Indigo Blue (Paperback)

by Cathy Cassidy (Author)
Key Phrases: tartan blanket, blue van, best mate, Officer Barrie, Hartington Drive, Ian Turner (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Grade 4-7–Indigo, 11, is a super-responsible kid with a weak, unstable mother. She tries to take care of her toddler sister and to ignore the fights between Mum and her abusive, live-in boyfriend. She attempts to fit in with her more conventional classmates, cope with a strict teacher, and enjoy time with her friend Jo. Life is bearable until Max's bad temper turns physical and Mum flees with the children to a dilapidated basement flat with a dour and suspicious landlady. Things get even more complicated when Jo turns temperamental and tryouts for the school play add a competitive aspect to many of the kids' relationships. For a story filled with problems, this is a surprisingly bright book, with a sympathetic main character and an absorbing plot. The first-person, present-tense narration grounds events with a straightforward immediacy, as does the emphasis on physical details, from nail polish to foods to the smell of mold in the apartment. Yes, Indigo learns to face her feelings rather than hide from them. She also learns the meaning of true friendship. Cassidy seems more committed to telling Indigo's story than hitting readers over the head with a message. A British import with a refreshingly light touch.–Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist
Gr. 5-8. Eleven-year-old Indigo doesn't know what to think when her mother moves her and her baby sister, Misti, out of their cozy home and into an old, dirty flat. She knows it has something to do with the sometimes-violent fights between Mom and her boyfriend, Max, but what is she supposed to say at school? What with leaving Max and trying to pull herself together, Indigo's mother seems about to break, and Indigo knows she has to help, even though she has problems of her own: the starring role in the school play, a boy with a crush, and a friend turned jealous and mean seemingly overnight. This British story of domestic abuse is firmly child-centered, and Indigo's confusion and fear, as well as her divided loyalty between Max and her mother, are sensitively portrayed. Cassidy makes Indigo's school troubles as important as her personal ones, and Indigo's simple, direct voice keeps the story from becoming message-driven and sentimental. The hopeful ending rings true. Krista Hutley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (September 7, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142407038
• ISBN-13: 978-0142407035
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #253,363 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!, March 26, 2008

By	Vic - See all my reviews

I have given this book five stars because I personally thought it was very good and well written. I am fussy about what I read and writing style is important, it is not many fiction books that can hold my attention but all of this authors' books I have read to date have pretty much considering they are not really written for adults. I prefer factual books, and it is probably the realism of the situation this book unfolds that appeals.

My 10yo daughter was directed towards the book 'Scarlett' by her school teacher, and was then desperate to read more books by Cathy Cassidy. I therefore bought Indigo Blue but without reading the blurb first, then was unsure whether my daughter had the maturity to deal with the storyline. Hence I read it first. Alot of the nuances in the book seem to have gone over her head I am pleased to say, and she enjoyed the story. I was worried about her reading of domestic violence, but she didn't seem to understand that that was why the mother had bruises on her face, and I don't think she found the book nearly as emotive as I did. Cathy Cassidy has tackled some difficult issues here, and done so with a good amount of sensitivity, but I am still not sure that I wanted my daughter to be reading of such things just yet, I would like her to remain an innocent a bit longer. In saying all that though, there is a happy ending and a good feeling that while things can get pretty bad there is always the opportunity there that they will get better.

If you're a parent reading this book I would suggest a hanky or a tissue, especially at the bit where the grandmother receives the letter. I cried and cried for Indigo and thinking about it still brings a tear to my eye. You can't help but feel fond of Indigo, and at the end you just have to cheer because things finally go right for her. I just need to know now that she lives happily ever after, because she certainly deserves to!

I would rate it as a 'do not miss this one' read, however definitely NOT a book to give someone who is down in the dumps! I would also, due to the content of the book, suggest perhaps a slightly higher aged recommended reading audience.

4.0 out of 5 stars My Daughter Likes This Book, July 9, 2009

By	noeticblues (Washington, CT) - See all my reviews

Book looked very nice, my daughter was excited to see it in her birthday box.

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome To Read!, July 11, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Indigo Blue (Hardcover)

This book is very good because it deals with the struggles of friendship, being poor and difficult relationships. Even though much of the things going on are sad, it is written so well that you don't mind reading about it. There are parts that are funny, but mostly it is about being human and what we deal with in life emotionally and physically. I just think it is a really cool book! Cathy Cassidy is a great author - I have also read her book titled Dizzy. It is a good one to read, too.