Book Review: Blue by Lou Aronica

This book is so unique!  It is really interesting in that it can appeal to young adults and to adult readers - though probably more so the adults.  And while it is in large part a contemporary fiction piece it is also a work of fantasy.

A young girl and her father create an imaginary world they tell stories about every night while she is battling cancer.  The world, which they name Tamarisk, has incredible colors and sounds and it smells like chocolate and raspberries!  The plants are blue and the animals and materials of the land have incredible properties.  I especially loved the flying Waccasassas!   :)  When the girl is older, her parents divorce and she decides she's too old for the stories anymore.  But then one day she learns she can actually VISIT this world of her imagination and finds that Tamarisk is in trouble.  All the plants are dying and the queen needs her help.

Blue is told in 5 distinct points of view - one of which is never entirely explained - but which allow us to see things from very different perspectives.  I love how fully the author seems to understand the way divorce can affect the individuals in a family and their relationships and interactions with one another (not to mention with others as well!).  There was incredible depth and diversity to each perspective and while it took me a little while to really get into the book (I read very few adult protagonists), once I was there, I really, really enjoyed it.

This story is about a father's love for his daughter and about their imagination and creativity together, but even more than that it is a story about healing and hope and the things that go unsaid that really should be talked about.

Blue has enriched my life and helped me to remember the importance of fully appreciating the beauty of the simple moments I have with those I love. 

Lou Aronica has an amazing imagination!  I would love to know what inspired him in writing this story and hope to learn more during his blog stop tomorrow at Angels and Warriors Blog Talk Radio where he'll be doing a live radio show with Dawn Tevy at 6pm MST.

**Lou Aronica's blog tour schedule**

For even more on Blue, please feel free to follow the author 

on his blog tour and to visit the Fiction Studio website where you can 

read a book excerpt as well as additional raving reviews.

Thank you to Pump Up Your Book and to The Fiction Studio (the author's creative development / publishing company) for this wonderful review opportunity!