A Thousand Shades of Blue

by Robin Stevenson

Paperback, 2008

Status

Available

Call number

813.6

Description

A sailing trip to the Caribbean might sound great, but sixteen-year-old Rachel can't stand being trapped on a small boat with her family. She misses her best friend and feels guilty about leaving her older sister Emma, who lives in a group home. Her father is driving her crazy with his schedules and rules, her brother is miserable, and there is never anyone her own age around. Worst of all, there is nowhere to go when her parents fight. While their boat is being repaired, the family spends a few weeks in a small Bahamian community, where Rachel and Tim discover a secret which turns their world upside down and threatens to destroy the fragile ties that hold their family together.

Genres

Young Adult

Children's Books

Fiction

Collection

Adult Learning Library

Publication

Orca Book Publishers (2008), Edition: First Edition, 240 pages

User reviews

LibraryThing member mrpascua

This is a hi-low book that is an easy read for high school students and a manageable read for lower readers. Yet it keeps a high interest level for high school aged students. In this book,sixteen-year-old Rachel takes a sailing trip to the Caribbean but she can't stand being trapped on a small boat

with her family. There is no where to escape when her parents fight and she misses her friends. While the boat is being repaired, the family spends a few weeks in a small Bahamian community, where Rachel and Tim discover a secret that changes everything and could destroy the delicate family balance. This is a good hi-low book for high school aged students as the subject matter of family relations is something that young adults and teens can relate to and at the same time the reading level is manageable for lower readers. I would recommend this book for addition to the LMC.

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LibraryThing member satyridae

First off, I'm a sucker for books set on sailboats, as this one is. Secondly, I like protagonists who are a little awkward, unsure of themselves. Rachel is certainly not finished, but she's heading in the right direction. The broken sister and the troubled parents kind of pile it on, but somehow it

manages to work without being too heavy-handed. I liked the story, I liked the characters, and the writing took me to the deck of the 'Shared Dreams' and left me looking into the water. Nicely done.

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LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50

A Thousand Shades of Blue refers to the many and varied hues of the ocean in and around the Bahama Islands. In this idyllic setting the author, Robin Stevenson tells the story of Rachel, a sixteen year old girl who is trapped on a sailboat with her dysfunctional family for a year of extended

“family time”. Things haven’t been going smoothly for her family and Rachel is both resentful and angry at being pulled away from her home, school and friends while her parents try to patch things together.

Beneath Rachel’s anger there is also fear and uncertainly. She harbours secrets and memories that she is afraid to discuss hoping that by ignoring her problems they will vanish. The author does an excellent job of portraying this fragile family on the verge of disintegrating.

I loved the setting of the Bahamas and the vivid pictures the author made of sand, sea and sky. I wish there had been more time taken to develop this part of the story, but overall this tale of a family breakdown rang true I found A Thousand Shades of Blue to be am engaging story and I appreciated that, even though this is a YA book, there was no simple answer or pat ending.

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LibraryThing member thebacklistbook

I have serious feels about this book. First this book contains cheating and inappropriate age gaps. You have been warned. Also the way it is written has a strong suggestion of approval. Which frankly bugs me the most because this a middle grade book.

This book made me want to abandon life as I know

it and take off travelling. In a big way. Just not by boat #seasickness. This book also gave me major feelings of a lack of resolution. Which would be realistic and totally fine if it were targeted at adult like me. it isn't though it is being marketed to kids and teens who are going to read and possibly learn unhealthy relationship habits.

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