Book Review – A Different Blue by Amy Harmon

4 stars

“Once upon a time
there was a little blackbird,
pushed from the nest.
Unwanted.
Discarded”

This is the story about a lost girl finding herself. And the guy who took her under his wing.

This book takes the whole concept of ‘finding yourself’ to a whole new level. Abandoned by her mother at the age of 2, Blue doesn’t know her real name, doesn’t remember her parents, and doesn’t even know when she was born. She came with no immunization records, no address, no birth certificate, nothing. Raised by a drifter, she didn’t even start school until she was 10 making her older than everyone else too. Everything about her life was build on guesses leaving her with no sense of belonging, no belief in anything and in a constant state of trying to make sense of the unknown.

But her young, new teacher at school takes a special interest in her – curious about what could be behind her story. And through the lessons in his classes, he tries to help her find herself.

This book is built subtly in many layers. It’s very much a read-between-the-lines kind of book.  The history lessons in school and folk lore stories all have parallels that reflect back into Blue’s life.

“What we believe affects our lives in a very real way. What we believe affects our choices, our actions, and subsequently, our lives.”

I’ll admit that the beginning of this story, despite being interesting, was a little slow for me. I struggled with it a little in places but was still intrigued by the story and after about 25% I was sucked in and read the rest of it in one fell swoop.

I have to say that this book did not go where I was expecting it to – which was something I really liked about it. Each time I thought I had a hold on it’s direction, it switched. Quietly. But completely.

The primary focus of this story was Blue’s journey of self discovery. Along that journey, she falls in love. But the story’s focus is her, not specifically the romance. That being said, I did find Wilson rather charming in a British school-teacher kind of way. And I loved how he took her under his wing and was always there for her. He didn’t always know what she needed, but he sure tried his best to give it to her.

Their relationship was very interesting because it was constantly changing. There was no insta-love and no relationship in fact really until well into the second half of the book. Rather, at first their relationship was honestly built more on a mixture of curiosity and caring.

“I keep wishing you had a better life… a different life. But a different life would have made you a different Blue… And that would be the biggest tragedy of all.”

This book had no steam, so just don’t go into it expecting that. However there are some very sweet kisses scattered throughout the last half.

Now, I know a lot of people have said that this book made them cry (ugly tears even) and hit them very strongly emotionally but, despite liking the story, I didn’t actually ever even tear up. It didn’t mean that wasn’t into it, just that, I guess it didn’t affect me that way. Or… maybe my tears are broken? :/

It’s not a long read, definitely something that can be read in one sitting. I did find myself wishing for a little more detail in certain places and perhaps also for an epilogue but I enjoyed my read and appreciated that, after all the questions the story dug up, that it had a happy, resolved ending.

The R-words sum up this story perfectly:

Redemption, Resolution, Revelation.

4 stars

PURCHASE LINKS

• A Different Blue (Kindle)
• A Different Blue (Paperback)

CASTING

• Wilson –> Click here and here