A Blue So Dark by Holly Schindler

A Blue So Dark by Holly Schindler 
Release Date: May 8, 2010
Publisher:  Flux
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 288
Buy This Book: Amazon






Summary: Fifteen-year-old Aura Ambrose has been hiding a secret. Her mother, a talented artist and art teacher, is slowly being consumed by schizophrenia, and Aura has been her sole caretaker ever since Aura's dad left them. Convinced that "creative" equals crazy, Aura shuns her own artistic talent. But as her mother sinks deeper into the darkness of mental illness, the hunger for a creative outlet draws Aura toward the depths of her imagination. Just as desperation threatens to swallow her whole, Aura discovers that art, love, and family are profoundly linked—and together may offer an escape from her fears. 

My Thoughts: I waited a while to read A Blue So Dark pushing it to the bottom of my TBR but I kept hearing good things about it so finally sat down to read it. We are introduced to Aura who is a teenager and is very artistic. She loves to draw things but she's scared. Scared to keep drawing. Scared of what could happen. Scared of what might happen. Why, you ask? Her mom has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Her mother is also an artist so Aura is afraid it could happen to her. Her dad is out of the picture. She occasionally sees him but he's off with his new wife living his happy little life. Aura has a lot of things to deal with. Her best friend has a baby, she has a crush on a guy named Jeremy who notices her but not nearly enough. She works at a business where there are more secrets than anyone would assume.  

Aura watches her mother slip further and further and Aura needs help but she doesn't know who she can turn too. She tries to handle it on her own but how much can a teenager take or do on her own?   

Aura was strong, determined, and helpful to her mother but she can only do so much and starts to fall behind in her own life, skipping school to try to get her mom out of her funk.  

I liked the quotes at the beginning of the chapters. They gave me more insight of what was really going on with Aura's mom and made me understand better.  

I liked the romance between Aura and Jeremy but I wanted more of it. I would have liked to seen him more throughout the book but I know the focus of this one is on family and diseases that can happen to us.   

A Blue So Dark was haunting, raw, emotional, and a powerful debut from Schindler.  One word= INTENSE. 

Overall: I really liked A Blue So Dark. I don't read too many books focused on health related topics but I enjoyed this. I can't wait to see what Schindler has in store next.  

Cover: Really like it a lot! I like the colors and the way the girl is positioned.  

What I'd Give It: