"I'm nobody! Who are you?
Are you nobody, too?
Then there's a pair of us
Don't tell - they'd banish us,
you know."
Stunningly beautiful. Amy Harmon brings us a heartwarming, lovely story of redemption, forgiveness, and healing with A Different Blue. I absolutely adore her writing style. It is slow, yet not boring, sweet, yet not achingly so, it is strong and powerful and emotive. The first work of hers I read was Making Faces, which is one of my all-time favorite books. So, it is no wonder really, that I would love this just the same. I just regret not having read it sooner.
First, the research necessary to write this book is astounding. I feel like I had a history lesson. I mean, I learned more in this book than I think I did my entire high school career. I wish I had had a high school history teacher like Mr. Wilson. I certainly would have liked it, let alone remembered some of it. I wish my kids could have a HS history teacher like Mr. Wilson. I would love to send this to history teachers everywhere and tell them, "This is how to teach history!" ;) Then, there's the Native American and wood carving information. Wow, all of that in and of itself, makes this book amazing!
Blue Echohawk, at age 2...ish, is found by Jimmy Echohawk, in the seat of his car. Abandoned, alone, with no note, no identification. Jimmy doesn't go to the police, doesn't try to find her parents, he takes the child and raises her as his own. Jimmy is a drifter. A kind-hearted, loving drifter. He raises Blue with the love of any parent. They have a bond as tight as any parent/child bond and love as strong as one. He teaches her how to make carvings out of wood. Teaches her his Native American stories. He makes her toys from wood, feeds and clothes her. He gives her a good life. And then at age 10, due to circumstances beyond their control, she has to go live with his sister, Cheryl. Heartbreaking.
Skip ahead nine years, and Blue is in her senior year of High School. She has not lived a good life with Cheryl. She hasn't been shown love, she was not taught anything good. She has not formed a parent/child bond with her. Instead, for nine years she has felt alone. All alone. She doesn't know what her name is. Who her parents are or what her birthdate is. She doesn't know anything about herself. She is strong despite her circumstances and has survived a life that many couldn't. Her coping mechanisms may be questionable, but they have worked for her up until the day Mr. Wilson, her history teacher, forced her examine her story.
"What we believe affects our choices, our actions, and subsequently, our lives....As the writer of your own history, what you believe influences the paths you take."
When Mr. Wilson told the class to begin writing their story, she of course struggled because she didn't know WHO she was, she didn't have a "family". But, she knew WHAT she was. And, what Blue believed, was that she was trash. She had been discarded as a child and had been living her teenage years promiscuously just to get some kind of attention. So, she didn't see any value in herself.
"Once upon a time...there was a little blackbird, pushed from the nest. Unwanted. Discarded."
Ya, that gutted me!
Wilson often quotes poetry and books in class. Many resonate with her and help reframe her thinking. He also makes her think about him, a lot. After all, he is a handsome, 22-year-old male and she is 19 or 20 (she doesn't really know). He is also, a brilliant, kind, gentle, caring, amazing human being. Once she graduates, the dynamics between them change and he struggles ethically with changing their friendship into anything more. He becomes the support system she has been missing for nine years.
"I keep wishing you had had a better life ... A different life. But a different life would have made you a different Blue." He looked at me then, "And that would be the biggest tragedy of all."
As their relationship grows and changes so does Blue. Her transformation is a joy to watch. But she can't help but feel unworthy of Wilson, who is after all from a wealthy, English family. He has history. He has his own insecurities and issues though and we learn about them.
"Girls like you never noticed guys like me."
"You're wrong about one thing, though. Girls like me notice guys like you. We just don't think we deserve them."
I loved the slow build of their relationship. There is NO INSTA-LOVE here. There is mutual respect. Friendship. Kindness. Humanity. Because of that, I think that is why Blue was able to find herself. With his support, she was able to develop a sense of identity. She didn't find it in him. He helped her find the answers she needed and supported her when the times were as hard as answers she received, and the consequences to choices she made seemed unbearable. He helped her write her history, and forge her future.
Blue's story began as,
"Once upon a time...there was a little blackbird, pushed from the nest. Unwanted. Discarded."
But through redemption, resolution, and revelations, Blue's story transformed just like the wood on the branches she carved.
"Once upon a time there was a little blackbird who was placed in a nest. Wanted. Cherished. Unafraid."
