A story full of endearing characters and an urgent message about how we are treating Mother Earth. Multiple viewpoints allow readers to get a deep understanding of the fears and strengths each character brings forth.

BLUE is the huge tree partially pictured on the cover. The stately Douglas fir mentally communicates with a human friend, Maisie-Grace. It also can express understanding with other trees and humans.

MAISIE-GRACE is an eleven-year-old troubled by what her mind can do. It causes her to be quiet. If she dreams or visualizes an event, it comes true. The most current one is that loggers are coming to cut down the forest including her beloved friend, Blue. Maisie Grace has always been homeschooled, but is pulled to enroll in the local middle school for reasons she’s not sure about. Adjusting to this world of rules is not easy, though she does make two sort of friends,

JAX is a paraplegic artist and blames Maisie for the terrible accident that took the life of her mother and left JAX in a wheelchair. She’s not happy with herself or just about anything else. Her feelings come alive in her artwork.

MACON is a farm girl and a helper to both Maisie and JAX. She hates when farm animals are slaughtered, especially when seeing them on the table. Life and death has never been so hard.

The girls are assigned a project of action by their teacher and it leads them to camping out next to BLUE, surrounded by the forest. Their time together is not without its problems, but leads them to a better understanding of each other and the forest they truly want to save. In order to do that Maisie-Grace will have to find her voice and speak up to the people who doubt her the most.

BLUE is a memorable story that will awaken emotions in readers. They will be sad for Maisie’s family situation and angry at the fate of the forest. The writing flows and has you reflecting on the plot and your relationship with our natural world. Perfect for middle grade kids ages 11 and up.

About the Author 

Caroline Allen was an international newsroom journalist when a sudden call to give it up left her reeling. She’d spent years giving voice to the voiceless, and now she was being called to find her own authentic creative voice. With the narrative and characters closely intertwined with nature and climate change, her first four award-winning novels follow one mystic protagonist around the world in search of self-acceptance and purpose. How can she stop running from her gifts and use them to help a world in crisis? She lives in Estacada, OR.

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It’s almost time for another Marvelous Middle Grade Monday. Won’t you join us? It’s here I share highlights from other individuals blogging about middle grade books. Many of the posts will have reviews, interviews, and tips on writing. Take a look at PAST MMGM POSTS.

It’s easy to get a spot in the lineup. All you have to do is email me the title of the book or feature and a link to your blog at gpcolo[at]gmail[dot]com

Make sure you put MMGM or Marvelous Middle Grade Monday in the subject line so it gets sorted accurately–and don’t forget to say what you’re featuring) You MUST email me your link by Sunday evening (11 PM Eastern Time) in order to be included in the list of links for the coming Monday.

*Please note: these posts are not a reflection of my own opinions on the books featured. Each blogger is responsible for their own MMGM content and I do not pre-screen reviews ahead of time, nor do I control what books they choose. I simply assemble the list based on the links that are emailed to me.