Blue So Dark | TheBookSeekers

Blue So Dark


No. of pages 288

Published: 2010

Great for age 12-18 years

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Fifteen-year-old Aura Ambrose has been hiding a secret. Her mother, a talented artist and art teacher, is slowly being consumed by schizophrenia, and Aura has been her sole caretaker ever since Aura's dad left them. Convinced that "creative" equals crazy, Aura shuns her own artistic talent. But as her mother sinks deeper into the darkness of mental illness, the hunger for a creative outlet draws Aura toward the depths of her imagination. Just as desperation threatens to swallow her whole, Aura discovers that art, love, and family are profoundly linked--and together may offer an escape from her fears.

 

 

This book is the winner of numerous awards

There are 288 pages in this book.

It is aimed at Young Adult readers. The term Young Adult (YA) is used for books which have the following characteristics: (1) aimed at ages 12-18 years, US grades 7-12, UK school years 8-15, (2) around 50-75k words long, (3) main character is aged 12-18 years, (4) topics include self-reflection, internal conflict vs external, analyzing life and its meaning, (5) point of view is often in the first person, and (6) swearing, violence, romance and sexuality are allowed.

This book was published in 2010 by North Star Editions .

Holly Schindler writes for all ages from her home in Springfield, Missouri. Her YAs are critically acclaimed and award winning, and her Midwest roots often make an appearance in her books for teens. Readers, librarians, teachers, and book groups can keep up with the latest or get in touch at www. hollyschindler. com.

 

This book has been nominated for the following awards:

Ippy Award - Fiction
This book was recognised in the Fiction category by the Ippy Award.

Foreword Indies Book of the Year Award
This book was recognised by the Foreword Indies Book of the Year Award.

"Breathtakingly, gut-wrenchingly authentic...A haunting, realistic view of the melding of art, creativity, and mental illness and their collective impact on a young person's life." --Booklist, starred review

 

"An excellent first novel--a definite must-read. Schindler's debut novel is a lyrical tapestry ... a work of poetry." --VOYA

 

"Any story about mental illness will not be an easy read, but a very good one will reward those who stick with it. A Blue So Dark definitely falls in that category, so powerful is the empathy the author has built for her main character." --School Library Journal

 

"This story provides a realistic viewpoint of a teen living with a schizophrenic parent. Schindler shows how one teen copes with her ill mother, while trying to juggle the demands of school." --ALAN Online

 

"A Blue So Dark is one of those rare books: It never shies away from the darkness yet still manages to find the light. A truly real, emotional, and honest read." --Catherine Ryan Hyde, author of Pay it Forward and Love in the Present Tense

 

"Schindler's lyrical debut explores the nightmare of mental illness in a voice that is sharp and funny and all her own. This is as real as teen fiction gets. A must-read." --Crissa-Jean Chappell, author of Total Constant Order

 

"A Blue So Dark is a raw, compelling and eloquent portrayal of art and madness, and the freeing, healing gift of creativity. Schindler's voice is brilliant and true." --Carrie Jones, New York Times bestselling author of Need and Captivate