A DIFFERENT BLUE by AMY HARMON
1 April, 2013
Our Review
“Once upon a time…there was a little blackbird, pushed from the next. Unwanted. Discarded”
And so begins A Different Blue. Part of the synopsis sums up the story with “This is the story of a nobody who becomes a somebody. It is the story of an unlikely friendship where hope fosters healing and redemption becomes love.”
Whilst that is a perfect way to summarize this book, it doesn’t even scratch the surface of the content of this story. This book….I really don’t know what to begin to talk about this book. Even as I’m writing this review I am thinking back to the story of Blue and I am welling up. There were times this book lifted my spirits, there were times I felt such inexplicable sorrow for Blue and there were times my heart warmed at the beautiful old soul Wilson and the interaction between him and Blue. What a beautiful combination they were. .
“Don’t let anybody tell you different. Regret is just life’s aftertaste.”
This story was beautiful and moving. As heart-warming as it was heartbreaking. As breath-taking as it was overwhelming. I continually stopped to wipe away tears as Blue Echohawk and her story completely and utterly stole my heart. It is a bit difficult to do a review of this book because you can’t divulge too much without giving away spoilers and to do that would be a travesty to this story. It must be experienced and revealed at its own pace, the way the author intended. I want readers to experience this the way I did.
“To live without belief is a fate worse than death”
To say Blue has lived a tough life really is an understatement. But she is a survivor.
“It wasn’t much. But I was never hungry, I was never cold, and I don’t remember ever being really unhappy” ….”…..I didn’t know any different so I wasn’t especially lonely” Blue
This girl doesn’t know her real name or when she was born. She was abandoned at two and raised by a drifter, not attending school until she was ten. Blue feels she has no faith and no hope and her attitude at school reflects her feelings. Her dress sense and overall appearance oozes sex appeal as she confuses sex with nurturing as a way of dealing with pain and loneliness.
“God? If you love me…take it away. Please. I’m asking you to take it away. I don’t want to feel this anymore” Blue
I adored Blue. I found her sassy, stoic, with so much heart. Yes she did radiate an attitude from every pore, but it was understandably so. With little or no self esteem or self love, Blue is convinced she is nothing. But you know the girl inside; you feel the girl beyond the attitude is special. You know Blue is a survivor but you will feel every single minute of her struggles. Blue may have not have felt hope but I can assure you I did. I believed in her without exception.
When Blue strikes up an unlikely friendship with her new History teacher Mr Wilson in her senior year, theirs is a friendship that is so very special it will completely move you, render you speechless and these two will completely captivate you, I know they did me. What can one say about this Wilson?
“You can’t control who loves you….you can’t let someone love you anymore than you can make someone love you”
There is so much to this man. This guy really is a book hero in every sense of the word. He’s not your alpha type hero, and he doesn’t need to be. He is unique and beautiful inside and out. I completely fell in love with this cheeky, intelligent, funny and sometimes stuffy Brit teacher.
“A handkerchief! What are you eighty five?” Blue
His humor, his soulfulness and his compassion won me over….yes, Wilson was very much the core of this story right along with Blue.
Blue’s story unfolds by way of a history assignment in Mr Wilson’s class. Little by little he coaxes her to write about her life.
“Don’t worry about being perfect. Perfect is boring” “I just want an honest account – whatever you are willing to divulge” Wilson
Blue is closed, she doesn’t want to let others in and she especially doesn’t want to expose her life in a classroom environment. Watching this friendship develop, watching Blue open up, watching Wilson nurture her….well, as I said, I’m welling up just thinking about it. This book completely moved me.
“Some moments you don’t get back, Blue. You don’t want to spend a lifetime wondering about those moments you didn’t seize, about the things you should have done but were too scared to” Wilson
The relationship between Wilson and Blue is the absolutely heart of this story. There’s was a slow build relationship that never felt rushed, never felt contrived.
“We studied each other silently. And then he brought his hand up and laid it gently against my cheek. Such a simple gesture. But it was my undoing. I closed my eyes and cried”
This book is one I won’t forget in a hurry. So, why not a 5 star? Well, for me there were a couple of scenes I would have liked expanded upon, I would have liked some answers to and I really would have loved an epilogue but this in no way detracted from my enjoyment of this story as you can tell.
