Customer Reviews

The Fortunes of Indigo Skye

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Indigo loves being a waitress. When she watches the customers at Carrera's eat and interact, she feels as though she is the conductor of a orchestra, making sure that every instrument is in tune - that every customer is happy. She knows when her regulars (fondly referred to as "The Irregulars") will come in, what they will order and what they will discuss.

Indigo thinks there's a correlation between a person's order and his or her personality. (The book's first sentence reads: "You can tell a lot about people from what they order for breakfast.") When a stranger drives up to the diner on a Vespa, then walks in and orders nothing but coffee, Indigo is intrigued. The gentleman is polite and well-dressed, and he leaves behind a tip that's more than the coffee. The waitress and the regulars are naturally curious about this quiet guy.

Indigo's parents are divorced. Her father lives in Hawaii with his new wife, Jennifer, while Indigo shares her home with her twin brother Severin, her younger sister Bex, her absentminded mother, a chatty parrot named Chico, and a sneaky cat named Freud. The snappy dialogue that zings back and forth between the Skyes makes it apparent that they love each other and know each other better than anyone else. Even though money has been tight since their father/husband left, their home is a happy one.

"Vespa guy" comes into Carrera's a few more times, politely ordering coffee and saying very little otherwise. When she spies a pack of cigarettes in the pocket of his expensive suede jacket, Indigo can't help but tell him about the dangers of smoking. Her words are motivated by concern, not by moral superiority, and she hopes he knows she is being genuine, not judgmental.

A short while later, she gets a phone call from her boss, Jane, telling her that Vespa guy left an envelope for his waitress. Indigo doesn't open the envelope immediately upon receipt, partially due to other things going on, partially because she wants to delay any sort of letdown feeling. Nothing could match the anticipation she's feeling (or so she thinks), and once she looks inside, the wonder and the excitement of waiting will be gone. Later that night, when she finally opens the envelope, she discovers a check made out to her for two and a half million dollars.

At first, she doesn't quite believe it. Confused, excited, and stunned, she wants to find Vespa guy, thank him, and give him back his check. She can't accept that much money from someone she barely knows. Meanwhile, each of her family members and friends have different ideas for how she can spend the money. Her mom wants her to go to college. Her boyfriend wants to fix his car. Her sister wants to donate money to relief efforts. For a short time, Indigo allows herself to buy her family nice things they've never had - and some things they'll never even use - but ultimately, she feels more burdened than blessed by the money.

When she finally tracks down Vespa guy - which is quite a journey, literally - to thank him and tell him she can't accept his generous gift, her refusal of the money only makes him more certain that she deserves it. He explains why he gave it to her in the first place: because she thinks "why me?" instead of "why not me?"

This book is packed with unique, memorable folks. In Indigo and her family, Deb Caletti has created some of her most down-to-earth characters. Indigo gently teases her mother about her "anxiety-denial-distraction." Indigo's twin Severin is sensible and considerate, and her loyal boyfriend Trevor is so in tune with all of their lives that he is almost part of the family. Little sister Bex is compassionate and loveable. After watching news reports on CNN, she worries about those who have lost their homes due to natural disasters. Indigo's friend Melanie, who is sweet but has always had money, is quick to think Indigo can and wants to do everything Melanie does once that she finally can afford it. The quadripeds really don't care about the money; it doesn't make Chico less chatty or Freud less sneaky.

Indigo considers many of the Irregulars, along with her boss, to be her friends. Jane, the owner of Carrera's (and of Jack, an adorable dog) hates to pull the boss card, but will if she has to. The regulars are all older than Indigo. Each has his or her own backstory and quirks. Nick Harrison has been haunted by rumors since his wife fell down a flight of stairs and died two years ago. Tattooed Leroy is perhaps thirty years old, yet he's anxious to retire. Joe used to be a boxer. Funny Coyote and Trina, both in their late twenties, are the resident ladies. Funny's a poet who has no problem cleaning her plate or talking about her "chemical imbalance," while flirty Trina dresses to the nines and drives a classic Thunderbird.

The Fortunes of Indigo Skye by Deb Caletti is a thoroughly enjoyable book. There's more whimsy here than in some of Caletti's previous novels, but never to an unrealistic degree.

This isn't yet another rags-to-riches tale, nor "a simple story of money can't buy happiness." This book is about a girl on the cusp of adulthood who actually likes her life and doesn't really want it to change that much. She would rather be poor and happy than wealthy and miserable. Indigo has a great set of values and a great sense of self. Those are her true fortunes.

Haven't read a book by Caletti before, but this one was definitely intriguing. First of all, the plot is pretty boring & predictable: girl gets a fortune, lets herself be sucked away from her values, learns a lesson, blah blah. But there were so many interesting observations about people and the way we interact--little things that I've noticed, but haven't been able to put in words... Those were so intriguing that this is the first book in a long time that I've wanted to re-read immediately upon finishing. So, if you're looking for an action-packed story with a gripping plot, this ain't the book for you. If you're looking for a few insights into human nature, give it a try...

