A Solitary Blue (The Tillerman Cycle Book 3)

She felt that the world needed her more than her "grown up" son did. For someone who believed she could see the world's problems so clearly, she was blind to the heartache and difficulties she pushed upon her son, leaving him with his reserved, undemonstrative father. So when, years later, she invites Jeff to spend summers with her in Charleston, Jeff is captivated by her free spirit and warmth, and a happiness he's been missing fills him. But Jeff's second visit ends with a devastating betrayal and an aching feeling of loneliness. In life, there can be emotional pits so deep that seemingly nothing will grow--but if he digs a little deeper, Jeff might just come out on the other side.

A Newbery Honor-winning installment of the Voigt's classic Tillerman series is repackaged. Jeff Greene's mother, who deserted the family years before, re-enters his life and widens the gap between Jeff and his father, a gap that only truth, love, and friendship can heal. A Newbery Honorwinning installment of the Cynthia Voigt's classic Tillerman series is repackaged with a fresh new look.

She felt that the world needed her more than her 'grown up' son did. In life, there can be emotional pits so deep that seemingly nothing will growbut if he digs a little deeper, Jeff might just come out on the other side. Booklist starred review Richly resonant -- perhaps the best Voigt venture yet. It let me see his mom and dad the way he did. And it let me see him grow up.

A Solitary Blue - Tillerman Cycle - Book 3 (Paperback, 1st Aladdin Paperbacks ed)

I had an idea of it all the time. How silly is that? I really liked this kid. His reactions and everything are very believable, if not a leetle swayed by the feminine touch. Now, that mom is something else. She flits about, talking about saving the planet and the starving children of Zanzakanorbileansgoria, but she ignores the real people in her life. But the portrayal is fantastic.

I wanted to hurl the book across the room every time I felt that phrase coming on.

But then, a strange thing happened—I start to see him the way he really is. And it contrasts so well with the opposite change of heart in Melody. There are a couple of others that are great, too. He shows them where they are blind and adds just the element of friendship the book needed. This is one of those where the plot is about the characters growing. I really enjoyed the aspects of this book, but so much was fast-forwarded I kept getting frustrated. I was okay with this at first. I thought, I finally get to know this book that Voigt keeps bringing up is about.

It just gets dropped, after chapters of build-up. I griped, scowling at the book. This is what I obsessed over.

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This is what has stayed with me even now. And the way Jeff grew page by page. That was good stuff, even if it was rushed and there were gaps here and there. I actually think it gets better the further away from it I get. If you catch my meaning. Jan 10, Jenny Leiva rated it really liked it. Jan 04, Cherie rated it really liked it Shelves: I really did like this story. After-the-fact, it turned out to be a re-read for me. This story starts out with a shock and breaks your heart with wave after wave of uNina Gina be happenings, for me at least. I could not believe a mother could do what she does to her son in this story.

The young man and his father in this story really wrapped themselves around my heart. It was so sad in the beginning. It took a long time, but the story unfolded so wonderfully, and the characters grew into such won I really did like this story. It took a long time, but the story unfolded so wonderfully, and the characters grew into such wonderful people that it was hard to let them go at the end.

Cynthia Voigt can create such beautiful settings for her stories, that you feel, hear, and smell everything right along with her characters. Jan 01, Xan West rated it it was amazing Shelves: This book reaches into my heart and holds. It always has, from the first time I read it, when I was quite young. It is the closest I have ever come to reading a character's POV and voice that matched who I was, and how I thought, and how I felt, as a child and I treasure it for that. But it is the book that reflects me the most, on the inside, as I was growing up, essential aspects of what my childhood was like and how I su This book reaches into my heart and holds.

But it is the book that reflects me the most, on the inside, as I was growing up, essential aspects of what my childhood was like and how I survived it. Books like that are important and rare. I continually look for mirrors and visions of who I am and who I could be in books, and almost never find them.

I'm glad to have read it again, the first book I finished in Oct 10, Colin rated it really liked it Shelves: This was not a book I read in childhood, but re-reading the first two in this series, which were childhood faves and are still really great, made me want to read this series all the way through. Voigt is really good at writing about children and abandonment, and also about the complexities of family.

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I felt so sorry for Jeff, the narrator, but then felt really proud of him when he comes into his own by the end of the book. I was totally invested. And of course, even though it's pretty rare to fi This was not a book I read in childhood, but re-reading the first two in this series, which were childhood faves and are still really great, made me want to read this series all the way through. And of course, even though it's pretty rare to find them, I always like re-reading the same scenes from the POV of different characters, so the repeats from Dicey's Song were enjoyable.

