Blueberry Truth
Beanie and Mac MacKenzie have led charmed lives. They both have jobs
they love: he’s a pediatric cardiologist; she’s a teacher at a school
for troubled children. They’ve recently bought a big house on a quiet
Albany, New York street only blocks from where they grew up together.
The only thing missing are the children with which they’d envisioned
filling that house.
Enter seven-year-old Blueberry Truth Crowley, a fiercely independent child whose life has been anything but charmed. When Blue ends up in Beanie’s classroom, their two worlds collide.
Blueberry Truth is the story of that collision and of the commitment and love it takes to make not a baby, but a family.
Blueberry Truth is available as an e-book through most e-book distributors. Click HERE for more information.
Update: Blueberry is now in print at Barnes and Noble and Amazon!
Enter seven-year-old Blueberry Truth Crowley, a fiercely independent child whose life has been anything but charmed. When Blue ends up in Beanie’s classroom, their two worlds collide.
Blueberry Truth is the story of that collision and of the commitment and love it takes to make not a baby, but a family.
Blueberry Truth is available as an e-book through most e-book distributors. Click HERE for more information.
Update: Blueberry is now in print at Barnes and Noble and Amazon!
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New Review for Blueberry!
Blueberry got Five Stars from
Kick Back and Review!
Here's what Laura McQuillan had to say:
"This inspirational little gem is written in the tradition of great stories like My Posse Don't Do Homework (the book that inspired the movie Dangerous Minds) and The Freedom Writers Diary, without thesame level of violence. This book left me feeling inspired to go out into the world and do something good....something that matters or that makes a difference. It is one of those feel-good stories that will leave you feeling good for a while after reading it. "
Click hereto read the rest!
Kick Back and Review!
Here's what Laura McQuillan had to say:
"This inspirational little gem is written in the tradition of great stories like My Posse Don't Do Homework (the book that inspired the movie Dangerous Minds) and The Freedom Writers Diary, without thesame level of violence. This book left me feeling inspired to go out into the world and do something good....something that matters or that makes a difference. It is one of those feel-good stories that will leave you feeling good for a while after reading it. "
Click hereto read the rest!
excerpt:
Floyd walks into class wearing a lime-green Hawaiian shirt. “Wow, Floyd,” I say. “Nice shirt, kid.”
His smile is nearly as blinding as his clothes. “My brother got me three.” He holds up three fingers. The shirts probably fell off the back of a truck, but I won’t say anything about that.
The rest of the kids filter in one by one. Todd’s hair has started to grow back; the little blond fuzz makes him look like a baby chick. Elena can’t stop talking about her new baby niece. And Simon stands near the door on one leg with his head cocked to the side. I ask what he’s doing.
“I’m Snoopy.”
We settle in, nine kids humming along during reading. Nine kids doing math without a hitch. I glance at Dot, helping Keisha with math problems, and she glances back and raises an eyebrow. It’s nearly lunchtime, and I know she’s thinking what I’m thinking: this can’t last. Turns out, the first incident after vacation happens without much of a bang when Sister Mike pops her head into my very peaceful room and asks if she might have a word.
Sister’s office is the size of a broom closet and has her desk and two chairs squeezed into the space. Usually, there’s one kid or another doing time in one of the chairs. But not today, and Sister invites me to sit, her broad dark face beaming with a beatific look that can only mean trouble. “I know you already have nine children in your classroom, Beanie.”
This is the conversation I’ve been dreading. State regulations allow a maximum of ten kids in a class like mine, the ratio being five to one with Dot, my assistant. This doesn’t take into account that Todd likes to wander off, Eddie has psychotic episodes, and Simon and Ray Ray are autistic. Every kid in my room would benefit from one-on-one. Sister knows this. She’s been very careful about guarding my students and keeping class size at nine. A tenth child isn’t illegal, but it should be.
“It’s an emergency. I don’t want to, but I have no choice.”
I sigh and lean back in the chair.
“She’s too old for Anna’s room, and Terry has ten in his group already.”
