Duck Egg Blue: A Novel [Hardcover]

Derrick Neill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1999

"Duck Egg Blue" captures a slice of life that is typical of many American towns where radical Christians attempt to insert creationism into public schools. The question of the proper place for religious belief is also causing controversy in another American institution - The Boy Scouts, where several cases similar to Cameron Wright's have made national headlines, one even going to the Supreme Court. A promising literary talent and a science teacher himself, Derrick Neill is no stranger to the Darwin vs. the Bible debate. Neill also wrote "Adventures in Spacetime", a controversial science fiction novel that was censored from his school system when members of the religious right took their fight to the school board. Engaging, suspenseful, touching, and timely, "Duck Egg Blue" will move you and it will open your eyes to the dangers of religion used as a political weapon in public schools and other secular institutions.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...an important book ...Some will love it, and some will hate it, but all will want to read Duck Egg Blue." -- The Write Word

"...everyone should read Duck Egg Blue." -- Dead Trees Review, January 1, 2000

"...great reading for any age, but particularly relevant for high school and young adult readers who may be grappling with the ultimate questions of life." -- Freedom Watch, November 30, 2000

"I wish anyone teetering on the edge of falling into faith or of drifting into unbelief could read this book. I'm sure it will be eye opening to many teens." -- Fig Leaves, November 2000

"Neill presents the problems of educators facing militant groups dedicated to dogma rather than research." -- Arizona Daily Star

From the Publisher

Named "Book of the Month" by the Institute for First Amendment Studies

"Thanks to the book-banners, the fight for intellectual freedom has one more soldier. Me. And with the written word as my weapon, I charge headlong into the fray with my second novel, DUCK EGG BLUE, about a Boy Scout and a high school science teacher who both come under attack from the Religious Right.

"If the book-banners found my first book distasteful, they're just going to LOVE this one!" -- Derrick Neill

Product Details

• Hardcover: 273 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books (April 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157392685X
• ISBN-13: 978-1573926850
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,278,988 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Duck Egg Blue is Highly Recommended, November 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Duck Egg Blue: A Novel (Hardcover)

Cameron Wright has completed his requirements for Eagle Scout. In an interview with the Scouting board, he says he doesn't know whether he believes in God. His badge is held until he "reconsiders." His ultrareligious father had more than something to do with it. John, his father, also says Cameron's model of the Grand Canyon for a high school science project is all wrong. (He used the color Duck Egg Blue for the river.) Meantime, Mark Edwards, Cameron's science teacher, who is also dating Cameron's divorced mother, is being pressured by the principal to give "creation science" equal time. This not only threatens his cherished position at the school, but also the separation of church and state. Cameron spends the year trying to decide if he should tell the Scout board what they want to hear, or stand up for what he believes. When writing about creationism in school, it's easy to take an attitude of I'm Right and You're Wrong. Neill doesn't. Some will like it, and some will hate it, but everyone should read DUCK EGG BLUE.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth several good discussions, May 4, 2001

By 

Wolf Roder (Cincinnati, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Duck Egg Blue: A Novel (Hardcover)

Sometimes the River looks brown and muddy, and at others it reflects the heavens to assume a hue of duck egg blue. So it is with God, to some he looks startlingly real, to others he appears as all of nature and a few can't find him at all. The novel is about a teenager who is pressured to define his own lack of belief. At stake is his Eagle Scout badge as the board insists he assert a belief in god.

The public library refers to the book as a "Bildungsroman," that is a novel of growing up, of the emotional development of the hero. It is also a didactic novel, which teaches us about the contemporary problems of religion, education, teaching evolution, and related issues. The author has them all there, and as far as I can see he has his facts correct. It is thus small wonder that the characters are a little more than life size. The hero is more perfect than any literary teenager should be allowed to be. The hero's mother is better and wiser than any teenager could recognize. His girl friend is sweeter and more understanding than any believable ninth grader, and she is more beautiful than expected in any real woman. And the fundamentalist male character is, of course, truly evil.

Let me hasten to add this is not some dreary morality tract. On the contrary I found it a very interesting and lively novel which held my attention without difficulty or hesitation. In fact, I only put it down to sleep. More, the novel provides scenes and situations which raise insistent questions which demand clear answers, and should be food for discussions.

A New Age character claims that music which makes her cry are the real equivalent of prayers. Perhaps the deaf and non-musical then, don't pray? Honest work is equally praised as devotion. Does the agnostic character have a truly honest position, or is it merely a practical out so he doesn't offend the everyday world? Does the atheist have a supportable position, or is he merely bitter? Are the myths in the Bible and in other religious scriptures really "metaphorical representations of the grand mystery of our world and of the spiritual potential of every human being" (p. 139) as the Unitarian pastor asserts, or are these mere fairy tales? Can our hero walk with his friend to accept both, god and science. Will they agree that evolution is simply god's way of creation?

At one point in the novel some students are excused from viewing an educational movie about sex and reproduction, because their parents will not give them permission to do so. Surely these students will be mercilessly teased and hounded by their class mates. Now, if it is OK to be excused from sex instruction and assigned other work, why is it not OK to be excused when the Christian majority insists on having public prayers?

Eventually, the hero is faced with answering the scout board what it wishes to hear, that he believes in some kind of God, or else to tell them the truth. In an epiphany of music the hero goes with the lead in "Les Misérables" who will be condemned if he tells the truth, but damned if he stays silent. The question for the unbeliever is, condemned by whom, damned to which non existent hell. To thine own self be true is no doubt a good adage, but confessing the truth to uncomprehending idiots is throwing pearls before swine. Sometimes there are good reasons to lie and to conceal what one thinks, believes, or is.

I wish anyone teetering on the edge of falling into faith or of drifting into unbelief could read this book. I'm sure it will be eye opening to many teens. By all means read it.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good job Mr. Neill!, September 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Duck Egg Blue: A Novel (Hardcover)

I thought that this book was a very good book. The reason for this may be that I could relate to it well since I too am a boy scout and am working on my Eagle rank. One of the reasons that I got this book was because the author was my 8th grade science teacher and had made a big impact on me with his teaching. Another reason for getting Mr. Niell's book was after reading his first book "Adventures in Spacetime" at least 4 times I thought that I should try his newest book. Although it was made for adults it was still easy for me to read and follow along with.