This is so, so much more than a romance story. There is so much to this book that you will at times gasp at what comes next – I know parts completely took me surprise. This book had depth, heart, sorrow, pain, humor, hope and some of the most wonderful, heart stealing characters you could meet, every last one of them. I loved it!
“I keep wishing you had a better life………A different life. But a different life would have made you a different Blue.” Wilson
I’ll leave by saying….. “British butts drive me nuts” haha
Synopsis
Blue Echohawk doesn’t know who she is. She doesn’t know her real name or when she was born. Abandoned at two and raised by a drifter, she didn’t attend school until she was ten years old. At nineteen, when most kids her age are attending college or moving on with life, she is just a senior in high school. With no mother, no father, no faith, and no future, Blue Echohawk is a difficult student, to say the least. Tough, hard and overtly sexy, she is the complete opposite of the young British teacher who decides he is up for the challenge, and takes the troublemaker under his wing.
This is the story of a nobody who becomes somebody. It is the story of an unlikely friendship, where hope fosters healing and redemption becomes love. But falling in love can be hard when you don’t know who you are. Falling in love with someone who knows exactly who they are and exactly why they can’t love you back might be impossible.
Other Books By This Author
The Bird and the Sword Chronicles
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Mandy said:
So glad you reviewed this book! I loved this author’s first book- “Running Barefoot” and I so glad Ms. Harmon is getting more attention.
Danielle Hoover said:
I have never heard of this book and it sounds really good! Thanks for the chance!
Kirsty said:
I’d love to win this book! I keep reading so many good things about it on GR and in reviews.
Clista said:
Gosh darn it Jenny. Another book, I now have to read! Girl! It sounds amazing. Thanks for your Giveaways!
Denise Martinez said:
Sounds like my kind of book! I hope we find out about her past, how she became abandoned with no knowledge of her beginnings.
Heather Cantrall said:
This story sounds fantastic, I’d love to win a copy!
Melissa said:
This sounds like breath of fresh air, something different to get me out of my reading rut
Julie VN said:
Hoping to win this book!
Nicole tetrev said:
Because it sounds awesome
brenda kness said:
id love to win
Brittany Delano said:
This book looks AMAZING!! I cannot wait to read it!
Dawn Bush said:
After reading your review, you’ve convinced me! I’ve put this on my TBR based on the “buzz”…now I really want o read it!!
Liberty said:
I would love to win this book. It doesn’t sound like a book that I would normally read, I would love to break out of my normal book ‘type’. It sounds like it will be a good one!
Marjana said:
sounds good!
Gi Costa said:
Ok sorry but I have to ask: “Once upon a time…there was a little blackbird, pushed from the next. Unwanted. Discarded” …shouldn’t that be nest? As in where birds sleep?
Anyway, it sounds like the type type of book I like to read and that is why I would love to win a copy!!! 😀
Rosarita Reader said:
Why I would like to read this book: It has bad words in it. It talks about a word that rhymes with next…without the T at the end.
Amber Slagle said:
I love the cover! That is how I usually pick a good book!!
Tina Sawyer said:
This sounds like a great story, I would love to read it
gloria said:
this books looks good! gonna add it to my list! thanks tb!
Sara Butler said:
This book looks awesome!!!
Hannah K said:
Going on my goodreads list!!! 🙂
Nicole Sands said:
I’m really looking forward to reading this book! Thanks for the wonderful review!!
Trisha R. said:
It’s on my TBR!! Awesome review. Can’t wait to read this. Thanks for the giveaway.
Katha said:
Another great sounding book to add to my TBR list….it’s getting out of control!!!
Joni Payne said:
I haven’t read it and it looks really good!
DA said:
Sounds very emotional – would love to read it.
Kim L said:
Sounds like a really interesting book. Plus you ladies gave it a great review so I’m definitely adding it to my TBR.
Amy Jennings said:
would love to win this book , it looks like an emotional heavy read which happens to be my fav!
Leslie T. said:
This sounds like a different kind of story then what has been the uber popular story lines of lately so it definitely has sparked my interest. I’m always looking for something different to read.
Zita R said:
Your review is touching and makes me want to read this book. I like a book that really makes you feel. This author is new to me so I’m a blank slate on her work. Thanks for the chance to win!
