Review: "Touch Blue," by Cynthia Lord

Tess and her family live on a tiny island in Maine and Tess loves to catch lobster with her fisherman father. Her mom is the town's only school teacher and the school is in need of more students or it will be shut down. The townsfolk agree to take in foster children in order to keep the school open. Tess's family fosters Aaron, a boy whose mother is still around but she hasn't kept off drugs long enough to be able to care for Aaron. Aaron is an excellent musician, so Tess encourages him to play his trumpet at town events, and they devise a plan to invite Aaron's mother. The story is perfectly written for an upper elementary audience because it lacks the grit and turmoil that kids in foster care more typically face. Aaron doesn't have it easy, but he gets pretty lucky when he lands with Tess's family.

Mrs. Denney's Rating: **1/2

#review #realisticfiction #family #fostercare