Blue

Week 2 Nonfiction Novel:
Blue
Written By: Joyce Moyer Hostetter
Published: 2010

Historical Fiction is not typically a genre I spend a lot of time reading. I typically find historical fiction novels a bit slow and difficult to get lost in. This novel is the exception. Blue grips you right from the start and you find yourself rooting for Ann Fay as she takes on the role as "Man of The House" when her father goes off to fight in World War II. She really embodies the concept of rubbing some dirt in your wounds and getting your hands dirty. Ann Fay throws herself into keeping the family farm afloat and spends all of her free time working in the fields and trying to recruit her siblings to assist her. When a Polio epidemic hits her home of Hickory, North Carolina, everybody is left distraught and families are left broken. Ann Fay rises to the occasion and despite her own obstacles, tries to keep her family in tact and fight for her new found beliefs from a friendship that developed during a time of great hardship.

Wow, this little book packs a punch. There are so many important underlying themes and concepts that are just longing to be directed and discussed. Blue is a great series for anybody, but especially for students who love historical fiction. Ann Fay is an excellent literary role model to have as she is the epitome of perseverance. 

I would love to use this as a read aloud book, as the dialect used greatly lends itself towards that use. It would be a great tie in for studying World War II, plants, and epidemics. I hope to read the other book in the series, Comfort, at some point this semester. I give this book 4 stars.