Angela said:
What a review!! I have to read this book. Thanks for the chance to win.
Jennifer Zorko-Legan said:
Looks like an AWESOME read
Brandi Bradford said:
I haven’t read this book! I hope to win!
Robin said:
Because it sounds fantastic and I’ve got limited book money right now! 🙂
Tina M said:
I haven’t read it yet and it looks really good. Thanks for the chance to win!!
Casie said:
I would like to read A Different Blue because I was immediately sucked in just from the synopsis and know I wil just love this book! 🙂
Jamie said:
I’d love to win this book because it looks great and I can always use more friends on my kindle!
Roxanne G said:
I just love these kinds of books! Dying to read this one.I think it’s gonna be great! Thanks for the chance.
Ninna Marie said:
I would love to win this book because I love to read and I love getting new books every week and living in new stories. This book sounds good and interesting. And hopefully I can enjoy it soon.
Megan Bolyard said:
Maybe I will win before I buy…haha
Can’t wait.
Michele Allen said:
I just finished a book and now I need to move onto something else, but I can’t pick which one! Winning a book would make my decision so much easier!
Jessica Katz said:
I’m always looking for new books and I highly value your opinions!
Susan said:
Sounds like a great book! I can’t wait to read it!
Nicole Delfs said:
Its on my tbr list!
Melissa C said:
I need to stop following these bloggers! I’m finding too many books to read and this one looks good!
Becky Schmidt said:
I would love to win this book. It is not something that I would normally read, but it looks so good.
Tiffany Munson said:
Sounds like it is a really good book. I love to read and this is not normally what I read, but it sounds like a really good book.
Debra D said:
Sounds interesting. love darker books like this
Nicola Higgins said:
Nothing like a good book especially from an author if never read. If I don’t will I will defiantly but it 🙂
Vicki said:
I haven’t read it yet & the blog about it makes me want to read it.
Tess H. said:
Prior to this review, I haven’t heard of A Different Blue, but after reading your review, I’m very interested to read this! It sounds like an amazing book and your reviews are spot on for me! Thanks for the recommendation and giveaway!
tess_halim(at)hotmail(dot)com
Michelle said:
Sounds really interesting. I’ll have to check it out!
Beth Lattanzi said:
Any chance to read a new book opens doors to amazing opportunities! Thanks for this chance!
Stephanie said:
I would like to read this book based off of your review. I always say that a 5 star books hooks you in by your emotions. Any book that makes me cry, bite your nails, or laugh out loud is my kind of book!
SMK said:
Can’t wait to read this book. It sounds intriguing.
Jenn Hallman said:
Sounds like a great book! Love the review.
Gloria Elena Gonzalez said:
this book sounds very interesting!
Serena Knautz said:
another one to add to my TBR list:) just by reading the snippets you picked from the book drew me in:)
Danielle said:
Id like to read this book, it sounds good, and review it on my pages. 🙂
Alexandra said:
This book sounds so incredible, especially after reading your review! Those quotes really reeled me in, too. I really need to read this.
Thanks for the chance! (:
Katie Cary said:
Can’t wait to read this book! Reviews sound awesome!
Maria Malaveci said:
It sounds like a book that I really would want to read. Thanks so much for the giveaway!
Hai K said:
Great Review. The synposis has really hooked me on this book.
Suzanne said:
Added to my TBR list!
Cynthia said:
Would love to get me hands on this book, your reviews are always spot on for the books I then pick up.
Roxanne G said:
I love these kinds of stories. Heartwarming, growing into yourself, finding out who you are kind of stuff. I can’t wait to read this one.
Christine M said:
This book sounds amazing. After reading your review, I can’t wait to read it. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
ursa said:
Awesome giveaway! I would reaaaaaaaaaaaally like to read this book, have seen some great reviews and been wishing to read it for some time now!
Dawn said:
Your review as me hooked! I want to read this one now!
Sanita said:
I would love to read this book as it has so many good reviews. Thanks for a chance to win
Heather said:
I would like to win this book because it sounds like its a great story.
Patty said:
I just finished this book last might. It was phenomenal. Such a beautiful story. Would love to win a signed paperback copy. 🙂
Nicole said:
I cannot wait to read this!!! I have heard nothing but great things about this book.