Tumble & Blue

Gr 4-6-An immersive, supernatural middle grade adventure. Hear the whispers of long-kept family secrets in shadowed corners. Feel the humidity of a languid Georgia summer. Beasley, author of Circus Mirandus, weaves the tale of two tweens spending the summer looking for the way out of an ancestral curse. In 1817, 12-year-old Blue Montgomery's forebear Walcott (a fugitive horse thief) and Tumble Wilson's ancestor Almira (a "murderous young bride") were forced-by violence-to split the mysterious gift of changing one's fate, which they obtained from the fabled golden gator, deep in the Okefenokee Swamp at the rising of a bloodred moon. Both sought to escape the consequences of their crimes, but legend says that the golden gator's gift is meant for only one. "Those are the rules, and they can be terribly sharp when broken." Ever after, subsequent generations in both families were struck indiscriminately with either good or bad luck. A chance to fight the gator for his gift comes only once every 100 years when the moon runs red. Now, as the time draws near again two centuries later, Tumble and Blue must reverse the curse if there's to be any hope of normal lives for them both. Beasley's shimmering prose pulls readers in, line by line, like a fish dragging on a hook through swampy waters. The lush setting and lustrous portrayal of the characters will captivate even the most reluctant reader. VERDICT Middle graders will delight in the richly drawn world and history that Beasley creates. A first purchase for most collections.

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

For generations, members of the Montgomery family have received supernatural "fates" that rule their lives; some are wonderful, such as a powerful affinity for animals, while others are not, such as one's husbands always dying. Blue Montgomery fits into the latter category: his fate is that he is cursed to always lose, no matter the situation. After his father leaves him at his grandmother's house in Murky Branch, Ga., for the summer, Blue is determined to break the curse, even if it means venturing into the Okefenokee Swamp to find a fabled golden alligator named Munch. Eleven-year-old Tumble Wilson, new to Murky Branch and obsessed with being a hero, is immediately drawn to Blue and his bad luck, and she makes it her mission to help him. In their quest to alter Blue's fate, he and Tumble learn that their families are inextricably linked, and that the line between a gift and a curse is easily blurred. Interludes from the wise and intimidating Munch keep the supernatural aspects of the novel at the forefront of readers' minds, while Tumble and Blue muddle through issues of abandonment, failure, grief, and loss. Blue's extended family, many of whom have also traveled to Murky Branch for a chance to change their own fates, creates a vibrant ensemble. Granny Eve is particularly noteworthy; her dedication to her family leaves a lasting mark on Blue, whose father is distracted at best and absent at worst. A tender message about sacrifice-for loved ones and the greater good-underlies this magical story of fate and family. Ages 8-12. 

Copyright 2017 Publisher’s Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

An original, highly engaging story about the power of friendship, family curses and blessings—and what it means to be a hero. (Magical realism. 8-12).

Copyright 2017 Kirkus Reviews, LLC Used with permission.

* Reminiscent of Ingrid Law's Savvy books, Beasley's sophomore novel is a spirited yarn that shines through rich characters, evocative writing, and enchanted premise."—Booklist, starred review

* A tender message about sacrifice-for loved ones and the greater good-underlies this magical story of fate and family."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

* An original, highly engaging story about the power of friendship, family curses, and blessings-and what it means to be a hero.—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* The lush setting and lustrous portrayal of the characters will captivate even the most reluctant reader. Middle graders will delight in the richly drawn world and history that Beasley creates."—School Library Journal, starred review

* In a mix of tall tale, magic realism, comic midgrade mayhem, and sweetness—a mix reminiscent of Sachar's Holes—Beasley creates a distinctive, energetic world in which kindness is a muscular value and quirkiness is organic to the setting.—The Horn Book, starred review