Forget-Me-Not Blue
by Sharelle Byars Moranville (Author)
Perfect for fans of Encanto and Turning Red, this intimate and heartfelt middle grade novel follows two siblings fighting to stay together amidst the ripple effects of addiction and generational trauma.
Siblings Con and Sofie's mom promised that nothing would ever come between them-but when she disappears without any warning, she becomes the one who's tearing them apart. With no one else to rely on, inseparable siblings Con and Sofie must decide who they can trust, and whether or not it's safe to share their hearts with family members who have the power to hurt them. Sofie has always turned to Con-and to books-during times of upheaval in their unstable lives. But as their mother is arrested and their guardianship becomes uncertain, Sofie will have to find hope in the most important story of all: her own.
Moranville's captivating and vulnerable prose explores the ways in which addiction's ripple effects pass through generations and how familial bonds can remain unbreakable through the most difficult circumstances. Expertly grappling with difficult topics at an age-appropriate level, this novel is a sensitive, nuanced exploration of children's enduring resilience and optimism.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
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Kirkus
A poignant, pointed portrayal of the heavy burden parental instability places on a family.
ALA/Booklist
Though difficult and traumatic circumstances fill the narrative, readers who share Sofie's experiences will feel seen and ultimately reassured.
Publishers Weekly
Fifth grade Des Moines, Iowa, resident Sofie feels lucky to have her 13-year-old brother Connie looking after her in their mother's chaotic household. Despite his care, however, she yearns to have a more stable relationship with her mom, who struggles with drug dependency and is often in abusive relationships. Things begin looking up when Sofie's mother starts working at the restaurant owned by family friend Tommy, until she suddenly disappears for three weeks. When she returns, she's immediately arrested for crimes she committed with her boyfriend. Now the children need a new guardian, but after the court deems that their beloved great-grandfather Gunner can only keep Con, due to Gunner's recent incarceration, Sofie worries she might be taken from the only people she feels safe with. Sofie's vulnerable POV and her propensity to highlight the good in every situation exude warmth, and a number of cozy, joyful moments, as when Con buys Sofie a pair of special "brand-new, in-a-box, straight-from-the-store shoes," help buoy wrenching setbacks and conflict caused by the characters' familial dynamics. An optimistic conclusion, ferried by an enduring heroine, rounds out this hopeful novel by Moranville (Surprise Lily). Main characters read as white. Ages 8-12. (Aug.)
Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.
Review quotes
Moranville writes with candor and respect for her audience as she delves into the very real issues of poverty, addiction, physical abuse, foster care, and having an incarcerated parent, as well as the host of emotions that accompany these situations. . . . Though difficult and traumatic circumstances fill the narrative, readers who share Sofie's experiences will feel seen and ultimately reassured. —Booklist
JUV039020 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Adolescence
JUV039040 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Drugs, Alcohol, Substance Abuse
Drug addiction
Siblings
