Blue John

by Berlie Doherty

The Queen of Darkness lives under the ground in the shadow of a mountain, Mam Tor. Before she was carried down into the shelter of the cavern, she snatched the two things she could not bear to leave behind - the purple-blue heart of the glacier and the gold of the sun. Out of these she makes a child and names him Blue John. He lives in the caves with her, forbidden to go out into the light. One day a party of children comes to the caves and Blue John follows them out into the sunshine and is turned to stone. (Blue John is a precious stone mined in the Blue John and Treak caverns of Derbyshire. The name is said to come from the French bleu-jaune.)

Genres: Fantasy

Hardcover

First published May 1, 2003

About the author

Berlie Doherty née Hollingsworth is an English novelist, poet, playwright and screenwriter. She is best known for children's books, for which she has twice won the Carnegie Medal.She has also written novels for adults, plays for theatre and radio, television series and libretti for children's opera.

Reviews

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

[My review refers to a newer edition published by Barrington Stoke, with a different illustrator]
An enchanted tale of love, loyalty and longing, sparkling with diamond-cut language and framed with atmospheric illustrations, Blue John by Berlie Doherty, illustrated by Alexandria Neonakis is a mesmerising addition to my favourite book series, the Little Gems by Barrington Stoke.

In this Grimm-like fairy-tale we fall under the spell of The Queen of Darkness and the child she created from the purple blue heart of a glacier and the gold of the sun to keep herself from loneliness. Following a sleep of 1000 years, Blue John wakes and is curious about the world outside the deep cave system where he and his mother live. Rippling birdsong and shimmying wind gusts mingle with ‘the bird-cries of children playing‘ just outside the cave’s entrance. Blue John is torn between the bond he feels with his mother and the possibilities, beauty and friendship which the outside world tantalisingly offers.

Scintillating language is matched with moody prismatic illustrations, perfectly conjuring up the dark but magical atmosphere of a cave full of crystals; Doherty’s story was partly inspired by a type of rock mined in Derbyshire, and Neonakis’ illustrations kept reminding me of this amazing crystal cave.

A moving story which helps us learn that the risk of making friends with ‘outsiders’ may be worth taking, changing us for ever, even if there is no happy ever after.

[Mr Bramley · Rating 4 out of 5]

- This review is for the Barrington Stoke edition illustrated by Alexandria Neonakis.

An absolutely beautiful 'little gem'!
I love just how much it felt like I was reading a traditional fable style tale, with the slightly murky ending leaving children to interpret the message as they see it.

I can't praise the illustrations highly enough, they are so simple yet so magical and bring so much to the story.

The links to the Blue John stone which are described on the back page would be a great learning point for a class, as would the fairytale elements of the story itself.

A great one for across age ranges due to its accessibility alongside it's depth.

[Tania]

I wasn't expected the ending. A sweet deep story

[Eleanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really beautiful illustrations spot on for the colour inside the cave.