Even though I finished Forget Me Not Blue some time ago, I have continued to think about the characters and wonder how they’re doing now. Our friend and novelist Sharelle Byars Moranville created a family of people who are fully believable, to the extent that my mind has them living just down the road off MLK — Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, right here in Des Moines. If only they were real, I could drop by their place with some cookies or invite them to church at St. Timothy’s!
Written for a middle grade audience, the main characters of Forget Me Not Blue are siblings Sophie and Con, with emphasis on Sophie. From her perspective as a ten-year-old, we see what life is like with a mom who is loving but unstable – disappearing for days at a time, exposing the kids to harmful elements, and eventually landing in prison. Sophie and her brother, 13-year-old Con, lean on one another for support as they navigate daily life at school, meals and activities at the Community Center, and their barely habitable living space at home in the attic. In one especially poignant scene, Con buys Sophie a pair of red shoes at Walmart – her only pair – and she treasures them. They become part of her “signature look.”
Sophie and Con are both very smart, and they’re fearful of letting others know too much about their situation because of the threat of being removed from home and split up. Slowly and incrementally, over the course of the story, they develop relationships with others. Con has a girlfriend who he eventually confides in. Tommy, the restaurant owner who employs their mother, takes a special interest in them which evolves. And their great-grandfather, Gunner, works very hard to overcome his own addiction and past mistakes to earn their trust.
Sharelle Moranville is part of our BBB (Books, Brew & Banter) Club that meets weekly, so we had the honor of hosting her for an in-depth discussion over two Fridays. We learned a lot about the steps of the publishing process, the important (and sometimes challenging) relationships between authors and their agents and editors, and the various revisions and decisions that are made over months, and usually years before a book is released. Sharelle has been lucky to enjoy a fruitful relationship with both agent and editor, as well as some important personal consultants who are fellow writers.
A well-honed element of the story that our group particularly valued was the way the mother, Ashley, was portrayed. Sharelle did not sugar-coat the reality of living with a parent who is addicted and therefore not making sound choices for herself or her children, but neither did she demonize Ashley as someone who did not care about her kids. Having worked with women who are incarcerated as part of her background, she knows firsthand that most of them think about their kids above all else. As you’ll see in the story, even the title of “Forget Me Not Blue” is a nod to that maternal bond.
As an adult and a former teacher of middle grade students, I think this novel would be very valuable reading for kids. Some will see themselves represented in its hardships, but in a way that respects their resilience. Other young readers may develop some empathy about the fact that the playing field isn’t level. I also think it would be enlightening reading for teachers or any adult who works with kids. Ultimately it is hopeful and you’ll enjoy it. The quirky, endearing voice of Sophie will stick with you, and you’ll root for her family and her future.
— Julie Feirer
Books, Brews & Banter 