at school. But, you discover, they both think they are losing their minds. Most of the chapters are from one of their points of view. Each chapter makes sense by itself. I had trouble putting them together. If you read it, post what you thought.
July 22, 2015
This was an...interesting book to say the least. I'm not quite sure if it was my proverbial cup of tea, but there were many things I loved about it. I think I'm just not into all the philosophical undertones (and often overtones); makes my head hurt. But I certainly did love Sophie, the main character. Even though her journey was a little confusing and twisted it was interesting and quite realistic (even while being told through a slightly unrealistic string of circumstances). And I have to say that I do understand that that is what Sean Beaudoin was trying to do. He was trying to look at the idea of 'How are we here?', 'Why are we here?', and 'Are we really here?'. This he did well. I just don't like stories like that. I like a world where I can escape reality, not question it.
All in all a very interesting book. I recommend this to those who don't mind contemplating the big questions and being challenged while reading.
All in all a very interesting book. I recommend this to those who don't mind contemplating the big questions and being challenged while reading.
June 13, 2010
I was being generous by giving this book one star. The only reason it is getting one star is because the story line could have been great. Instead it was a jumbled mess of characters and the plot was nothing short of confusing.
I got the fact that Sophie's father left and she is supposed to be some weird expreiment, but I was so confused halfway through the book I really have no idea what happened between chapter twelve and the final chapter, which oddly is chapter zero. I felt like I could have read the first 10 chapters and the very last chapter and the book would have been o.k. All I have to say is good luck if you decide to read this book. It confused the hell out of me. I wouldn't recommend this book. To anyone. Seriously. Don't read it.
I got the fact that Sophie's father left and she is supposed to be some weird expreiment, but I was so confused halfway through the book I really have no idea what happened between chapter twelve and the final chapter, which oddly is chapter zero. I felt like I could have read the first 10 chapters and the very last chapter and the book would have been o.k. All I have to say is good luck if you decide to read this book. It confused the hell out of me. I wouldn't recommend this book. To anyone. Seriously. Don't read it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews