Author: Sean Beaudoin
Summary
I am not sure where to even begin with this novel. For the most part, I really liked the story and characters but overall I just couldn’t buy into the concept the author was selling. I saw the cover of this book while strolling through a local bookstore and I was totally intrigued. A Goth girl with green eyes combined with comic books, it is just an awesome design. I discovered that Fade to Blue is a young adult novel with a Sci-Fi edge to it but it is written for a younger audience. I was able to read the entire novel in about a half of a day but I walked away more confused than when I started. I am not saying it is a bad novel, it is just that the plot is extremely complex and turns back and forth on itself so many times that I totally lost track by the end.
The novel begins with the main character, Sophie Blue, at the pool with her friends. Her younger brother, Old-Spice Blue, is sitting by a dumpster reading a comic book. Soon we learn that Sophie has a nickname of “test tube” that everyone teases her about. There is also a Popsicle truck moving erratically through the parking lot towards her brother. Sophie runs out into the parking lot and stands in front of her brother while the Popsicle truck slams into her. Chapter None ends with, “I am so Goth, I’m roadkill.”
The next chapter has Sophie visiting the school counselor to discuss her issues with her father’s disappearance approximately a year ago. No mention of the incident at the pool. Was it something that happens in the future? Was it a dream? I am already confused.
The other main character introduced early in the novel is Kenny Fade (pronounced Fa-Day). He is a hot shot jock of the school that has the cheerleader girlfriend. He is the polar opposite of Sophie Blue. But Kenny Fade begins to experience strange happenings such as paranoia, sick stomach, not liking girls and a compulsion to wear girl’s clothes. This all ends with Kenny passing out on the Basketball court and being rushed to the hospital.
From this point forward the book starts to get really weird. A psycho nurse appears that nobody can see expect Sophie. The Popsicle truck is constantly hounding her at home and school. And the strangest thing of all, almost every chapter mentions a motivational poster somewhere in the scene, such as the “Hang in There” kitten poster. The novel is only 192 pages long but packs a lot oddness that will have your head spinning.
The Chapters go from None to Twenty then count back down from Twenty to None. There is a small comic book in the middle that divides the two halves. The story in the comic book is important as it provides some of the background of what occurs later in the novel. The main problem is that is story is not told in a straight forward manner as it moves back and forth so quickly it is hard to keep up with the story.
Review
To me, this novel is akin to the movie Donnie Darko. By the end of the movie I had no idea what just happened and wasn’t sure if I liked or not. I had the same feelings after I finished this novel. I believe I understand what happened, but I also have a sinking feeling that I don’t. I suspect this novel will need multiple readings to figure out what happened and why. So if you are a fan of Donnie Darko or maybe be the television series Lost then you should enjoy this book.
Lastly, the major quibble I had was way the adults were written in the novel. To me, they are very unrealistic, like how parents are always portrayed in a teenage comedy movie. But then again I am not the target audience for this novel so is should appeal to the 12 to 16 year old crowd.
Fade to Blue is such a strange little novel that it will likely develop a cult following and create much discussion as to the meaning of the plot.
My Rating
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