Dear Blue Sky

by Mary Sullivan

Paperback, 2013

Status

Available

Genres

Children's Books

Collection

Children's Circulating

Publication

Puffin Books (2013), Edition: Reprint, 256 pages

Description

"Shortly after Cass's big brother is deployed to fight in Iraq, Cass becomes pen pals with an Iraqi girl who opens up her eyes to the effects of war"--

User reviews

LibraryThing member ChristianR

While this is a story that deserves to be told, it falls short in several areas. The main character, Cassie, has an older brother who has enlisted and been sent to Iraq to fight in the war. This wreaks havoc on their family, especially the mother. Sef, the brother, is portrayed as ridiculously

perfect and the anchor to his family. The rest of them each have their issues, seemingly to add a lot of issues to the book (alcoholism, prescription drug abuse, bullying, teenage love problems, friend problems, and on and on). Blue Sky is an Iraqi and has chosen to write a blog in English about her experiences during the war. Cassie happens upon it and begins to see the war differently. Blue Sky is like Sef -- too perfect. It's too bad, because the idea of showing the war from the point of view of someone who lives in the occupied area is very good.

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LibraryThing member SamMusher

Liked it quite a bit as I was reading -- it dealt thoughtfully with a number of issues that are rare in MG (a brother with Down syndrome, the grey areas around the Iraq War), while providing plenty of everyday friendship and boy drama to keep middle schoolers reading. I find it hasn't stuck with me

enough to elevate it to a favorite.

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