“A little girl?”
“Blueberry Truth Crowley. Called Truth.” Sister hands me a thin folder. “She’s been assigned to Chandra. Sounds like she’s going to need a lot.”
All of my kids need a lot. Most of them have incident notes and individualized education plans the size of the Manhattan phone book. “This won’t tell me much.”
“True,” she says as I page through. “She doesn’t have an IEP yet.”
“She was in a regular classroom?”
“Up until before vacation. She was having some difficulty. She’s been to eight schools in three years, so I imagine she’s fallen between the cracks.” Sister folds her hands together as though she’s about to pray. “On Saturday, she assaulted her uncle with a baseball bat. Broke his nose while he slept. The uncle claims she tried to kill him. He may press charges.”
Kids get sent to this school for all sorts of reasons. I’ve had children in my class who set fires, children who ran away from home, and children who were taken out of abusive or neglectful homes. But I’ve never had a kid who attempted murder.
His smile is nearly as blinding as his clothes. “My brother got me three.” He holds up three fingers. The shirts probably fell off the back of a truck, but I won’t say anything about that.
The rest of the kids filter in one by one. Todd’s hair has started to grow back; the little blond fuzz makes him look like a baby chick. Elena can’t stop talking about her new baby niece. And Simon stands near the door on one leg with his head cocked to the side. I ask what he’s doing.
“I’m Snoopy.”
We settle in, nine kids humming along during reading. Nine kids doing math without a hitch. I glance at Dot, helping Keisha with math problems, and she glances back and raises an eyebrow. It’s nearly lunchtime, and I know she’s thinking what I’m thinking: this can’t last. Turns out, the first incident after vacation happens without much of a bang when Sister Mike pops her head into my very peaceful room and asks if she might have a word.
Sister’s office is the size of a broom closet and has her desk and two chairs squeezed into the space. Usually, there’s one kid or another doing time in one of the chairs. But not today, and Sister invites me to sit, her broad dark face beaming with a beatific look that can only mean trouble. “I know you already have nine children in your classroom, Beanie.”
This is the conversation I’ve been dreading. State regulations allow a maximum of ten kids in a class like mine, the ratio being five to one with Dot, my assistant. This doesn’t take into account that Todd likes to wander off, Eddie has psychotic episodes, and Simon and Ray Ray are autistic. Every kid in my room would benefit from one-on-one. Sister knows this. She’s been very careful about guarding my students and keeping class size at nine. A tenth child isn’t illegal, but it should be.
“It’s an emergency. I don’t want to, but I have no choice.”
I sigh and lean back in the chair.
“She’s too old for Anna’s room, and Terry has ten in his group already.”
“A little girl?”
“Blueberry Truth Crowley. Called Truth.” Sister hands me a thin folder. “She’s been assigned to Chandra. Sounds like she’s going to need a lot.”
All of my kids need a lot. Most of them have incident notes and individualized education plans the size of the Manhattan phone book. “This won’t tell me much.”
“True,” she says as I page through. “She doesn’t have an IEP yet.”
“She was in a regular classroom?”
“Up until before vacation. She was having some difficulty. She’s been to eight schools in three years, so I imagine she’s fallen between the cracks.” Sister folds her hands together as though she’s about to pray. “On Saturday, she assaulted her uncle with a baseball bat. Broke his nose while he slept. The uncle claims she tried to kill him. He may press charges.”
Kids get sent to this school for all sorts of reasons. I’ve had children in my class who set fires, children who ran away from home, and children who were taken out of abusive or neglectful homes. But I’ve never had a kid who attempted murder.
Reviews for Blueberry Truth
Poignant, Tug At Your Heartstrings Story June 18, 2012 By Catherine Cavendish Format:Kindle Edition What a lovely book. Blueberry Truth is a wayward girl from a broken and horrifying background. She has learned from being an infant that the best defence is attack. Then she meets Beanie - a woman who is going through her own crisis. The two of them need each other, even though they may not realise it. I loved the pace, warmth and development of this story. It grabbed me and then refused to let go. Even if you don't normally read this genre (as I rarely do), I heartily recommend it to you.
