Rain's Reviews: Bluefish by Pat Schmatz

Travis is missing his old home in the country, and he’s missing his old hound, Rosco. Now there’s just the cramped place he shares with his alcoholic grandpa, a new school, and the dreaded routine of school. But that’s before Travis meets Mr. McQueen, who doesn’t take "pass" for an answer—a rare teacher whose savvy persistence has Travis slowly unlocking a book on the natural world. And it’s before Travis is noticed by Velveeta, a girl whose wry banter and colorful scarves belie some hard secrets of her own. With sympathy, humor, and disarming honesty, Pat Schmatz brings to life a cast of utterly believable characters—and captures the moments of trust and connection that make all the difference.~Goodreads
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“Excellent question,” said McQueen. “It’s not here because the English language is filled with sinkholes and blind traps.”

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Bluefish. Bluefish is a very unique book- at least for me. It really is great and I won't hesitate to recomend it.

Travis is a young man who can get by on fifteen words a day, his dog roscoe, and his swamp. No need for reading or an attentive grandpa. But that has all changed/ His swamp is gone and so his his dog. His grandpa’s changing and his new school doesn’t tolerate his illiteracy. 

Velveeta is a very charismatic and eccentric girl. (She reminds me alot of Alaska from John Green’s Looking for Alaska). Her home is lacking and her special place is all she’s got. She meets Travis and now she has something to look forward to. Velveeta is funny and talks enough for two people. She’s a trip but behind the exterior is a girl who's hurting.

Life sucks and these two middle schoolers are learning how to get by.

~Rain

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Goodreads
Bluefish