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Title: Beautiful Blue World
Author: Suzanne LaFleur
Narrator: Christy Carlson Romano
Format: Unabridged
Length: 5 hrs and 5 mins
Language: English
Release date: 09-13-16
Publisher: Listening Library
Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 5 votes
Genres: Fiction, Historical
Publisher's Summary:
Beautiful Blue World is a thrilling and moving story of children who become the key to winning a war.
Sofarende is at war. For 12-year-old Mathilde, it means food shortages, feuding neighbors, and bombings. Even so, as long as she and her best friend, Megs, are together, they'll be all right.
But the army is recruiting children, and paying families well for their service. If Megs takes the test, Mathilde knows she will pass. Megs hopes the army is the way to save her family. Mathilde fears it might separate them forever.
This touching and suspenseful novel is a brilliant reimagining of war, where even kindness can be a weapon, and children have the power to see what adults cannot.
Critic Reviews:
"Mathilde is timid and strong, childlike and complex, vividly narrating her story in great detail, encompassing myriad characters and events, all without censoring her fears and confusion about the nature of war and a world turned upside down, while somehow still managing to believe something better is possible. Deeply emotional, compelling, and brilliant." (Kirkus Reviews )
"LaFleur (Listening for Lucca) creates a warm boarding-school setting peopled with kind adults and children alike. Readers will be drawn in by the underlying belief that kids' work is important and powerful, and eager for the promised sequel." (Publishers Weekly)
"Writing in the first person, LaFleur crafts a protagonist who is compassionate and resourceful, in a war-ravaged world in which children are, by turns, exploited and empowered. The tension is high and danger ever present." (School Library Journal)
Members Reviews:
Another Blockbuster for a terrific author!
Wonderful book, this author has a terrific understanding of teens..especially girls.. and their relationship..even in the face of great loss and sacrifice, with a palpable understanding of the bonds of family and friendship, through the most difficult times..
Five Stars
12 year old granddaughter says this is the best book she has read, and she reads a lot.
Beautiful Blue World
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I am always looking for middle grade books to read with my nine-year-old daughter, and we both agreed that Beautiful Blue World sounded interesting. This is the first book in a new series by Suzanne LaFleur.
Mathilde is a twelve year old girl who lives in Lykellig, a city in Sofarende with her family. She has a best friend named Megs, and she goes to school every day. Their lives have changed drastically in recent months; their country has been fighting a war against Tyssia, a neighboring country. There are air-raids at night, and food is sometimes scarce.
Mathilde and Megs receive paperwork at school regarding an upcoming examination. The army is looking for children, and are willing to pay generously. No one is sure what the children will be doing for the war effort, but Mathilde knows the money will help her family.
Mathilde does not think that she did very well on the examination, and is surprised to find out that she has been selected. She leaves her family and Megs behind, and travels far away to a new place. I am being intentionally vague to avoid giving spoilers, but I think that I can reveal that Mathilde sees the contributions that the other children are making in the fight against Tyssia.