A Powerful, Uplifting Story, October 15, 2011 By B. Nadine Feldman "spawoman" (Houston, Texas) -
When I first started to read this book, I thought I had it all figured out. I was wrong. Author Ute Carbone takes us on a touching, poignant journey through infertility and unconditional love. Capturing the stress that couples go through when having difficulty conceiving, Carbone also reminds us that there are many ways to make a family. Blueberry Truth is a seven-year-old girl that will steal your heart. I seldom read a book that moves me as much as this one -- perhaps it did because I've had my own infertility story that ended up in a way I never would have expected. Still, this is fine writing, and I couldn't put the book down.
A Must Read, By Sue Roebuck
This surely will be a success - it has all the ingredients. The main character, Beanie, is the kind of woman most readers would want for their best-friend. She's not perfect but she's brave, determined and just down-right good (even if she does have trouble with her sisters - but who doesn't?). And her husband is every woman's dream: a dedicated doctor, he's no push-over and he's determined to stand his ground but willing to admit he's wrong if proven so. And he dearly loves his wife. What a delight.
But it's Blueberry that's at the heart of the story. A seven-year old kid so traumatized that her favorite phrase is one that Amazon won't let me post (LOL) but it begins with "f". It comes out at the most inopportune moments with the obvious resulting reactions. She's violent, old far beyond her years, able to break a room up in twenty seconds and streak for freedom in a twinkling. Her deepest desire is to find her mother, yet the reader knows right from page one that this is a very bad idea indeed. And so we watch as Beanie fights for fostership of this child who gives Beanie and Mac's wonderful house and comfortable home the bird.
Blueberry Truth is a page-turner - one of the rare books that you don't want to put down. A delightful read that surely can't fail to touch the heart of the hardest reader.
Excellent Read!!, September 25, 2011 By Katherine C. Owen (Kirkland, WA United States)
Blueberry Truth by Ute Carbone is one of those novels that may well stay with readers for a long time. Carbone's ability to create believable characters that readers will care about and practically fall in love is first rate. From the first page, readers are drawn into Verbena "Beanie" Mackenzie's whirlwind perfect life: Beanie is the do-good teacher working with special needs kids at St. Luke's and her husband Mac is the gifted pediatric cardiologist. Where, at first, it would seem to be cliché to have Beanie married to her childhood sweetheart; Carbone deftly defines the complexities of their relationship and allows for the hidden flaws in both of them. All Beanie and Mac seem to want is a baby, something that hasn't worked out for them. This, alone, seems to be driving them further apart. Then, along comes Blueberry Truth whose proficiency with the F-word is more developed than the adults who surround her. At seven, Blueberry Truth appears to be already broken, having suffered at the hands of her abusive uncle and apparently abandoned by her drug-addicted mother. All Blue wants is to find her mother, which is at odds with Beanie and Mac's implicit attempts to rescue the girl each in their own way. It isn't just Blueberry Truth who must find her way, but Beanie and Mac as well.
I love Carbon's refined writing style; her subtlety shows readers how all these characters grow and change throughout the story. Blueberry Truth is an excellent read by a very promising author.
A Great Read, By Sisu (Jaffrey, NH) -
This is a great read. The characters are so true to life that you might think they live next door. Beanie, the major character, is having problems in conceiving the child she wants so very much. But she's also having problems trying to take care of a girl in her class for emotionally disturbed children. The two issies, paired together, lead us into a very involving tale about paremting, its demands and its satisfactions. The story flows so easily that the reader is caught up in the actions and emotions of the characters without at first realizing how complexly these people are being portrayed. Once you start this book you are not going to want to put it down.
Loved It!, August 26, 2011 By Maria T. -
Great book!!! Blueberry Truth is a very easy, entertaining read. I was surprised at how quickly I became absorbed with the characters and their lives. Good story line, written in a manner that just flows so easily. You will find yourself feeling all of the emotions of the characters! I am definitely looking foward to more books by this author!