I didn't think I would enjoy this one as much as it focuses on Jeff Greene, a friend of the Tillermans. But I got so sucked into his story I didn't even miss the other characters! Can I just say Jeff's mom gives me the creeps? I enjoyed getting to see the Tillermans more in the end, but thought the story stood alone well without them. These are powerful stories and themes for young adults and grown-ups too!

Oct 03, Katy Ann rated it it was amazing. It is very hard to write a review for this book. It is like writing a review of a point in my life or of a person you have been. This is the first book I read that really mattered. Not an escapist book but a book that reached down and saw me where I was in life and said "you are not alone.

Nov 20, Amanda rated it it was amazing. I have read it over and over and never tire of it. I love the way Cynthia Voigt writes and enjoyed all the books in the Tillerman series! This third book in the Tillerman family series kept me riveted! I loved "Dicey's Song" and "Homecoming" and had to read this next one also. Jeff Greene has a dysfunctional family in the years when the term was not widely used.

His mother abandons him when he is only in the second grade, leaving him a note to find that he can read himself , when he gets home from school. If that shocks you, just wait Jeff is left with a scarred, emotionally distant father and an upbringing t This third book in the Tillerman family series kept me riveted! Jeff is left with a scarred, emotionally distant father and an upbringing that causes him to rely on his own resources. Some of the novel challenges reality, to be honest, as this young boy seems to do most of the cooking and cleaning?

Those paragraphs are short, and deservedly so, as the author herself must have found it difficult to describe what the intervening years are like for Jeff.

Most of the book is the story of Jeff's mother coming back into the picture once he is older, and her attempts at re-forging relationships, motives, and the interplay of this broken family. The author is very talented at getting into the heart of her characters! Dicey shows up once again in this story but this time we see her from Jeff's perspective. Jeff visits his mother's family during his summer vacations and has to make choices as he matures and begins to realize that everything is not as it seems. Not just a coming-of-age story, this young-adult novel addresses so many issues; among them, what family is and is not, how we cope with emotional wounds, and how to find who we are when circumstances are less than perfect.

Jeff finds solace and release as he is gifted a guitar and discovers he has a talent worth developing. Loved it even though I was so mad at Melody, Jeff's mother! Jun 20, Kimberly Lavoie rated it really liked it. Solitary Blue is quite possibly one of the saddest stories I have ever read. The writing is solid, and the characters evolve in such a way that the reader practically folds into themselves to keep up.

It is really the story of human tenacity and resilience, and the fragility of love. Jan 16, Misti rated it it was amazing. This is a review tainted with my love and hate of this novel. At times I couldn't put it down and others I couldn't put it down quick enough and was reluctant to pick it up again. I really liked all the characters in this book except two, and the storyover all was great. The antagonist, Jeff's mom Melody, was a full-blowen narcissistic and manipulative witch like an evil stepmother of a fairytale.

It made the end rather predictable and seemed over the top. The other character I didn't like was n This is a review tainted with my love and hate of this novel. The other character I didn't like was not nearly as extreme as Melody, but very predictable, just as cruel, and not really in the story very much. In addition, the edition I read had so many typos it was distracting. Where were the proofreaders! I would have given it 1 star based on those two characters and the typos; however, the story is so beautifully written. The protagonist, Jeff, who is in second grade, comes home from school to find a note from his mother stating she has left him to fend for himself.

Then she is out of his life for years, only to suddenly have him come to live with her for the summer. Thus begins the emotional roller coster of her relationshiop with him. She does this some other times until he is near graduating high school. He develops wonderful relationships with his dad and others, and eventually and painfully begins to see through his shallow mother's motives.

All the other characters were so very well written, as were their surrounds, and that is what hooked me. So, I gave it a four stars. Jul 28, Pam rated it really liked it. Be warned, this is not a happy book. But it does give you something to think about and appreciate. Jeff's mom left when he was seven.

Afraid his dad would leave too if everything wasn't just right, Jeff goes out of his way to make sure the home runs smoothly and his father, the professor, isn't interrupted or inconvenienced. If isn't until he get so sick he almost dies that his father realizes how much he's been holding in and contacts his mother.

He spends a glorious summer with her and his gran Be warned, this is not a happy book. He spends a glorious summer with her and his grandmother. That's almost the only thing he thinks about the next year. But when he goes to his mom's the next summer, she's too busy to spend much time with him. His grandma's had a stroke and her personality has completely changed. He spends the summer lonely and alone, realizing that his mother doesn't love him, she only wants him when it suits her purposes or she needs money.

The rest of the book goes through Jeff's journey to find himself, make peace with who he is and who his parents are, and make his place in the world. Despite it's often heartwrenching tone, I enjoyed the journey of discovery. May 20, Alex Larsen rated it really liked it Shelves: Jeff was abandoned by his beloved mother when he was only seven years old, and spent his life with his father whom he calls the Professor. The Professor is aloof and for most of his life Jeff is left on his own, until one summer his mother invites him to come stay with her.

