Bluish [Hardcover]

"Bluish" is a gentle, moving novel about overcoming fear of someone who is different. The book is a hopeful celebration of childhood friendship. A nice touch is the fact that entries from Dreenie's journal are interspersed between the chapters of the novel. The book also offers an interesting perspective on the multicultural, multifaith world of NYC schoolkids; there's even a little primer on the celebration of Kwanzaa. Overall, an impressive effort from Hamilton.

Virginia Hamilton who has more than a few titles for young readers under her belt writes Bluish. Unlike some of her fantasy-based work, this is squarely set in contemporary New York with all the attendant urban problems we see on the news. For example, Dreenie almost jumps out of her skin while waiting for her father downstairs in their apartment building. Although she was warned not to go outside, she does just that, looking left and right for her father. Instead he comes in front of her and cautions her yet again that she has to look three ways: left, right and across. It isn't stated, but youngsters have received enough parental warnings and seen enough news shows about abduction to the author's point.

The book is written in a different type of style - it ping pongs back and forth between a journal format (Dreenie's diary) and a regular third person narrative style. While it was a bit unsettling for me as an adult to get used to the format, young people may not have as many preconceived notions of what a novel should look like. Dreenie has a younger sister she has to watch over every afternoon until her parents come home from work, again very realistic of today's world for many youngsters. The younger sister, Willie, of course irritates her big sister to no end, and makes matters worse by being an extremely bright and outspoken child. Every so often her resentment at being so responsible for her sister comes through, as it does in some of her later conversations with Natalie or "Bluish" as Dreenie calls her.

The second key figure in the friendship is Tuli, a bi-racial youngster who lives with her Grandmother and often pretends to be Spanish. Tuli is loud and energetic; highly observant of her surroundings and people and is often very needy. Sometimes so much so that Dreenie feels like she has yet another sibling to watch over. Dreenie feels as if Tuli tries to be too much a part of her family and should spend more time with her Grandmother.

Their teacher who tells them she has leukemia but is on the mend finally explains Natalie's illness. The disease requires that she rests a lot and that she sometimes vomits in class as a result of chemotherapy. Natalie is bi-racial as well with a black father and a Jewish mother who initially takes offense at her daughter's nickname, mistakenly thinking it is a crass put down of being black and Jewish. After she realizes the truth, she warms up to Dreenie and later on Natalie's family attends a Kawaanza celebration at Dreenie's house.

Natalie helps her classmates understand some Jewish traditions such as Hanukkah and brings a dreidel to class and teacher her classmates how to play the game. She also brings knitted caps to all of them saying she has lots of time resting in bed and knitting helps her pass the time. The caps are all bright and colorful and the children love them. The caps also bond them with Bluish who has to wear one all the time due the chemo-induced baldness.

This book will introduce children to a variety of "others." Sick children, the physically challenged, bi-racial youngsters and those from lower socio-economic classes. In one fell swoop, Hamilton poses a number of "isms" for young minds to grabble with, all the while writing about likeable young girls who are engaging but no goody two-shoes. Dreenie can be extremely impatient; Natalie can be aloof and sarcastic; Tuli can be narcissistic and childish. In short, they are real-life children who struggle with real issues facing young people today. Hamilton does not end with happily ever after. It is left open ended as to Natalie health. While she is steadily improving, its made clear she has a five-year window before the doctors will consider her in remission. Tuli remains poor and living with her Grandmother. Dreenie is more comfortable in her new school, but still wonders if she will truly be the intellectual equal of her younger sister. All in all, an enjoyable read that is believable and engaging.