Born Blue (Paperback)

by Han Nolan (Author) "MY FIRST MEMORY of myself I be drowning..." (more)
Key Phrases: stink house, bad wanted, gonna sing, Etta James, Muscle Shoals, African American (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Despite her natural talent for singing, 6-year-old Janie knows deep in her heart that if you really want to sing and feel the blues, you gotta be black. Aren't the tapes of the "ladies"--Aretha, Etta, and Billie--that she listens to every night in the stinking basement of her first foster home proof enough of that? So the scrawny, blond-haired, blue-eyed child of a heroin addict changes her name to Leshaya, decides that her unknown father was African American, and shuts down all feeling; only allowing the sorrow of her hard life to escape when she opens her mouth to sing. Raised by addicts and drug dealers, Leshaya trusts no one and loves nothing except her music: "Didn't need nobody else. I could make love to my own self with that sound ridin' the beat." Finally, after surviving several foster homes, a harrowing heroin withdrawal, and an unwanted pregnancy, 16-year-old Leshaya finds a band and ends up with a single on the radio. But can even that be enough for a girl so hungry for love that she looks everywhere for it except the one place she's sure to find it--within herself?

National Book Award recipient Han Nolan's fifth novel is an emotional stunner. Like Brock Cole's equally haunting The Facts Speak for Themselves, Born Blue is an unflinching look at a girl forced to grow up too fast in a callous world. Nolan's raw portrayal of Leshaya may hurt to read, but like a recently healed broken heart, it's a good pain. (Ages 14 and older) --Jennifer Hubert --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly
Nolan (Dancing on the Edge) uses boldly honest first-person narrative to recount the saga of an emotionally disturbed teen, whose life-affirming passion for music constantly conflicts with her self-destructive tendencies. Abandoned by her mother, neglected by her foster parents and later kidnapped and sold by her mother to a drug dealer, Janie finds her only source of happiness when she hears "the ladies" Etta James, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan sing. Janie is lily-white, but she identifies more with the music, culture and rhythms of her African-American foster brother, Harmon. When, at a young age, she discovers her own remarkable singing voice, Janie (who changes her name to Leshaya) begins getting the attention she so desperately craves. Her talent proves to be both a blessing and a curse, however, bringing her opportunities and, at the same time, magnetically pulling her into a world where fellow musicians use drugs and sex to heighten their performance. The protagonist's serpentine narration often picks up characters then drops them just as abruptly, mirroring Janie's treatment of others. Some of the developing relationships her reunion with Harmon and her interest in a gifted songwriter, especially demonstrate Janie's inability to connect with others to chilling effect. But other examples feel gratuitous once her pattern of behavior is established. By the time readers reach the novel's conclusion, they will have gained an understanding of the tragic heroine's fears, desires and warped perception of family, but Janie herself remains hauntingly elusive, adding to the impact of the book. The question of whether or not Janie will break her cycle of abuse remains unanswered, yet young adults mature enough to bear the story's intensity will also likely recognize the characteristics of this deeply troubled girl from their own communities. Ages 14-up.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Paperbacks (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152046976
• ISBN-13: 978-0152046972
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #542,433 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Compassionate View of RAD, August 16, 2001

By	"melodious" (Mobile, AL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Born Blue (Hardcover)

Many professionals are writing about reactive attachment disorder, but this is the first book I've encountered that allows the reader to see into the soul of a child with this condition. The author does not attempt to sponge up the messes the protagonist creates for herself. Instead Han Nolan helps the reader understand why a child with this condition views the world without empathy for others. The protagonist's only concern is for herself because she cannot trust anyone else to care for her. The world is, after all, a very dangerous place. Despite the protagonist's anti-social actions, the reader experiences compassion for her. Perhaps this book will help more people become aware of RAD. We must continue to seek therapeutic alternatives for these children.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Born Blue is Golden, July 21, 2005

By	A. Dennis "A College Student" (Atlanta, Georgia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When you first meet Janie, you know her life must be tough from the way she speeks and her lack of comprehension of everyday concepts common to suburban life. Janie comes from a heroine addict mother and right away the reader is sprung into her journey. Janie goes through many hardships including foster care, being sold for heroine, kidnapping, and constantly has new people in and out of her life. All the while Janie-Leshaysa is going after her dream of being a singer. Don't be fooled, this novel isn't some sappy musician's story. This novel is fierce and Leshaya is raw. It's amazing to see her effect on the people she comes across and their reaction to her. You think you know what is going to happen, but really you have no idea.There are so many twists and issues such as Janie's identitiy- who is her father, her baby's father, her denial of being white. I loved the ending because Nolan surprises the readers. The book is somewhat unconventional and readers will read the book from start to finish. Please beleive that readers will remember Janie-Leshaya long after finishing the novel.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW!, September 10, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Born Blue (Hardcover)

This book was so amazing.I read this book ounce and just had to read it again.It is one of my favorite books and it is a book that I recomend for any1.Born Blue deserves an award................a very special one.Whenever blue you know what book to turn to