Bluefish [Hardcover]

Pat Schmatz (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 13, 2011

Thirteen-year-old Travis has a secret: he can't read. But a shrewd teacher and a sassy girl are about to change everything in this witty and deeply moving novel.

Travis is missing his old home in the country, and he's missing his old hound, Rosco. Now there's just the cramped place he shares with his well-meaning but alcoholic grandpa, a new school, and the dreaded routine of passing when he's called on to read out loud. But that's before Travis meets Mr. McQueen, who doesn't take "pass" for an answer--a rare teacher whose savvy persistence has Travis slowly unlocking a book on the natural world. And it's before Travis is noticed by Velveeta, a girl whose wry banter and colorful scarves belie some hard secrets of her own. With sympathy, humor, and disarming honesty, Pat Schmatz brings to life a cast of utterly believable characters--and captures the moments of trust and connection that make all the difference.

Product Details

• Age Range: 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (September 13, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763653349
• ISBN-13: 978-0763653347
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 0.9 x 8.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #42,858 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Editorial Reviews

Review

A lovely, understated book that celebrates the possibility of a kind and humane friendship between an eighth-grade girl and boy...this novel is also an ode to the significance of reading in the lives of young people and to a teacher who knows the power literature can wield. Unique and original, believable and poignant, this is a book with power of its own.
—The Horn Book (starred review)

Readers seeking emotional warmth, congenial humor, and an affirmation of forgiveness and friendship will cozy up to these characters.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)

Despite the weighty problems the characters face-grief, alcoholism, and bullying among them-Bluefish is a lively, often-humorous, and ultimately hopeful page-turner. It has all the hallmarks of a classic contemporary young adult issues novel. It's packed with memorable and believable characters and powered by the prospect of redemption and just a hint of romance.
—School Library Journal (starred review)

About the Author

Pat Schmatz is the author of three previous novels for teens. She lives in rural Wisconsin.

Product Details

• Age Range: 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (September 13, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763653349
• ISBN-13: 978-0763653347
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 0.9 x 8.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #42,858 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Pat Schmatz is the author of four novels for teens. Her most recent book, Bluefish (Candlewick, 2011), won the PEN/Phyllis Naylor Working Writer Fellowship while still a work in progress. It was awarded Bank Street College of Education's 2012 Josette Frank Award for fiction and the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award for the midwest. It is a Junior Library Guild Selection, an ALA Notable Children's Book, and winner of the Wisconsin Library Association's Elizabeth Burr/Worzalla Award.

Pat grew up in rural Wisconsin. After adventures and stopovers in Michigan, California, Japan and Minnesota, she is back in the Wisconsin woods, always living her way into another book. She is currently at work on "Lizard Radio."

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Laugh and Cry in One Big Story April 30, 2012

By Young Mensan BookParade

Format:Hardcover

"Bluefish" is about a boy named Travis who moves to a new town with his Grandpa after his dog runs away. While there, he meets Velveeta, a girl who is very... unique and has a drunk mother, a old dead man who used to be her best friend, and many, many, scarves. He also meets Bradley, a scrawny kid who is nerdy, is addicted to "Halo", and insists that Travis should ask Velveeta out.

Kids will probably like this book for it's funny and is a good story at times. If you want to laugh and cry in one big story, this is for you.

One of the best parts of the book was the "Velveeta on ___day" sections because I liked the other views of the story and additional character development. Another good part was when Travis learns the truth about what happened.

This book's humor is more for older kids, since jokes about sex and prostitution are common. Also, this book talks about death and fighting, but some humor is for a younger audience. I would say probably it's in the age range of 12-16.

I give this book 3 out of 5 stars, for while it's funny, it tries to appeal to everybody, making it a little weird. Also when it ends, you don't notice it, and it seems like there are a few more chapters that were just cut out.

