Indigo Blue by Cathy Cassidy

From the Publisher

Indigo's mum has had it with her boyfriend, and has moved her girls out of their cozy home and into "the flat from hell." Indie is not about to show anyone how it really feels, especially not her best friend, Jo. But the truth is, the neighborhood is bad, the heat's useless, and there's little to eat. It's hard for Indie to ignore such a drastic change--but with a little sister who's too small to understand and a mum who's feeling desperate, Indie is the one who's got to take charge.

About the Author: Cathy Cassidy lives in Scotland.

Mary Jo Edwards - Children's Literature

Fed up with her abusive boyfriend Max, eleven-year-old Indigo's Mum moves her family into a dirty and gloomy basement flat. Once settled, Mum and Indigo enthusiastically refurbish their apartment. But soon Mum is depressed and neglects herself and her children. Indigo is overwhelmed with concern for her Mum, her schoolwork, caring for her toddler sister Misti, and household chores. Sadly, Indigo keeps her emotions bottled up. Desperate for help, Indigo calls Mum's only friend, Jane. One night Indigo overhears Mum tell Jane that she called Max. Mum makes matters worse when she agrees to see Max again and asks Indigo to baby-sit Misti. Hours later the young girls are awakened by police officers who take them to see their bruised and battered Mum in the hospital. After a three-month hiatus with Indigo's Gran, Indigo's family looks forward to a bright future. In this title, author Cassidy writes about several important issues--domestic violence, depression, family bonds, and friendship. This story has social value because it demonstrates to the young reader that even the most difficult problems can be overcome. 2005, Viking, Ages 10 up.

School Library Journal

Gr 4-7-Indigo, 11, is a super-responsible kid with a weak, unstable mother. She tries to take care of her toddler sister and to ignore the fights between Mum and her abusive, live-in boyfriend. She attempts to fit in with her more conventional classmates, cope with a strict teacher, and enjoy time with her friend Jo. Life is bearable until Max's bad temper turns physical and Mum flees with the children to a dilapidated basement flat with a dour and suspicious landlady. Things get even more complicated when Jo turns temperamental and tryouts for the school play add a competitive aspect to many of the kids' relationships. For a story filled with problems, this is a surprisingly bright book, with a sympathetic main character and an absorbing plot. The first-person, present-tense narration grounds events with a straightforward immediacy, as does the emphasis on physical details, from nail polish to foods to the smell of mold in the apartment. Yes, Indigo learns to face her feelings rather than hide from them. She also learns the meaning of true friendship. Cassidy seems more committed to telling Indigo's story than hitting readers over the head with a message. A British import with a refreshingly light touch.-Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Indigo, age 11, hides under the covers and turns the music up, but she can still hear the sounds of her sister Misti crying, her father Max shouting and her mother pleading. Despite Max's apologies, Indigo's mother is determined to leave. While Indigo is at school, she moves them from the cozy house that they called home for three years to a dank and dirty basement apartment across town. Shifting friendships, a lead in the class play and the attention of a cute boy are not enough to distract Indigo from the problems at home. Indigo's mother attempts to make a home for them, but the threat that Max may find them and the pressures of single motherhood are too much for her. As she slides into depression, eventually agreeing to see Max again, Indigo is forced to take care of all of them. Real characters, intelligent dialogue and an energetic plot come together in this engaging story. (Fiction. 10-14)

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