Tumble & Blue
By Kyle Jackson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Boy and girl team up to find new fates in magical adventure.
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What you will—and won't—find in this book.
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What's the Story?
TUMBLE & BLUE follows Blue Montgomery, a 12-year-old kid whose whole family was cursed by a talking alligator named Munch more than 100 years ago. Each Montgomery possesses a different "fate," some of which seem good -- Blue's Dad is a race car driver who always wins -- and some of which appear to be bad -- Blue always loses at any competition. The entire family has converged in the swampy small town of Murky Branch, Georgia, for the summer, battling for a chance to claim a new fate. Over the course of the summer, the lonesome Blue, left at his grandmother's house by his disinterested father, befriends his new neighbor, a girl named Tumble Wilson, who's an enthusiastic aspiring hero who wants to save the world and everyone in it. Together, the two of them try to uncover the mysterious secret of how to claim the new fate. Along the way, their friendship blossoms and they learn how to fit into their strange families and accept who they are.
Is It Any Good?
This magic-filled tale is thrilling, touching, and tantalizing, filled with mystery and anticipation. Author Cassie Beasley's writing is clever and compelling, making the reader care about the characters and their trials and tribulations. The cursed and crazy Montgomery family members and their harebrained schemes make for an entertaining adventure, though the core of the novel is about growing up and finding your own destiny. While the ending may leave some wanting a more satisfying conclusion, the message about the value of friendship and selflessness shines through.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the two kids' need to belong in Tumble & Blue. Have you ever thought something's wrong with you or that you don't belong? How do Tumble and Blue each learn to embrace who they are?
When Tumble meets her idol, Maximal Star, she's surprised to find that he's not at all like the person he pretends to be in his books. Can you think of any celebrities who project an image of themselves that doesn't match the reality?
Do you believe some people are cursed? Or do you think people can choose -- or change -- their own fate?
Book Details
- Author: Cassie Beasley
- Genre: Friendship
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Friendship
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Dial
- Publication date: August 29, 2017
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
- Number of pages: 400
- Available on: Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: November 17, 2017
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