Deb Caletti does a great job developing the characters of Indigo and those who frequent the diner where she works. Then Indigo receives a huge tip. I found it inconsistent with Indigo's personality to spend as she did. I also found it surprising that she felt she had to apologize to her boyfriend for not sharing freely. He should have apologized for being so presumptuous. In places,transitions were not smooth. The book could too easily be summed up in its plot divisions: restaurant relationships, spending spree, running away, and patching things up. The ending was predictable and disappointing, too nicely sewn up.

I love Deb Caletti, but this was not one of her best novels...it was very good though, and a quick read. It won't go under my favorites, but I am still glad I read it! =]

I buy books for a teen library. I had heard of Deb Caletti as a YA author, and The Fortunes of Indigo Skye had a good premise: Indigo is a teen waitress who is left 2.5 million dollars from a restaurant customer, thereby causing dissension within all of her relationships. What kid doesn't dream of being a millionaire and being able to buy whatever he wants? The book falters, however, on many levels. Honestly, does someone leave 2.5 million dollars to a waitress who has only waited on him several times, simply because the waitress tells him he should quit smoking? And does a girl like Indigo, who Caletti promotes as caring about MANY social and moral issues, have shallow friends like Melanie and a boyfriend like Trevor? Characters like these seem to be in the book merely to highlight Indigo's supposed "humanity." My biggest complaint about the book, however, was the constant use of swear words. A good writer doesn't need to rely on the use of expletives to get a point across; taking the time to find a word or phrase to better describe a situation is a mark of experienced writing. Caletti has the "moral" Indigo use expletives in all situations, which also seems out of character for her. By the end of the book when her "enlightment" happens I was sick of her and other's use of the "f" word, or describing someone as an "a..hole," or saying that she had a "sh...y" day, and on and on. It's absolute profanity overkill. And unlike one of the other reviewers, I don't think that this kind of language is acceptable merely because it is "normal these days." Is it? I work with teenagers every day in academic and nonacedemic situations and I have never heard any one of them use profanities like what is found in this book.
C'mon Caletti. The YA market is filled with excellent writers. You should be able to grab readers with intriguing plots, believable characters, and precise writing. This book fails in all of those areas and I will not be adding it to the teen library.

this book is really not like her other wonderful books. i dont like the boyfriend charater in this book and to me its unrealistic. she gets like a million dollers as a tip from some stanger at her waitress job. other books that i recommended by DEB CALETTI is, "THE QUEEN OF EVERYTHING" and "WILD ROSES"

I bought this book because of the premise, which I guess would be considered "high concept" -- a young adult is given $2.5 million dollars by a stranger she waited on occasionally in a coffee shop. How does she react? How does this change her life? The premise is much more exciting than the actual story, which contains a lot of improbabilities (starting with the one of a stranger leaving a waiter $2.5 million) and characters who don't ring true. This could have been a very exciting book. It wasn't.

As far as Indigo Skye is concerned life is great. She has a family who loves and appreciates her. She has a job at Carrera's, the local diner, that she loves. It's full of good-natured, salt of the earth friends. She has a boyfriend who doesn't mind her wobbly ass, even if sometimes she does. Life is perfect, even though she's near penniless.

Until a new customer, nicknamed "Vespa Guy," enters the diner and Indigo's life. Not only does he enter her life, but ultimately he changes it forever when he leaves a two point five million dollar tip. Vespa Guy doesn't want anything in return. All he wants is a promise. A promise that Indigo will live a bigger and better life.

The money that was supposed to make her and her family's life all the better ends up making her life worse, much worse. People always say money changes everything. But will it change Indigo Skye?

The Fortunes of Indigo Skye, written by author Deb Caletti, is based around a basic question that everyone, at one point or another, has asked them: what would you do if you had a million dollars? Caletti excels at not only answering this question, but also puts perspective on how money can effect, not only ones life, but ones self. The plot is genuinely realistic, thought-provoking, and honest. Like the plot, Caletti's writing is fresh and sharp.

The Fortunes of Indigo Skye is largely character driven. Full of unforgettable characters, each one plays a pivotal role in not only Indigo's life and world, but the overall storyline. Readers will connect instantly with Indigo. Like her name she is an original character with a big personality, and an even bigger heart. Readers will be enchanted and endeared by her personality as well as her faults.

Caletti has managed to write a serious book that is still fun-filled and fancy free.

I admit that when I first heard about this one I gaffed at the premise. (And no, I am not entirely sure what the word GAFFE means. Go figure.) It seemed a bit fantastical. But I gave it a try, checked it out from the library, and instantly loved it. Indigo is a great character. Her voice is completely alive, it sparkles with wit and humor, and the story transitions very well. The plot is worked wonderfully. I would definitely reccomend it and Caletti's other books.

I read this book to help my teenager with their book report. Although the ending was predictable, the book was fun and hard to put down. Full of witty and clever dialogue. The way Indigo Skye (the teenage narrator) described the many quirky characters from the restaurant where she worked, with their different problems, all made me laugh. I felt sympathetic to them all, especially to Indigo, who makes the best of her hectic home and work life, and shows great loyalty to her family and co-workers. I enjoyed Indigo's philosophical observations about the pretense and shallowness of wealthy people she encountered. The author also does a good service health-wise, in criticizing people who smoke. The "F" word is used frequently throughout, just as an expletive - but I guess that's normal these days.