Touch Blue

Title: Touch Blue

Author: Cynthia Lord

Genre: Realistic Fiction

# of Pages: 186

Books Read: 15/50

This is a new book from Cynthia Lord, author of Rules. I got it through the Scholastic Book Orders last winter for my classroom library, but just now have had the chance to read and find out what the story is really about. 

As the cover shows, the setting is an island town on the East coast. Tess is the main character, and she and her family have lived on the island their whole lives. She loves to go lobster fishing with her dad, and more than anything she doesn't want her life to change. Her mom is the teacher at their one-room island school. The state is threatening to shut down the school, saying it's not worth keeping open for so few kids. This would force Tess's family and others to have to leave the island and move to the mainland, but the reverend comes up with a win-win idea that can save them! Five families on the island take in foster kids, to replace the five students who moved away last year. 

Red-haired, 13-year-old Aaron is one of these foster kids. Tess and her family try to make it clear to Aaron that they really do want him as a part of their family, but on a small island the gossip travels faster than the ocean wind. Who can blame him from feeling bitter that he had to leave his school and jazz band to start in a new place just to be a number to keep the one-room school open? In spite of a rocky beginning, Aaron and Tess manage to form a friendship, and over time, Aaron even agrees to play his trumpet for the town. Aaron is a gifted jazz musician and plays both trumpet and piano. 

The heartwarming story has all the themes of belonging, family, as well as some anti-bullying with Eben, who drives Tess crazy and picks on Aaron until they show him what's up. I enjoyed this quick read at the beach on a fittingly rainy, foggy day.