A Powerful, Uplifting Story, October 15, 2011 By B. Nadine Feldman "spawoman" (Houston, Texas) -
When I first started to read this book, I thought I had it all figured out. I was wrong. Author Ute Carbone takes us on a touching, poignant journey through infertility and unconditional love. Capturing the stress that couples go through when having difficulty conceiving, Carbone also reminds us that there are many ways to make a family. Blueberry Truth is a seven-year-old girl that will steal your heart. I seldom read a book that moves me as much as this one -- perhaps it did because I've had my own infertility story that ended up in a way I never would have expected. Still, this is fine writing, and I couldn't put the book down.
A Must Read, By Sue Roebuck
This surely will be a success - it has all the ingredients. The main character, Beanie, is the kind of woman most readers would want for their best-friend. She's not perfect but she's brave, determined and just down-right good (even if she does have trouble with her sisters - but who doesn't?). And her husband is every woman's dream: a dedicated doctor, he's no push-over and he's determined to stand his ground but willing to admit he's wrong if proven so. And he dearly loves his wife. What a delight.
But it's Blueberry that's at the heart of the story. A seven-year old kid so traumatized that her favorite phrase is one that Amazon won't let me post (LOL) but it begins with "f". It comes out at the most inopportune moments with the obvious resulting reactions. She's violent, old far beyond her years, able to break a room up in twenty seconds and streak for freedom in a twinkling. Her deepest desire is to find her mother, yet the reader knows right from page one that this is a very bad idea indeed. And so we watch as Beanie fights for fostership of this child who gives Beanie and Mac's wonderful house and comfortable home the bird.
Blueberry Truth is a page-turner - one of the rare books that you don't want to put down. A delightful read that surely can't fail to touch the heart of the hardest reader.
Excellent Read!!, September 25, 2011 By Katherine C. Owen (Kirkland, WA United States)
Blueberry Truth by Ute Carbone is one of those novels that may well stay with readers for a long time. Carbone's ability to create believable characters that readers will care about and practically fall in love is first rate. From the first page, readers are drawn into Verbena "Beanie" Mackenzie's whirlwind perfect life: Beanie is the do-good teacher working with special needs kids at St. Luke's and her husband Mac is the gifted pediatric cardiologist. Where, at first, it would seem to be cliché to have Beanie married to her childhood sweetheart; Carbone deftly defines the complexities of their relationship and allows for the hidden flaws in both of them. All Beanie and Mac seem to want is a baby, something that hasn't worked out for them. This, alone, seems to be driving them further apart. Then, along comes Blueberry Truth whose proficiency with the F-word is more developed than the adults who surround her. At seven, Blueberry Truth appears to be already broken, having suffered at the hands of her abusive uncle and apparently abandoned by her drug-addicted mother. All Blue wants is to find her mother, which is at odds with Beanie and Mac's implicit attempts to rescue the girl each in their own way. It isn't just Blueberry Truth who must find her way, but Beanie and Mac as well.
I love Carbon's refined writing style; her subtlety shows readers how all these characters grow and change throughout the story. Blueberry Truth is an excellent read by a very promising author.
A Great Read, By Sisu (Jaffrey, NH) -
This is a great read. The characters are so true to life that you might think they live next door. Beanie, the major character, is having problems in conceiving the child she wants so very much. But she's also having problems trying to take care of a girl in her class for emotionally disturbed children. The two issies, paired together, lead us into a very involving tale about paremting, its demands and its satisfactions. The story flows so easily that the reader is caught up in the actions and emotions of the characters without at first realizing how complexly these people are being portrayed. Once you start this book you are not going to want to put it down.
Loved It!, August 26, 2011 By Maria T. -
Great book!!! Blueberry Truth is a very easy, entertaining read. I was surprised at how quickly I became absorbed with the characters and their lives. Good story line, written in a manner that just flows so easily. You will find yourself feeling all of the emotions of the characters! I am definitely looking foward to more books by this author!