He falls in love with mother all over again, but when he goes to visit her again the following summer things change. Jeff then has to come to term with his mother's abandonment and rebuild his relationship with his father. Al Jeff was abandoned by his beloved mother when he was only seven years old, and spent his life with his father whom he calls the Professor. Along the way he meets Dicey and the Tillerman family, who end up teaching him a few things about family. This book is very interesting when read after Dicey's Song because it tells part of the same story from the perspective of Jeff instead of Dicey.

Jeff's character is very well-developed and easy to relate to, but part of me thinks that girls will enjoy his character and story more than boys due to the fact that the novel focuses on Jeff's inner thoughts, while the plot moves slowly. Voigt manages to create very real and captivating characters, and Jeff's coming of age is well integrated with how he manages to come into his own family. After reading the other laudatory reviews for this book I feel a bit guilty for giving it only 3 stars. However, I just didn't find Melody to be a believable character.

In the first half of the book I was very empathetic with Jeff, my heart aching for him, but the second summer in Charleston stretched my credulity too thin. I can't accept that Melody could spend two or three days with him in the entire summer and still conceive of herself as any kind of mother. Maybe I just have limited real-lif After reading the other laudatory reviews for this book I feel a bit guilty for giving it only 3 stars.

Maybe I just have limited real-life experience with morally bankrupt people. I did appreciate how unusual his character is in YA novels, however, especially contrasted with Dicey.

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Overall I found the book beautifully written, compelling, but a bit too heavy-handed. Jun 07, Desaree rated it really liked it. A Solitary Blue was definitely one of my favorite books that i have read this year. It was a simple but outspoken story. I liked how some things in the book i could relate to in real life. I noticed how similar the main character's relationship with his father was like my mom and my grandfather's relationship.

There were many of the same characteristics of their relationships witch drew me in even more into the story. My feelings about different characters changed as the story went on as well as A Solitary Blue was definitely one of my favorite books that i have read this year. My feelings about different characters changed as the story went on as well as the main character's. This book was beautifully written, almost like poetry in some parts of the book which made me like it even more.

What I liked most about this book though was that it wasn't just for entertainment, it had more of a purpose. It gave an important message throughout the book about families and who you can trust in life. I have read many good books this year but this particular one stands out the most.

A Solitary Blue

May 04, Falina rated it it was amazing. I loved this book - the writing style, the characters, the complexity and depth - everything about it. I prefer standalone books and don't like feeling compelled to read books because they are part of a series, so I'm glad I didn't know about the connection. A Solitary Blue is excellent and is complete I loved this book - the writing style, the characters, the complexity and depth - everything about it.

A Solitary Blue is excellent and is complete on its own. If you think about it, Jeff. I think we can't help loving, but what matters is what we do about it. What we do with love. What love does with us. Apr 11, Laura rated it liked it Shelves: I didn't like this book as much as the other books in the series. I don't know if it was because of the character shift or just because this one was so different. I thought it was interesting to focus on Jeff and his struggles, but there were times in the book that didn't hold my attention very much. I wanted more depth to this book.

Maybe I just didn't care for it because the main character wasn't my favorite. Jul 08, Emily rated it really liked it Shelves: Since Cynthia Voight's books are not in my usual genre, I've been trying to figure out why I like them so much. I figured out that one reason is because her books are so well written that you have to read every word.

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I was trying to finish this book quickly, because I had a book club on it, but skimming it really didn't work. Everything in there was important to the story and to the development of the characters. I really loved seeing Jeff overcome the major challenges he faced as a child and tu Since Cynthia Voight's books are not in my usual genre, I've been trying to figure out why I like them so much. I really loved seeing Jeff overcome the major challenges he faced as a child and turn out to be a very sensitive and compassionate young adult.

Apr 13, Jodie rated it it was amazing.

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This is the first book I ever read in a day. I was in the 6th grade. Nineteen years later, this is still one of my favorite books. I have revisited many of the things I loved as a child, only to be disappointed the MacGyver series, anyone?

Not so with this book or anything by Cynthia Voigt. In A Solitary Blue, your affections towards the characters change over time and end up in a very different place from where they started. A brilliant trick that teaches young readers the value of withholdi This is the first book I ever read in a day.

A brilliant trick that teaches young readers the value of withholding their assumptions about others. Sep 22, Anna rated it it was amazing Shelves: I read this trilogy in 7th or 8th grade.

A Solitary Blue | Book by Cynthia Voigt | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster

I loved it then but I understand now. Voigt covers some difficult issues--mental illness, divorce, poverty, racial bias, for example--and lets the reader see inside characters as well as Wallace Stegner does--using simpler words. She "gets" people--all different kinds of people. You see the good, the bad, and the changes.