Touch Blue

jacyndamew - Touch Blue is about a girl named Tess Brooks. She is 11 years old. She lives on an island in Maine and ever since her best friend moved away, the island has been talking about getting rid of the school, as there aren't enough children to keep it open anymore. The islanders don't want to move away from their home, so they have agreed to take in one orphan child per family. Tess's family is taking in a 13 year old boy named Aaron. Tess and her younger sister, Libby, are really excited and hope Aaron will like the things they do. Tess has a lot of lucky things she collects. She finds a piece of smooth blue glass in the sand and picks it up to be her new lucky charm. After all, there is a saying that is "Touch blue and your wish will come true". Tess wishes that Aaron will like the things her and Libby do. There is so much stress. And on top of that, there is a mean boy named Eben who is really annoying. Will Aaron be happy living with Tess's family? Will the islanders be able to keep the school open? Read Touch Blue by Cynthia Lord to find out.

August 9, 2010
As she did in the Newbery Honor–winning Rules, Lord introduces a plucky, articulate girl from coastal Maine. When Tess's best friend's family moves away and there are no longer enough students to keep her island school open, her family is among those that offer to take in foster children to boost enrollment. Awaiting the arrival of Aaron, her teenage foster brother, Tess—an avid collector of good-luck talismans—is thrilled to find a piece of blue sea glass, since blue is especially lucky: "Touch blue and your wish will come true." Lord interlaces themes of loss, luck, superstition, family, and belonging, but at the heart of this tightly woven story is Tess's longing to help Aaron overcome his hurt and anger at having been taken from his alcoholic mother (years before) and shuffled among foster homes, and to make him feel like he's part of her close-knit family. His mother's unannounced appearance (at Tess's bold, clandestine invitation) at a talent show in which Aaron plays the trumpet adds tension and pathos to the finale of this stirring novel. Ages 9–12.