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Popular Highlights in this book
What we believe affects our choices, our actions, and subsequently, our lives.Highlighted by 1,110 Kindle readers- “I’m nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too? Then there’s a pair of us Don’t tell—they’d banish us, you know.”Highlighted by 792 Kindle readers
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5 BIG! stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Life is all we have, and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, which is a fate more terrible than dying. 'Wow! Whoa! 🤩🤩🤩 I can't with this writer! 😭😭😭To me, she is mine writer!Sit down, take a drink. Then, read this review! 🎉🔥 Okay?Amy, she has a special charm. Which I do not find nor look for in other writers. Because, I know she's special. I haven't read her book in 4 months. Why? Don't know 🤷♂️ and to tell the truth, this book came about because of someone I talked to early this morning (Mrs. Mali!) And I just had the mood to start this book. Both, audio 🎧, and reading 📖. And here I am. alive and breathing. 😬😝I just quit what I was reading and started this book. Does it feel more fun than that? 🎉No ! And that's how I like to read my books.And who knows me, I can read a lot of dark-romance books. But then the perfect book I could read in my life. That's how I work according to my mood. And when it came to reading. Is there any better than that? 🤪This time, Amy did it AGAIN!And I have a question to ask you.Did you know how important history is?How important is a person's history and life? How much does this really reflect the person standing or sitting in front of you?But, are we the ones who can produce our own history? And what if we don't know ourselves at all. And going into that love story? Can we really love someone. Before we even know ourselves? 🤔“No sense in running from the past. We should throw it away or pretend to happen, Miss Echohawk. But maybe we can learn something from it. You have an interesting story, and like you to tell me more.” He turned to walk away.Blue, she's sexy and fiery, black hair like crow and blue eyes. Courage and heroism is her second name. She doesn't know who she is. And I mean 'who is she?' I mean she doesn't know her real name. She doesn't know how old she is. She doesn't know when she was born. Who is her mother? She doesn't has no history. She only knows one thing, she was adopted by a man who rescued her when she was abandoned at the age of two. 🤐At 19, towards high school graduation. While others are busy with college searches, she is looking for herself. Want to know more about her life. About her past. But, she has already become discouraged. She didn't find the answers she wanted.One morning, when a young teacher, (This British !!! 🔥🔥🔥) enters the classroom, for a history lesson. Everything is starting to be Fiery and dangerous.Wilson, the new history teacher.He graduated with successfull at the age of 22 at the University of London. And currently lives with his older sister who moved to Las Vegas.Wilson, is one big story. 🤐But, finally a real man. A man who thinks of his brain, and not his D***. And I say at the height of seriousness.He's smart. This man is a genius. And yes, he's a nerd. 🤓The British accent's audio is perfect!!! Listen to the language. To delve into it, to see the differences and the reasons why British speak this way and that. It also adds to my knowledge.When Wilson, came into the classroom. He brings them the first mission. Write their history in a few sentences and pass it on at the end of the lesson. Blue has no real history. She has a story with some holes she needs to fill. And she conveys her story, as a parable. On a lonely bird that just wants to fly and grow.“Once upon a time. . . there was a little blackbird, pushed from the nest. Unwanted. ”The story itself, is feasible. And what do you mean?It's real. It concerns each and every one of us in everyday life. To find ourselves. Our story. Our history. What we base ourselves on every day in our lifespan. And it touched my heart.But, when, she starts falling in love with him. She gets stuck. Something stops her. And it's not her. It is something into her body that tells her that it is hard to fall in love with someone you do not know who you are. 💔And fall in love with someone else who knows who they are. But, he doesn't really know how to return love.it's impossible.“Why don't you just play. . . the way you do when you're alone. Just listen. "In summary, I have no words to describe the feelings I had in reading this book. Usually I share friends with my reading. This time, I couldn't, I didn't want to. I couldn't, because I felt like I wanted to be full of this story, and also kind of, through myself. Which is why I love her books. A true Story. With points of romance that just do you good on heart. And such a special story exists only with Amy Harmon. 👑Thank you 💙🖤
Top reviews from other countries
Gayathiri Ajay
Definitely one of my best reads this year
Reviewed in India on April 24, 2018
Amazon Customer
A great portrait of an almost lost life
Reviewed in Australia on February 20, 2020