Touch Blue

Erin Moon gives a lovely reading of this island tale about the emotional bonds of family and place. If the State of Maine closes the school on Bethsaida Island due to the decrease in students, 11-year-old Tess Brooks's family will have to leave the only home she's ever known. To save the school, Reverend Beal hatches a plan to offer homes to foster children, and the islanders await their June arrival with excitement. Moon's portrayal of Tess is so genuine that it's almost startling the first time she introduces another voice in the story. She also produces authentic Maine voices as she recounts what that summer brings to light. K.O. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

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.