Review by Young Mensan Deven, age 13

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Won Children's Book Award 2011 for a reason! April 25, 2012

By NotAGreenFreak

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Schmatz is an excellent writer for young adults who handles both sensitive and ordinary issues with insight. She's also a lively, gifted speaker who makes an immediate connection with her middle-school audiences. She visited our west coast school during her book tour, and absolutely mesmorized the 6th grade classes with interactive creative writing discussions. Schmatz is talented, humble, and funny. Her books are excellent and serve both to inspire and educate. I can see why this book won a prestigious Children's book award!
-- Another Bluefish Fan

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars i love this book: one fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish February 1, 2012

By Michelle Van Gores

Format:Kindle Edition

the cover got my attention at first. it looked very interesting. travis is unhappy and dyslexic (im pretty sure). velveeta (like the cheese) is energetic and upbeat (could be a little annoying at times) and bardley likes them so he becomes there friend. its really good book and moving. if you want a break from ghost books or sarah dessen this is a great book for you.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Captures it perfectly! Amazing Book! November 19, 2011

By Steven R. McEvoy TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover

Few books have as immediate an impact on me as this book. As someone who grew up with a learning disability, a dual form of dyslexia, reading this book was much like reliving some of my own childhood. Schmatz does an amazing job of capturing the feelings, emotions and immense frustration of having a learning disability and being different from other people. She captures the sense of being an outsider at school and the embarrassment of going out to special education classes. She also captures how that frustration can lead to physical outbursts as it often seems like the only outlet available.

Our cast of characters includes Travis, a young man with anger issues, and a learning disability who is living with a recovering alcoholic grandfather; Mr. McQueen, who is more than just a teacher, but also an educator; he knows how to reach students that others give up on. He is the type of teacher we all need at one point or another in our life, who really connects with us. And the immensely enjoyable Velveeta, a young woman in the special education class also who is an outsider but one with a big heart.

As these characters and their stories start to intertwine, we have a story that unmasks us as readers. With such strong believable characters this story is driven both by the action and the silences between the characters. As Travis and Velveeta begin to trust each other, they make a connection to one another, and that connection is the beginning of their own process of growth and healing. This book was an amazing read, and I know that it is one I will read over and over again.

Schmatz has written a book that should become a classic in Children's literature.... It should really be required reading for all middle school children to help them see the people and world around them differently. This book was so amazing that I bought and read two other of Pat Schmatz's books in under a week. Get it! It will not disappoint. Read more ›

4.0 out of 5 stars So Good April 30, 2013

By Carleen Capaldo

Format:Kindle Edition

I loved it. It was so real and the characters were really good. This was a very good read. Definitely read this one.

5.0 out of 5 stars Bluefish March 15, 2013

By Patricia H. Powell

Format:Hardcover

In Pat Schmatz's "Bluefish" (Candlewick 2011), Travis, 13, has to move into town and live with Grandpa. Travis' heart is broken over his lost hound, Roscoe. And school is painful.
Grandpa has stopped drinking, but Travis knows it won't last.
The only bright spark in his life is classmate, Velveeta, who is the liveliest, flirtiest girl, who wears old lady scarves--different colors every day--with her hoody.
Velveeta inherited the scarves from Calvin, the old man who lived in the next trailer, the one who bought her school supplies each year, who helped her build confidence, but now he's died. Actually, the scarves belonged to Calvin's wife, but she's been gone for years.
Travis and Velveeta's stories alternate. Taciturn Travis is voiced in the third person, which is perfect for his strong silent character. Vivacious Velveeta, in the first person, writes to Calvin. So we get to see what Travis is feeling and Velveeta shows her feelings. Perfect.
Travis and Velveeta like each other--really like each other--but relationship is complicated between two eighth graders, especially when each has a big secret. Can they trust each other? Help each other? You want it for them. They are both so likeable. And believable.
If Velveeta goes home to her own trailer, she must suffer her selfish alcoholic mother, so she moves into Calvin's empty trailer. Until she gets kicked out by Calvin's grown daughter.
Travis cuts class and sets out on foot to the country to find his dog. When the trip goes wrong, Travis acts like a kicked dog. Back at school he snaps at Velveeta.
Velveeta, clever girl, figures out Travis' big secret just as you, the reader, will. She tries to help him, but she's just a kid and maybe a little awkward in helping. Travis snaps again....
Now Velveeta is no longer Travis' friend and his dog Roscoe hasn't been found. School gets worse. He longs for some bully to start a fight with him so he could "blow loose all over them" and it wouldn't be his fault. But the bully won't start and Travis won't start it.
Thank heavens for McQueen the reading teacher. With his help and Velveeta's smarts, maybe Travis will break out of his self-made prison of anger and loneliness.
I loved these characters and the writing. I bet Schmatz follows through on Velveeta's story in her next book.

Patricia Hruby Powell is a nationally touring speaker, dancer, storyteller, occasional librarian, and children's book author. She has books coming out with Chronicle books. talesforallages.com Read more ›