Last week, I read All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson. This realistic fiction novel that combines verse and prose is about Sage, a girl whose best friend, Angel, was hit by a drunk driver on the way to her house for her thirteenth birthday. To cope with her grief, guilt, loneliness, and anxiety, Sage has been going to a counseling group with four other girls, Ebony, Zay, Ana, and DD, at school. Of the other girls, Ebony understands Sage best and DD also spends time outside of grief group with them, but it's still not the same as having Angel around. Although Sage initially believes her pain is different from Zay's and Ana's because Angel died suddenly, she grows to realize that just because the circumstances of their losses are different doesn't mean it hurts less for them. Meanwhile, she begins to fall for a boy, Kofi, who plays basketball at Morningside Park. As time goes on, Sage learns that she can feel many emotions at the same time.
Although this novel is poignant, I enjoyed reading it from the very first lines. I could relate to Sage because, like her, I first experienced loss at a relatively young age. I felt awful that she blamed herself for Angel's death. Although I've never had counseling for grief myself, I liked how the author had Sage join a grief group with other girls who had lost someone. Besides Aunt Ini, it seems like Sage would have been quite alone otherwise. I liked how the counselor, Ms. Carver, could help Sage process her feelings even when Sage was angry. It definitely seemed important for Sage to have another supportive adult in her life, especially given the twist at the very end of the story. Additionally, it made me happy that Sage was able to genuinely become friends with Ebony, DD, Zay, and Ana, despite her initial reservations. Her connection and romance with Kofi was sweet, too. In conclusion, anyone should read All the Blues in the Sky, especially those who have experienced loss, whether it was a friend, a family member, or a beloved pet.
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